My BirThDAy!

This year i'm 28!! Geez time flies after high school! Darin and I went out to this sushi place called Nobu in Atlantis. Everyone keeps saying how expensive it is so we looked online at the menu only to see it's about what every other sushi place is priced at here. So we went anyways. I love Atlantis, anything to do with it I love doing. I told Darin as we were driving over the bridge, "isn't is so cool that we live next door to Atlantis, a place where people save and save to come here on one big trip and we can come here everyday?" I just love it! Nobu is a nice place, really modern inside, good sushi selection and tempura selection! Darin asked how many pieces you get in a rol and our server said "6", so that's normal, but when we got our food, Darin's "6" pieces added up to about 2 that he usually eats. They were so small, it was like a kids sushi meal!! We laughed and agreed THIS is why everyone says it's expensive, because you have to get 3 or 4 rolls just to feel like you ate something! After dinner we stopped in the Atlantis marina marketplace for candy from the cool candy shop they have and walked around to look at all the pretty yachts. The night was great, so good to spend that kind of time with Darin, working together doesn't count as quality time. 

I got a really awesome pair of headphones for my birthday. I've been wanting some Skullcandy headphones but we don't have those here. Thankfully for Darin, our friend Adam's girlfriend was coming down and he had her bring some. So I was totally surprised when I got them! They're so cool, I love them!!

yep, these are awesome!

We're also headed over to Treasure Cay this weekend for July 4th. Since the Bahamas doesn't celebrate it, July 4th is pretty boring over here. What better way to spend it but with other Americans down here for the holiday!! We're SOOO excited to be going back over to Abaco, it's so beautiful and the beaches are perfect!! What better way to end my birthday week!!

NuTeLLA TriCK

Omm nomm nommms! That's what Darin says after eating one of these awesome treats!! Months ago I tried to get Darin to eat Nutella on toast or just eat a spoon full of it, promising it was so good. Nope, he wouldn't do it, claiming he hated it because he doesn't like hazel nut stuff. I insisted he try it, that even I don't like hazel nut stuff and Nutella is so good. No again, he will not eat it. I've been wanting to try this recipe for a while and just haven't gotten around to doing it, so the other day (while Darin was working) I made these tasty treats. Later that day, Darin got home from work saw them sitting there and ate one!!! I waited for some response which was "omm nomm nomm, those were good babe", HA! I got him! So I told him what was in it and he didn't have anything to say after that. Here's the Nutella treat I made!

here's what you'll need: chocolate chips, crescent rolls & nutella!

roll out and flatten the crescent rolls on a baking sheet

add Nutella spread on each and roll up

all rolled up, the top right was just a pocket one I tried,
follow crescent roll baking instructions and pop them in the oven

a little brown and warm

I put chocolate chips on top, turn them sideways and
poke in...they stay easier that way

and waa-la! so yummy!!

FaTHeRS dAy!

Happy Father's day to every dad out there, but especially to mine. You've taught me so much and I am who I am because of parent's like you. Thank you for all you've given me in life and for all the fun memories as a kid. I can only hope that one day my kids grow up and say that to Darin and I. Happy father's day to my favorite daddy! xo I <3 you!

This is for you....our song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrWMBC6yoME

Some pictures of my dad!

Senor Frogs

Atlantis

awesome wedding day!! <3 my daddy!

my great parents! role models for 31years!!

1 yEaR aNNivErSarY

Although today isn't our 1 year anniversary, it was a good long holiday weekend here so i'm just now sitting down to write. Saturday was our anniversary, June 11th. The year flew by so so so fast. I can't believe it's been a year since we said our vows in front of all our family and friends, then had a huge gorgeous reception and an after party!! Darin and I always hear from people who have been married for so long that the first year or years are the hardest, I don't think so in our case. If we lived in Orlando, maybe it would of been different but our lives drastically changed when Darin moved to the caribbean and then after the wedding I moved to be with him. We really only have each other here which I think really makes us appreciate the other. We spend a lot of time together and never really argue, disagree maybe with things around the house, but nothing ever escalates. I think dating for 4 years helped us really know each other, our good traits and our faults. Even before we were married certain things made me crazy that Darin did and they still make me crazy, but I married him knowing that's part of his faults and regardless, I made the decision to love him no matter what. Nobody is perfect so you need to love every part of someone to really make it real and last.

