From now on I'm going to be posting a weekly recap from our Lifegroup Ladies Bible study. It also serves as a great devotional for a day if you want something quick to read to break up your normal reading. You can find it here-
I should be posting it by Thursday or Friday every week if you're looking for something to change things up on the weekends. We're doing a study from Women of Faith about finding balance for women.
Just thought I'd throw it out there in case anyone was searching for a quick and easy Bible study.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Raspberry French Vanilla Coffee Cake
So I posted this picture on facebook straight out of my phone last night and immediately had a recipe request. So, I'm posting it again (sorry, camera batteries were charging from afternoon baby shoot, and cake doesn't get left un-eaten that long!), with the recipe, and with a warning, that I created this recipe off the top of my head about 3 years ago using whatever I had handy and it's been tweaked a ton, so feel free to keep tweaking. Also, if you care about fat content, stop reading now! Definitely not a diet friendly cake!
Ingredients-
1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
1 Stick (1/2 Cup) Softened Butter
1 Cup Milk
1/3 Cup French Vanilla Coffee Creamer
3 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
1 small container Raspberries
Directions-
Grease a bundt, 9x13" or molded pan. Preheat oven to 325.
Mix together first 6 ingredients, beat 2-3 minutes until smooth. Add Brown Sugar, Cinnamon and Nutmeg, fold into batter to keep batter fluffy and light, and from turning orange from the spices. Wash your raspberries, blot dry on a paper towel.
Poor into cake pan. Drop raspberries into batter, "cut into" batter with knife to help them sink through the batter, leaving only a few sitting on the top of the batter.
Bake 35-45 minutes (depending on pan size/shape) or until it passes the toothpick test.
Remove from pan and let cool 15-20 minutes. Drizzle with Confectioner Sugar/Vanilla Creamer made glaze. I don't measure anything for glaze, just until I have roughly 1/3-1/2 cup at finished glaze at the consistency I like.
This cake is a huge hit with friends and family and always disappears when I take it to an event. It looks way more involved than it is, so take advantage of it's simplicity and ENJOY!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Brag About Your Husband Day
So its 11:41pm and its hardly today anymore, but I'm taking advantage of the "occasion" anyways! It's always a good idea to brag about your husband no matter what day it is!
This past week my husband's been unable to work because no one is golfing. Instead of moping around being miserable, he's been sorting through all of our stuff and getting it ready to move, even *gasp* throwing things away! If you knew my MIL you'd understand he was not raised that way at all!
The past 2 months we've had maybe 2 days below 100 degrees. Add in the heat index and its felt like 110. My husband has still been working every day possible, even in the hottest parts of the day, multiple days in a row, and worked several 11-12 hour days! He works so hard, purpose, running in this crazy heat, to provide! He is amazing! And hopefully it can cool down before he dies of heat stroke!
I love my husband!
Copy tomorrow if you have an amazing husband too, and let me know you did in the comments.
This past week my husband's been unable to work because no one is golfing. Instead of moping around being miserable, he's been sorting through all of our stuff and getting it ready to move, even *gasp* throwing things away! If you knew my MIL you'd understand he was not raised that way at all!
The past 2 months we've had maybe 2 days below 100 degrees. Add in the heat index and its felt like 110. My husband has still been working every day possible, even in the hottest parts of the day, multiple days in a row, and worked several 11-12 hour days! He works so hard, purpose, running in this crazy heat, to provide! He is amazing! And hopefully it can cool down before he dies of heat stroke!
I love my husband!
Copy tomorrow if you have an amazing husband too, and let me know you did in the comments.
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Sunday, August 14, 2011
Easy Chicken Pot Pie
So this is far from a healthy version, but its super easy and tastes fantastic! The perfect rainy night dinner, and we finally almost had one of those tonight.
Ingredients-
2 large chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans mixed veggies
1 cup milk
2 cans Pillsbury crescent rolls (or the one piece sheets)
1 Tbsp Chicken Bullion seasoning
Salt and pepper
Cut chicken into 1 inch chunks, grill in an large ungreased frying pan.
Drain cans of veggies, mix with soup, milk and seasoning in a medium sauce pan. Heat on medium til it barely boils, stirring frequently.
Add chicken.
Preheat oven to 375.
Grease bottom of a 9x13 baking pan. Line bottom with 1 can unrolled crescent rolls. Add soup/chicken mixture. Cover with second can unrolled crescent rolls. Bake 12 minutes or until top crust is browned slightly.
Enjoy!
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Friday, August 12, 2011
Easiest Dinner Ever!!
