Thank You Shutterfly!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting Christmas cards with PICTURES!! Okay, so maybe I love getting any piece of mail that isn't a bill - but I definitely hang the Christmas picture cards up on display for much longer that just the holidays!

This is why I am SOO SOO excited about using Shutterfly for the very first time with their Christmas Card giveaway!

I love the picture cards they have this year!

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/flat-stationery-cards

These are my favorites!!









I cannot WAIT to figure out which pictures we will use for ours - maybe one from our trip to Colorado in the snow?? Or the traditional FL card - on the beach or in a tank top?? :)

Maybe I should get a picture of the dogs posted on a mug for Nate?? HA! It could be his first “dad” Christmas gift….from the pups!

THANK YOU SHUTTERFLY!! Visit www.shutterfly.com and get your cards today!!

Chicken Pot Pie!

So, I am not even a huge fan of chicken pot pie...but last week for some reason I was craving it! WIERD! :) I have really been trying to use more fresh veggis (less frozen)...so I headed to the store to get the supplies! I have never even made this before..and didn't have a recipe - but it turned out SOOOO yummy - and BONUS!! - NO PEAS! :) It was super easy, and only took about 45 minutes -including prep...definitely a bonus in this house!

Ingredients:
2 pie crusts (yes, these were frozen not from scratch)
rotissere chicken
fresh green beans
fresh broccoli
fresh carrots
1/3 small sweet onion
1 pat butter
1 boullion cube
Low-fat sharp cheddar cheese

Chop the veggis, and boil them with the boullion cube until they are tender but not smushy. Saute the chopped onion with the pat of butter until the onions are soft and clear... chop the chicken. Combine the chicken with the veggis (strained)...stir in cheese (to taste) and then add approx. 1/4 - 1/2 cup of the broth that the veggis cooked in... (just enough to keep it from drying out in the oven)...add the mixture to the pie crust...top with more cheese if you want (of course the more cheese the better!)..and then put the second crust on top..cut slivers to vent!
Bake until the crust is golden brown (about 25-30 minutes)!! Cut and Enjoy!

This recipe got 4 thumbs up in our house...I'm sure if I was permitted to share - it would have gotten 8 paws too :)

Project #1

WOOHOO!!!

Project number one is checked off the list before the "project week" is even officially started! :)

Removal of a B-E-A-UTIFUL 1980's mirrored medicine cabinet....and replacing it with a super cute white one with baskets! :) This bathroom is 80% finished now...with the exception of a new vanity...however....I have a few other projects that I want to do before that one....ones that cost a little less mooolah! :)

Yes, I used a power tool, and YES I am officially addicted.







Oh, and I did the removal all by myself for those of you who were wondering...and only needed Nate for the installation to pick up the cabinet...simply because I couldn't see behind the cabinet to match it up with the bracket AND hold the cabinet at the same time...I think I can officially be called a handy-woman...:)

Week of "Vacation"

I am soo very very excited for THANKSGIVING BREAK!!! :0)

Next week is going to be my "Project - Get It Done - Week!"

With a week off I am hoping to accomplish:

1. Painting
-office & great room
- new shutters ,and front door
- frames around kitchen lights

2. Organize/ Clean Out
- guest room closet
- office closet
- coat closet in foyer

3. Projects
- New medicine cabinet in hall bathroom
- 3 new ceiling fans (kitchen, guest b.room and office)
- create large picture frames using distressed antique windows


This is my "starter" list... I am so excited I cannot stand it! :) We spent a little time at Garden Ridge this past weekend - and it really got me on a role!

I spent Friday night cleaning and reorganizing the office, and Sat night cleaning out and reorganizing the linen closet and our master bath cabinets...(before watching FSU barely squeak out a win and give me a mild heart attack ...totally beside the point I know..) ...

I am really starting to get on the ball with things I have been meaning to start...the problem is...once i start I like to completely finish...therefor I put off starting until I know I have time....
anyway...hopefully I will take some before and after pictures to post...I always forget the before pictures... :)

Happy Monday!

New Cookies! :)

Magic Peanut Butter Middle Cookies!

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/magic-peanut-butter-middles/Detail.aspx

I didn't alter this recipe at all, I have found with cookies, follow it exactly the first time....see if you like it or if it's even WORTH tweaking..then fix 'em how you like! :)

Anyway, Dad turned *ahhemm* and I always make him peanut butter cookies for his birthday...but I wanted to try a new recipe that combined his favorite cookie (peanut butter) and his favorite candy (recee cups)...these cookies definitely did the trick! And i don't even LIKE peanut butter! :)

They weren't nearly as tedious to make as i thought they would be, in fact were super easy! Just follow the directions!