1 yr Anniversary

We spent our anniversary at a place called A Stone's Throw Away. This place we found on accident when Alan was here. He was going shark diving and had to be picked up by the bus at a location he picked. He thought "a stone's throw away" was literally that far from the shark dive lol. So when I dropped him off to be picked up by the bus is when we realized it was no where near the shark dive, but the place was VERY cool and we went in and looked around. Since then i've been telling Darin we should go watch the sunset there, it's really high up on the rocks, and would be a perfect sunset location!! So finally we go on Saturday, there were to many clouds to really get a good sunset but the place is so great. It's so quaint and quiet, some modern patio furniture, couches, candle light, draps hanging, just a really good romantic wine night spot. We laid back in the couch, had a few drinks, talked about our life, our future, our friends, our bucket list, kids, everything. It was a perfect night with the perfect weather and the perfect guy.

a little candle light, wine & dessert (raspberry tart w/ almonds)

Another thing we did Saturday during the day was get scuba dive certified. We have been wanting to do this since forever!! Especially since we live on an island, we figure that it's something we need to do in order to fully get the experience of this life we have together. We had a private session with someone Darin knows here. We did some pool diving and then went out to the beach and walked in with our gear on. The hardest thing for me was clearing my mask. Darin keeps saying how easy it is and to just hold your breath then flip your mask up and blow through your nose. The dive book says to continuously breath and to never hold your breath. I could imagine how easy it is if you could hold your breath, but I kept trying to breath while clearing my mask. I gagged a couple of times and freaked out a little, but finally did it!! I think holding your breath for 1 second will be ok and i'll just do what Darin did next time I need to clear my mask. So we're now PADI scuba certified!! HOORAY!!!


We also went to the beach on Sunday and brought Remie. It was her first time at the beach since we had to wait for all 3 of her shots before she could go. Darin brought her in and she swam right away. She was scared but did really well. As the day went on she would chase us in the water, swim to us, go after her toy, walk around on the rocks and look for sea glass with me, paw at crawling crabs and looked like she really enjoyed it!! Thank goodness she liked the water, if she wasn't a beach dog I don't know how she would fit into our family. We're trying to bring her more than just once a week so she gets used to us going and knows that's something the Doty family does. Eventually maybe she'll go paddle boarding with me, that would be cool!

break time

Darin and Remie

And here's a video of Remie swimming the first time!! She's so cute and small haha!! We <3 her!

NatiONaL bESt fRiENd DaY

Today is National Best Friend Day, if you didn't know that already. I've had a few really great friends in my day, some have come and gone, some have come and stayed and some I may not speak with all the time but know they'll always be there. I'm lucky to have 3 girls that have literally been around for 17 years who I still consider to be really great friends.

But it's not "great friend day" it's Best Friend Day and this is what a best friend is: A best friend is someone who knows all your faults in life, even in your personality. They call you out, tell you the truth no matter what you want to hear, they listen to you, they're there when you don't need them and also there when you really do. They're willing to do anything with you, go on any adventure together, know literally all of your secrets, every skeleton by name in your closet, sometimes know you better than you do. Your family is their family and your house is their house. You've had countless "bff" items, you can be yourself, you're not judged and they love you unconditionally. You can trust them, rely on them, laugh with them, cry on them. Fight with them and make up, they're loyal to you and you can trust them. I wish everyone could have a best friend in life that's all of these things. I have one and I don't know what i'd do with out her. Even though I live in another country, staying in touch these days is pretty easy with all the technology, it's just the hanging out together that I really miss. I miss her daughter, and seeing her grow up. I wasn't going to miss anything in her life, no important mile stone would be missed....until my life drastically changed. I think we'll really be best friends forever, we've made it through a LOT of stuff together since high school 10 years ago, so i'm pretty sure we'll make it through anything now.

Love you my best Teya Lyn Early!! xo

bachelorette party

my best in my wedding!

in the Bahamas visiting me

NeW eDitiON

If you haven't seen my facebook then you're missing out on all the cute photos of our NEW PUPPY!!!!