Hawaiian Chicken in the crockpot!
4 chicken breasts
1 12oz can crushed pineapple
1/2 regular bottle honey bbq sauce.
Put them all together in the crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours.
Serve over rice with a tossed salad.
So easy and so good!
Enjoy!
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Sometimes I just don't get it....
....and those are the times I need to do the most praying! Either that or I'll start reeming people out or smacking them upside the head! If you can't listen to me vent, or plan on being critical of my attitude, leave now, or at least don't bother commenting.
My inlaws have hit a new low of abuse towards my husband, if that was even possible. They can have all the issues with me they want, but to treat their own son this way is just plain wrong.
We've been living in TX for 1 1/2 years now. During that time we've only seen my inlaws once, (not such a bad thing) when we went back to NY for my BIL's wedding. Twice, we've invited them down here, arranged a free place for them to stay with family (since we don't have space) and suggested all sorts of great things we could take them to do and see, twice, but they've never come. We were supposed to go back to NY back in July for my cousin's wedding and some time with his family, but they had some small trips planned and alot going on, and we were a bit short on money, so we decided not to go. Part of our trip also was to pick up all of our Christmas stuff that was being stored in NY as well, so my inlaws are supposedly shipping it all. (someday, probably in March!)
Well, two or three weeks ago my husband was online and asked if I knew anything about his parents going to Alabama to visit his brother. (who just got married and moved there 6 months ago) Of course I was shocked, because their excuse for not visiting us was always, it's too far, it's too hot, we're not good at traveling, it's too expensive, etc.... Just an FYI, but his brother lives 20 hours from his parents, we live 26 hours, and typically it's all of 3 degrees cooler there. Anyways, apparently his mom and brother were both raving about how they were so excited to get all this family time together in Alabama on their facebook statuses, not that anyone had bothered to tell us they were coming. My husband was upset at this point, but decided not to mention anything his parents, expecting them to tell him about it when he talked to them in a few days.
10 days later, he's texting with his brother, and out of no where his brother stops responding, he didn't think much of it, till he got a text saying "mom and dad just pulled in and brought all the rest of our stuff from NY and I'll be a little busy with them for the next 10 days, bye". At this point, my husband is flat out ticked! His parents HATE HATE HATE road trips, they used to complain about traveling an hour and a half to see him when he had his internships in college, yet they can drive 20 hours to his brother's house to bring his stuff from NY when they've been supposed to ship ours for awhile now? It's not even the stuff that makes him so mad, it's the fact that no one bothered to inform him of these travel plans and give him the chance to arrange for us to come out to Alabama (a 10 hours trip for us) and meet them there, or meet somewhere in between on a gulf coast beach, or anything, plus the fact that his brother's only been gone 6 months and he's been gone 18 months. At this point, he's just hurt that clearly his brother massively outranks him (no duh, if you read my older blog!) and his parents don't seem to care anything about him.
Then, yesterday, the topper of everything- his mom calls him, wakes him up on his day off, to go on and on about what a wonderful time they're having with his brother and how beautiful a certain beach (only 6 hours from us!) and could he look something up for her while he was on the phone. Then, she has the gaul to get on facebook and brag about how wonderful their "family time" with my BIL and their DIL (oh, by the way, I'm the wife, she's their daughter) and how it's so good to be all together.
Yeah, my inlaws are JERKS!!!! Nicest word I can find. I was at work when all this was going on yesterday morning, and biting my tongue working in the office at church was a bit difficult. Oh the verbal lashing I wanted to give those people. In the words of a certain childhood TV show- HOW RUDE?! Are you 4 year olds bragging about a toy to tease another kid, I mean, seriously, GROW UP!! You treat your own child that way? I don't care how grown up and independant he is, it's just mean, hurtful, and rude! I thought parental love was supposed to be unconditional? They complain that he's too focused on me and not enough on his "real family" yet they treat him like this and expect him to come running home to them? They're lucky he talks to them at all according to me.
See if we come see you next time we're in NY.
I've had to repeatedly forgive my inlaws for various things in our marriage, nearly daily when we lived in NY, and I have forgiven them, I don't hold on to old things, I'm not still angry, but I completely 100% do not trust them not to hurt us again. There's a big difference between bitterness and protecting yourself. And it's okay to guard yourself against further hurt after you've forgiven someone. Turning the other cheek doesn't mean you can't also remove yourself from a bad situation. I think we're at the point where we have to do that, but my husband is too hurt and upset to react at this point. He's at the "numb" stage of disbelief that his parents are that bad. He's hurting, I'm hurting for him, but I also want to beat the crap out of the people who hurt him so we can move on. Too bad it doesn't work that way......