Give Thanks.

Simple. As. That.
Give Thanks.

The mood in our house lately has been a little less than thankful, to say the least. Unfortunantly it seems like jobs, stress, bills, wanting new things, home improvement projects all take priority and turn into a class of UNcontentment.

Which is sad - because while Nate and I rarely disagree...when we do, it always ends the same way.....me crying and him trying to fix it. And I would be willing to bet that 10 out of 10 times...when we really boil down what all the "frustration" is about...its something so silly and insignifigant...which usually results from a lack of contentment.

We were talking the other day...and while we seem to never run out of "wants" and "needs" and "desires"....we rarely ever sit down to think about all the awesome things we already HAVE! How blessed are we!?!?! House. Dogs. Family. Church. SALVATION! Food. Bills Paid. Jobs. we could go on and on!! Yet, somehow we only seem to see the negative! Why is this?!

Anyway, long story short...I was trying to think of a way to focus on the positives in our lives...when low and behold...a blog that I follow...(http://networkedblogs.com/akQ9n)..and apparently alot of other people love as well posted about a "thanks" jar...where everyday they add things to the jar they are thankful for...and at the end of the month they will read over them! How awesome - and encouraging!!

Anyway - after a quick trup to Hobby Lobby for: Glass Jar, Craft Paper, and Glass Etching Creme....it was CRAFTING time! :)

I tried a couple of different ways to cut the "stencil" for the jar....The best way I found was to free hand (with sharpie) onto duck tape and use a box cuter to cut them out.
Then you just stick it on the jar the way you want...cover the "stencil" with the glass etching creme - and then wait! i waited about 7 minutes and then just washed it off...pulled off the stencil and viola!
Then....we are simply writing one thing we are thankful for on a piece of the fall colored paper everyday...it looks cute on the counter too! :)

So here are just a few pictures :)

Grey is the NEW Black!

TRY THIS!! The BEST polish I have bought in a while! I love trying new colors and actually LIKING them! :)

Day 7 - The X Games are Calling

Soo... it snowed - and we were in the mountains...and my husband is an adrenaline junky, and master of all sports I am not. Nate surfs, skates, wakeboards, kneeboards, and does all those "punky" things that I have never had the knack for. BUT we were in Colorado, where it's world class skiing/snowboarding...and of course...they open the slopes for the first week of the "season" while we are there...
so guess where we went....you got it...to the slopes. Now mind you, I have gone "skiing" before...however, spent almost two days on the bunny slope...barely made in off the mountain in one piece! And honestly, didn't have much fun - BUT I knew I should give it another shot...for once, I didn't have a coach (who will remain nameless aahhemmm "DAD")reminding me that if I hurt myself I would be out for the entire softball season.

We made it to the mountain, and i was totally excited...then I saw the hills...and the ski lift...and the 4000 other people who all looked like they knew exactly what they were doing....then i started to get nervous...
Nate stood at the bottom of the mountain with me for almost 20 minutes as I watched people fly down the mountain falling, jumping, and doing all kinds of tricks at speeds i did not think looked too safe!

After talking myself BACK into trying it...we went in to get sized for a board..and the guy says....you have NEVER snowboarded before?? (No, sir, we have SAND where I come from...not this white cold stuff!) ...he then precedes to tell us how much harder than skiing it is, and how these are NOT conditions for a beginner! Great THANK YOU sir, for the vote of confidence!

Little did he know that, telling me I CANT do something, only makes me want to do it more! So, I got fitted, grabbed my board and got on the slope! Now, I busted my butt getting off the lift...okay, maybe it was my face....either way..I busted...and I busted again and again and again! IT WAS SOOOO FUN!!!!

I got the hang of it, but just had a little trouble steering!! Nate did AWESOME! It took him a bit ,but I am pretty sure if you ask him about it he would say it was his new favorite thing to do!

We might have to go every year now! :) love this!! Did I mention that it is Sunday, and I can hardly move I am still so sore?!

Day 6

Denver ZOO!!

Nate and I LOVE all things four-legged or furry - so we always try to go to the zoo in the cities we visit!
Yes, we were the only ones that didn't have a stroller or young one in tow ... but we have no problem with that! :) This zoo had alot of BABY animals!! So cute!! Also, we could get alot closer to the animals here that some zoos - which obviously made it easier for me, since I am normally a fence jumper at the zoo! :)

Just a few pics!