Yes, it's true....I wrote a post on Wednesday and that afternoon we went down to the humane society here and picked up our new puppy!! We have been looking at some on their website and on their facebook page. We went Tuesday to see some dogs and possibly adopt. Most were in the 6mos - 1year age which is a great age and we thought that's what we wanted, but none seemed to tug our hearts and make us feel like this is the one we HAD to have. They had many great looking dogs, all happy to see us, and all needing a good home, but I think we realized we wanted a puppy. We left with the plan to go back every few days to see who was new and to keep looking online. Tuesday night we found "Jasmine" on facebook and immediately Darin and I fell in love. 

the online picture that we fell in love with

So Wednesday I started calling after lunch to see if she "Jasmine" would be there. They didn't keep the puppies at the humane society, they had them in foster homes until they were old enough to be there. I had to call her foster mom Shelley who was so nice on the phone and actually on her way to the humane society then. Darin and I finished up at work and headed right over. I think Darin was just as excited as I was, he was so happy to go look at this little puppy we saw on facebook. On the way there I was crossing my fingers that we would feel that little tug on our hearts and fall in love even more right away with her. We met Shelley and she walked us back, Jasmine was in a little cage with one of her sisters, she was sitting in the very back all quiet. We got her out and held her and that was it....Darin held her and she just looked like she fit perfect with him. We got to spend a little time in a room with her to see her play and run around, talk to Shelley, and soon enough we were in the car with her, and a pee on my lap later.....she was ours!! We're not sure what breed she is, because she's a "potcake", which, like i've said before, are what the locals call stray dogs who roam and breed with each other. They're so mixed with breeds, you don't know what they are anymore. We know she was found with her 2 sisters and I think a brother in a basket somewhere. She's the only white one and she's also the biggest. The vet said she looked heathy and happy at a whole 9.5 lbs at 9 wks. Here's some photos of our little peanut potcake, Remie!!!

i hope she doesn't chew shoes later, right now she just likes to lay on them

 

how we ride in the car....for now anyway

9 wks, 9.5lbs

OJ 2 fOr $5

You know it's going to be a good day here in the Bahamas when you wake up and your shower pressure is 100%! Usually it's at a 75%, which is good, just not great. I was correct saying that to myself in the shower today. I went to a new food store and found DEALS!!!! I've been looking forward to going for weeks and just haven't had the time to go. It's kind of like a sams or costco in the states, but here it's Phils! I walked in not expecting to get much because it's all in bulk, but leave it to the Bahamians to take apart packages and piece meal it (is that how you say take 1 out of 4 in the pack?). Most of the stuff was still in the packages that I ended up buying, but I surprisingly found good deals!!


Here's a small breakdown:
My OJ I usually buy is $4.90 at SuperValue but at Phils it was 2 for $5! I was SHOCKED! My meat was so much cheaper, a regular pork tenderloin is $20, at Phils $11, 2 lbs of turkey and ham $11 regularly $7 for 1/2 a lb! Gatorade 2 for $5, usually 1 is $5. Chips were cheaper, cheese, granola bars, I walked around trying to look like I fit in when I really wanted to gasp and say "oh my gosh!" every time I picked something up. Needless to say I left a happy girl.

Rehearsal June 2010

Our 1 year anniversary is next weekend, un real! There's no way it's been a year.....just no way. But, since it really is next week, only because I can't control time otherwise my wedding day would still be going on, we haven't decided what to do! We don't want to spend money and travel since I'VE alone, done OUR fair share already this year, and we're trying to save for a big trip to Europe next spring, we have to do something less expensive, or something that will be totally worth our pennies. Our choices are down to swimming with the dolphins here at the Blue Lagoon Island, or get scuba certified which we've been wanting to do for so long. What ever it is we have to decide soon!


Doggie update:
We've been to the humane society here, and they have some cute dogs, totally breaks my heart seeing them all. So many need homes, but the guy said that they have a good adoption rate there so that's a relief. We're going back every few days to see the new dogs and puppies brought in, waiting for our hearts to be tugged on by a little pup who needs a home.


With a new place to food shop, which is exciting for me here and our anniversary around the corner and the possibility of a new family member, this week is going pretty well. I'm off for a Starbucks with a friend (yep I have one now), and then head downtown to work. Have a good week!!!