My inlaws have hit a new low of abuse towards my husband, if that was even possible. They can have all the issues with me they want, but to treat their own son this way is just plain wrong.
We've been living in TX for 1 1/2 years now. During that time we've only seen my inlaws once, (not such a bad thing) when we went back to NY for my BIL's wedding. Twice, we've invited them down here, arranged a free place for them to stay with family (since we don't have space) and suggested all sorts of great things we could take them to do and see, twice, but they've never come. We were supposed to go back to NY back in July for my cousin's wedding and some time with his family, but they had some small trips planned and alot going on, and we were a bit short on money, so we decided not to go. Part of our trip also was to pick up all of our Christmas stuff that was being stored in NY as well, so my inlaws are supposedly shipping it all. (someday, probably in March!)
Well, two or three weeks ago my husband was online and asked if I knew anything about his parents going to Alabama to visit his brother. (who just got married and moved there 6 months ago) Of course I was shocked, because their excuse for not visiting us was always, it's too far, it's too hot, we're not good at traveling, it's too expensive, etc.... Just an FYI, but his brother lives 20 hours from his parents, we live 26 hours, and typically it's all of 3 degrees cooler there. Anyways, apparently his mom and brother were both raving about how they were so excited to get all this family time together in Alabama on their facebook statuses, not that anyone had bothered to tell us they were coming. My husband was upset at this point, but decided not to mention anything his parents, expecting them to tell him about it when he talked to them in a few days.
10 days later, he's texting with his brother, and out of no where his brother stops responding, he didn't think much of it, till he got a text saying "mom and dad just pulled in and brought all the rest of our stuff from NY and I'll be a little busy with them for the next 10 days, bye". At this point, my husband is flat out ticked! His parents HATE HATE HATE road trips, they used to complain about traveling an hour and a half to see him when he had his internships in college, yet they can drive 20 hours to his brother's house to bring his stuff from NY when they've been supposed to ship ours for awhile now? It's not even the stuff that makes him so mad, it's the fact that no one bothered to inform him of these travel plans and give him the chance to arrange for us to come out to Alabama (a 10 hours trip for us) and meet them there, or meet somewhere in between on a gulf coast beach, or anything, plus the fact that his brother's only been gone 6 months and he's been gone 18 months. At this point, he's just hurt that clearly his brother massively outranks him (no duh, if you read my older blog!) and his parents don't seem to care anything about him.
Then, yesterday, the topper of everything- his mom calls him, wakes him up on his day off, to go on and on about what a wonderful time they're having with his brother and how beautiful a certain beach (only 6 hours from us!) and could he look something up for her while he was on the phone. Then, she has the gaul to get on facebook and brag about how wonderful their "family time" with my BIL and their DIL (oh, by the way, I'm the wife, she's their daughter) and how it's so good to be all together.
Yeah, my inlaws are JERKS!!!! Nicest word I can find. I was at work when all this was going on yesterday morning, and biting my tongue working in the office at church was a bit difficult. Oh the verbal lashing I wanted to give those people. In the words of a certain childhood TV show- HOW RUDE?! Are you 4 year olds bragging about a toy to tease another kid, I mean, seriously, GROW UP!! You treat your own child that way? I don't care how grown up and independant he is, it's just mean, hurtful, and rude! I thought parental love was supposed to be unconditional? They complain that he's too focused on me and not enough on his "real family" yet they treat him like this and expect him to come running home to them? They're lucky he talks to them at all according to me.
See if we come see you next time we're in NY.
I've had to repeatedly forgive my inlaws for various things in our marriage, nearly daily when we lived in NY, and I have forgiven them, I don't hold on to old things, I'm not still angry, but I completely 100% do not trust them not to hurt us again. There's a big difference between bitterness and protecting yourself. And it's okay to guard yourself against further hurt after you've forgiven someone. Turning the other cheek doesn't mean you can't also remove yourself from a bad situation. I think we're at the point where we have to do that, but my husband is too hurt and upset to react at this point. He's at the "numb" stage of disbelief that his parents are that bad. He's hurting, I'm hurting for him, but I also want to beat the crap out of the people who hurt him so we can move on. Too bad it doesn't work that way......
Friday, August 5, 2011
Philly Cheesesteaks
Ingredients-
4 Sandwich rolls
2 TBs butter
3/4 pound thick sliced deli roast beef torn into bite sized pieces.
1/2 medium vidalia (or any sweet) onion - chopped
1/2 large green pepper - chopped
6 slices provolone cheese
Montreal Steak Seasoning to taste
Turn oven to 300. Slice open rolls and place directly on rack, cut side down. Bake 5 minutes if until slightly dried out.
In a large skillet, melt 1 TB butter over medium heat.
Add roast beef and seasoning, stir fry til edges are brown.
Top with cheese, turn off heat and set aside.
In a smaller skillet, melt 1 TB butter over medium high heat. Add chopped veggies to hot skillet, move them around constantly for 5-7 minutes til edges are charred.
Fill rolls with meat/cheese and then top with grilled veggies.
I just use unseasoned skin on French fries and season them myself, baked according to the bag directions.
Enjoy!
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Thursday, August 4, 2011
New Layout.
Please bear with me as I tweak the layout this week. I'm bored with the old one, but still deciding what I like, so its a work in process.
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Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Lots to catch up, some links and giveaways!
So, again, it's been over a week, I'm really bad at remembering that real computers with real keyboards exist at home, since I live on one all day at work, and all my essential communications can be done on my cell phone wherever.
In the last week and a half I've-
Worked both jobs, taught lessons, gained 3 new students for the coming school year. The new job is going GREAT!! We're getting a full team going and it's so much fun to be involved in so much of what's going on at the church. Some of the new people on the team are even younger than me, which is also great, even if one won't stop calling me "ma'am"! :)
Taken my mom shopping all over the place and to see the Winnie the Pooh movie for her birthday. GREAT first movie for a small child! Cute music, cute story, funny and sentimental without being a sob story for adults! Also, only 69 minutes long! Easy to sit through! Most the voices were good, Tigger was the same as the one in the 60's-90's cartoons, and that guy did Pooh too, and did a great job. Not sure how I feel about Craig Ferguson doing Owl's voice, I mean he's not exactly kid friendly, not that kids know who he is, but it's still weird.
I've been starting to collect things for our new place, which I haven't definitively found yet. We've picked the complex, but we need to go meet management and see actual units available in two different styles and fill out paperwork.
We got a free couch from someone I work with, and it's in perfect condition, and comes with a coffee table! Fantastic! I'm totally covering it with a slip cover, but it was free, and it's a sleeper and will serve as a guest bed! Double fantastic!
Also, I'm getting hooked on Etsy again, also another little online shop or two. I'm debating between several pieces from Splendor Shop Great jewelry, great prices, and she has a great blog too! I also just figured out today that my sister knew her sister when she lived in Houston! Small world!
I also entered in a GIVEAWAY over on 5k's and Chardonnay again! She's been hosting a ton of fantastic giveaways lately, you should totally follow!
I'm off to make dinner, homemade mac and cheese, and maybe some cupcakes to follow, I need chocolate this week!
In the last week and a half I've-
Worked both jobs, taught lessons, gained 3 new students for the coming school year. The new job is going GREAT!! We're getting a full team going and it's so much fun to be involved in so much of what's going on at the church. Some of the new people on the team are even younger than me, which is also great, even if one won't stop calling me "ma'am"! :)
Taken my mom shopping all over the place and to see the Winnie the Pooh movie for her birthday. GREAT first movie for a small child! Cute music, cute story, funny and sentimental without being a sob story for adults! Also, only 69 minutes long! Easy to sit through! Most the voices were good, Tigger was the same as the one in the 60's-90's cartoons, and that guy did Pooh too, and did a great job. Not sure how I feel about Craig Ferguson doing Owl's voice, I mean he's not exactly kid friendly, not that kids know who he is, but it's still weird.
I've been starting to collect things for our new place, which I haven't definitively found yet. We've picked the complex, but we need to go meet management and see actual units available in two different styles and fill out paperwork.
We got a free couch from someone I work with, and it's in perfect condition, and comes with a coffee table! Fantastic! I'm totally covering it with a slip cover, but it was free, and it's a sleeper and will serve as a guest bed! Double fantastic!
Also, I'm getting hooked on Etsy again, also another little online shop or two. I'm debating between several pieces from Splendor Shop Great jewelry, great prices, and she has a great blog too! I also just figured out today that my sister knew her sister when she lived in Houston! Small world!
I also entered in a GIVEAWAY over on 5k's and Chardonnay again! She's been hosting a ton of fantastic giveaways lately, you should totally follow!
I'm off to make dinner, homemade mac and cheese, and maybe some cupcakes to follow, I need chocolate this week!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
11 days is much better than a month!
So, at least this time I should have less to catch you up on, but I don't!
I started my new job yesterday! I got it! It's amazing!
I'm an administrative assistant in the worship ministries department at our church, 30 hours a week, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-3:00pm. My job is to take the service orders, created by the pastor and worship pastor, pull the music, create the teleprompts, leaders sheets, media team sheets, and power points for the three English services we have every week. My office is amazing! I'm sharing the front worship department office with a fantastic lady I know from kids choir, my kids choir coordinator is one of the full time staff, as well as the worship secretary and our new worship pastor. We have an amazing office, with a full kitchen and a Kuerig! I have my own giant desk and shelves and can't wait to decorate them! I need to get a print order into the lab ASAP!
But, the best part is, I get to be home in time to teach lessons and still be a house wife again!!! I'm totally loving having time to grab groceries on the way home and make my husband dinner at night, I can run errands, keep clean laundry, and be home at night, instead of closing the store. I'm still working a few shifts while they try to get a couple people promoted through HR, but only like 2 a week for another 2-3 weeks.
Of course, the two jobs for a few weeks means extra pay checks, which is fantastic for saving for our new place.
Hopefully I'll have news on that in a couple of weeks.
So, with a regular schedule, I can also get back to regular blogging. Any ideas for what I should blog about? I've got a bunch of sermon notes from our pastors latest series I'm dying to blog about. Should be a good discussion starter as the series is of the political nature, and a few recipes I'm planning to try and hopefully share. Anything else?
Back to finishing up dinner. Oh it's good to be home evenings again!
I started my new job yesterday! I got it! It's amazing!
I'm an administrative assistant in the worship ministries department at our church, 30 hours a week, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-3:00pm. My job is to take the service orders, created by the pastor and worship pastor, pull the music, create the teleprompts, leaders sheets, media team sheets, and power points for the three English services we have every week. My office is amazing! I'm sharing the front worship department office with a fantastic lady I know from kids choir, my kids choir coordinator is one of the full time staff, as well as the worship secretary and our new worship pastor. We have an amazing office, with a full kitchen and a Kuerig! I have my own giant desk and shelves and can't wait to decorate them! I need to get a print order into the lab ASAP!
But, the best part is, I get to be home in time to teach lessons and still be a house wife again!!! I'm totally loving having time to grab groceries on the way home and make my husband dinner at night, I can run errands, keep clean laundry, and be home at night, instead of closing the store. I'm still working a few shifts while they try to get a couple people promoted through HR, but only like 2 a week for another 2-3 weeks.
Of course, the two jobs for a few weeks means extra pay checks, which is fantastic for saving for our new place.
Hopefully I'll have news on that in a couple of weeks.
So, with a regular schedule, I can also get back to regular blogging. Any ideas for what I should blog about? I've got a bunch of sermon notes from our pastors latest series I'm dying to blog about. Should be a good discussion starter as the series is of the political nature, and a few recipes I'm planning to try and hopefully share. Anything else?
Back to finishing up dinner. Oh it's good to be home evenings again!
Friday, July 8, 2011
I'm still here.....
sort of, most of the time!
Things have been a little hectic lately.
Instead of my normal 18-24 hours at work, I've been working 35-40, plus lessons still, and a few photoshoots, so I'm a bit behind on basically everything else.
Work has become torturous, my co-manager is out to get me, I'm serious. I know that sounds juvenile, and petty middle-school-ish, but, basically, she dumps everything on me, doesn't do the parts of her job that she doesn't like, blames me when things aren't done and then takes my hours, gives them to girls who are only available for like 2 specific shifts a week and then gives me the crummy hours. Everytime I come in after her the store is a mess, whatever task of the day is only half done when it should be finished and she's giving me attitude to do her work and complaining how she has to do everything, when all she's doing is kissing up to the big clients and ignoring everything else. She thinks she's buddy buddy with the district manager, calling her and texting her about pointless stuff and treating anyone who doesn't look like they're going to spend at least $500 bucks like garbage, making me get complaints from clients and having to wait on 12 people at a time, instead of 1 like her.
So, basically, I'm done with work.
I applied and interviewed for a admin position at church last week. I'm still in the running because they've been checking my references this week, but I haven't heard anything. It's been 8 days, so I'm kind of going crazy waiting. I really want to be done with my store now, but I'm sticking it out, just in case. The new job would be a huge answer to prayer, it would allow me the freedom to teach, to volunteer with kids programs at church, and to be home to cook and take care of things at home when we move out in 2-3 months. So, be praying things resolve quickly, so I know if I need to keep looking, or can kindly leave the position I'm at.
My husband's trying very hard not to die in the heat down here. His job is outdoors, on a golf course, running, literally, 18 holes of golf every day. For those of you not familiar with Houston summers, temperatures start in the triple digits by 11am, and stay there til 6pm, and that's before you add another 10 degrees for humidity and heat index. For those of you not familiar with golf, 18 holes is roughly 6.5-7 miles, up and down hill, and takes about 4 hours to play, the most popular tee times are right after lunch. So, yeah, he's trying not to die daily. We go through alot of propel and gatorade, and a chick-fil-a milkshake is a daily after work snack for him, just trying to cool down.
We're still at my parents, with the plan to move out in September. Debts, besides my husband's school loans and our recently acquired car payment, are all paid off. Now it's just saving for furniture and start up costs. I've been stalking the Macys home sales this summer picking up a few things at a time, and I think we finally have enough towels to have a completely new set and get rid of our wedding gift ones. 5 years later, and I think it's time! Same with sheets, I've been picking up sets and pieces whenever they're on sale. Basically the only things I kept from our place in NY were the pots and pans and dishes, so everything else needs replacing, it's so much fun getting to decorate all over again! I can't wait to get our place and post tours in a few months.
Photoshoot recaps and recipes coming this weekend, or today, depending on how today goes.
Things have been a little hectic lately.
Instead of my normal 18-24 hours at work, I've been working 35-40, plus lessons still, and a few photoshoots, so I'm a bit behind on basically everything else.
Work has become torturous, my co-manager is out to get me, I'm serious. I know that sounds juvenile, and petty middle-school-ish, but, basically, she dumps everything on me, doesn't do the parts of her job that she doesn't like, blames me when things aren't done and then takes my hours, gives them to girls who are only available for like 2 specific shifts a week and then gives me the crummy hours. Everytime I come in after her the store is a mess, whatever task of the day is only half done when it should be finished and she's giving me attitude to do her work and complaining how she has to do everything, when all she's doing is kissing up to the big clients and ignoring everything else. She thinks she's buddy buddy with the district manager, calling her and texting her about pointless stuff and treating anyone who doesn't look like they're going to spend at least $500 bucks like garbage, making me get complaints from clients and having to wait on 12 people at a time, instead of 1 like her.
So, basically, I'm done with work.
I applied and interviewed for a admin position at church last week. I'm still in the running because they've been checking my references this week, but I haven't heard anything. It's been 8 days, so I'm kind of going crazy waiting. I really want to be done with my store now, but I'm sticking it out, just in case. The new job would be a huge answer to prayer, it would allow me the freedom to teach, to volunteer with kids programs at church, and to be home to cook and take care of things at home when we move out in 2-3 months. So, be praying things resolve quickly, so I know if I need to keep looking, or can kindly leave the position I'm at.
My husband's trying very hard not to die in the heat down here. His job is outdoors, on a golf course, running, literally, 18 holes of golf every day. For those of you not familiar with Houston summers, temperatures start in the triple digits by 11am, and stay there til 6pm, and that's before you add another 10 degrees for humidity and heat index. For those of you not familiar with golf, 18 holes is roughly 6.5-7 miles, up and down hill, and takes about 4 hours to play, the most popular tee times are right after lunch. So, yeah, he's trying not to die daily. We go through alot of propel and gatorade, and a chick-fil-a milkshake is a daily after work snack for him, just trying to cool down.
We're still at my parents, with the plan to move out in September. Debts, besides my husband's school loans and our recently acquired car payment, are all paid off. Now it's just saving for furniture and start up costs. I've been stalking the Macys home sales this summer picking up a few things at a time, and I think we finally have enough towels to have a completely new set and get rid of our wedding gift ones. 5 years later, and I think it's time! Same with sheets, I've been picking up sets and pieces whenever they're on sale. Basically the only things I kept from our place in NY were the pots and pans and dishes, so everything else needs replacing, it's so much fun getting to decorate all over again! I can't wait to get our place and post tours in a few months.
Photoshoot recaps and recipes coming this weekend, or today, depending on how today goes.
Monday, June 6, 2011
I'm a Grown-up Again!
Considering the fact that I bought my first car within days of getting my license, I've been feeling like I was 12 again.
I'm an independent woman once again!
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Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Random Ramblings
Today's been a productive day, productivity leads to creativity, which leads to rambling. But, since I'm off work, car-less and housebound, that means you get to deal with my rambling! Ha! Sorry, stop reading now if you're not in the mood for my perky energy thing going on today! And I've only had 3 shots of espresso!
I headed to the gym this morning ran a mile in under 10 to get in my cardio, did 100 reps on both leg machines, skipped the arm reps because the old men kept budging me, went to the grocery store, came home, did 100 crunches and scrubbed the kitchen floor to finish off the workout. Then I did 2 loads of laundry, cleaned our living room and straightened the bathroom. Did I mention this was all before 12:30? I'd consider that a pretty productive morning.
Speaking of workouts, I'm looking for opinions-Pilates or Zumba to tone? I'm putting on too much bulk just running and doing reps so I need something else to rotate in, what are pros and cons of each? I've never done an exercise class before, so I'm trying to get all the info I can before I show up naive and stupid at one!
I'm totally dying to throw at least 3 parties. My Pinterest boards are FULL of foods that would be perfect for brunches, dessert parties, decorating ideas, presentation ideas, everything for hostessing! Someone give me an excuse!! Please!!
I'm loving summer clothes suddenly. My conservative northeast side is telling me all this white that's so in is crazy and ridiculous and impractical, but my new southern girl lifestyle is telling me I need to expand my horizons. White shorts maybe? White skirt? Would definitely make my legs look even more tan than they already get simply living down here.
Buying all these summer clothes is making me realize I have far too many sweaters and jeans and wintery dresses and boots. I'm wondering if anyone else has any success with blog sales, how do you set your prices, what does shipping cost and have you even had any success? Tips anyone?
I think that's it for now, the sunshine is calling my getting paler by the busy day skin. :)
Comments, advice and responses would be awesome to alot of these topics!
I headed to the gym this morning ran a mile in under 10 to get in my cardio, did 100 reps on both leg machines, skipped the arm reps because the old men kept budging me, went to the grocery store, came home, did 100 crunches and scrubbed the kitchen floor to finish off the workout. Then I did 2 loads of laundry, cleaned our living room and straightened the bathroom. Did I mention this was all before 12:30? I'd consider that a pretty productive morning.
Speaking of workouts, I'm looking for opinions-Pilates or Zumba to tone? I'm putting on too much bulk just running and doing reps so I need something else to rotate in, what are pros and cons of each? I've never done an exercise class before, so I'm trying to get all the info I can before I show up naive and stupid at one!
I'm totally dying to throw at least 3 parties. My Pinterest boards are FULL of foods that would be perfect for brunches, dessert parties, decorating ideas, presentation ideas, everything for hostessing! Someone give me an excuse!! Please!!
I'm loving summer clothes suddenly. My conservative northeast side is telling me all this white that's so in is crazy and ridiculous and impractical, but my new southern girl lifestyle is telling me I need to expand my horizons. White shorts maybe? White skirt? Would definitely make my legs look even more tan than they already get simply living down here.
Buying all these summer clothes is making me realize I have far too many sweaters and jeans and wintery dresses and boots. I'm wondering if anyone else has any success with blog sales, how do you set your prices, what does shipping cost and have you even had any success? Tips anyone?
I think that's it for now, the sunshine is calling my getting paler by the busy day skin. :)
Comments, advice and responses would be awesome to alot of these topics!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Homemade Chicken Fingers
This is probably my husband's ultimate favorite food that I make. I don't do it that often, because it's probably not the healthiest even if it is WAY healthier than it's fast food counter part, but also, because it involves oil that can splatter, and I'd like to keep him excited about it! :)
1 Package Chicken Tender Pieces (roughly 1.25-1.5 pounds)
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Unseasoned Bread Crumbs
1/2 Cup Flour
Salt, Pepper, Paprika to smell/taste
1 TB Chicken Bouillon Seasoning
Fill bottom only of a large deep skillet or frying pan with vegetable oil, turn heat to low until just before chicken is ready to fry.
Beat Egg and Milk in a small bowl
Trim any fat off of chicken pieces and let "swim" in the bowl the a few seconds, flipping them around a bit to make sure they're evenly coated.
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1 Package Chicken Tender Pieces (roughly 1.25-1.5 pounds)
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Unseasoned Bread Crumbs
1/2 Cup Flour
Salt, Pepper, Paprika to smell/taste
1 TB Chicken Bouillon Seasoning
Fill bottom only of a large deep skillet or frying pan with vegetable oil, turn heat to low until just before chicken is ready to fry.
Beat Egg and Milk in a small bowl
Trim any fat off of chicken pieces and let "swim" in the bowl the a few seconds, flipping them around a bit to make sure they're evenly coated.
Mix together dry ingredients in pie pan.
Coat Egg washed chicken pieces in mixture. Dip and press into breading mixture on both sides to completely coat.
Set to side to let settle for a couple of minutes before frying.
Turn heat up to Medium to Medium High so chicken sizzles as soon as you add it to oil.
Cook 5-6 minutes on each side, or until golden brown, being careful not to crowd the pan.
Your oil should stay clean enough for 3 batches, so don't rush and put all the chicken in at once.
Remove and drain on paper towel covered plate. Serve warm with French Fries or other Potato Dish.
ENJOY!
Mac and Cheese
So I cooked two real meals this week! 2! And worked, and we still have clean clothes! It's a miracle compared to recent weeks!
So, I figured I should share-
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese (I've adapted it some over the years)
Boil/Cook 12oz Pasta (medium elbow, small shell, spiral or bowtie work best) in an oven safe pot if possible. I use my Le Crueset Oval Dutch Oven.
Preheat Oven to 350.
Drain, butter insides of dutch oven/pan, return pasta to pan.
Add 12oz mixed cheddars shredded cheese (I use one bag 3 Cheddar Blend plus 1/2 a bag of Mild Cheddar, you can also add Monterray Jack or Colby) and 2 TB light Mayonnaise.
Stir and drizzle with 2 TB Milk.
So, I figured I should share-
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese (I've adapted it some over the years)
Boil/Cook 12oz Pasta (medium elbow, small shell, spiral or bowtie work best) in an oven safe pot if possible. I use my Le Crueset Oval Dutch Oven.
Preheat Oven to 350.
Drain, butter insides of dutch oven/pan, return pasta to pan.
Add 12oz mixed cheddars shredded cheese (I use one bag 3 Cheddar Blend plus 1/2 a bag of Mild Cheddar, you can also add Monterray Jack or Colby) and 2 TB light Mayonnaise.
Stir and drizzle with 2 TB Milk.
Melt 1 stick unsalted butter in microwave. Crush 1 sleeve Ritz Crackers into butter and mix with fork til all crackers are moistened.
Spread over pasta.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until crackers are golden.
ENJOY!
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Friday, May 27, 2011
Happiness is.....
A good cup of coffee
A day off driving around running errands and listening to country :)
A good hair day (mine didn't start off good, but I got fed up around 3:00 and rinsed it out and started over, yes, I'm that shallow sometimes)
Scheduling photo shoots
Making your husband's favorite dinner and being appreciated for it.
Having clean sheets on the bed
Knowing you only have to work 11 hours of the holiday weekend in order to get paid for 14.
Figuring out that by August I may be able to be self employed, or at least only have to work minimum part time for anyone else :)
Food posts coming tomorrow.
A day off driving around running errands and listening to country :)
A good hair day (mine didn't start off good, but I got fed up around 3:00 and rinsed it out and started over, yes, I'm that shallow sometimes)
Scheduling photo shoots
Making your husband's favorite dinner and being appreciated for it.
Having clean sheets on the bed
Knowing you only have to work 11 hours of the holiday weekend in order to get paid for 14.
Figuring out that by August I may be able to be self employed, or at least only have to work minimum part time for anyone else :)
Food posts coming tomorrow.
More Giveaways!
I promise, I really will post about something other than giveaways, it's just that so many people are having so many good ones these days!
Faith Hope Love is hosting a Scentsy giveaway HERE.
I got rid of most of my candles when I left the northeast, figuring they wouldn't be as practical in the south since they gave off alot of heat. Well, Scentsy would be perfect then!
and
5K's and Chardonnay is hosting ANOTHER giveaway HERE for adorable hair bows from Bows and Buttons on Etsy.
I'll always take a chance on winning a cute free present for my niece, and this gives you 3 adorable little girl bows of your choice from their Etsy shop!
Good luck!
Faith Hope Love is hosting a Scentsy giveaway HERE.
I got rid of most of my candles when I left the northeast, figuring they wouldn't be as practical in the south since they gave off alot of heat. Well, Scentsy would be perfect then!
and
5K's and Chardonnay is hosting ANOTHER giveaway HERE for adorable hair bows from Bows and Buttons on Etsy.
I'll always take a chance on winning a cute free present for my niece, and this gives you 3 adorable little girl bows of your choice from their Etsy shop!
Good luck!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Another giveaway!
So shoot me, the only giveaways I ever find are ones for me niece!
Mrs Stethoscope at 5K's and Chardonnay is hosting another great little girl Giveaway, sponsored by Tied and True Tutus on Etsy.
Go enter!
Mrs Stethoscope at 5K's and Chardonnay is hosting another great little girl Giveaway, sponsored by Tied and True Tutus on Etsy.
Go enter!
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