Being Domestic

So I have been addicted to Pinterest for some time and I barely ever get on facebook anymore because I immediately go to Pinterest before going anywhere else and stay there forever. : ) Anyways, I have found so many wonderful recipes on Pinterest and have been trying some of them out. My pinterest is here.

I started with a basic chicken crock pot dinner found here.

It was okay. I probably won't make it again. It was good for a crock pot meal but not much flavor. I served it over rice. It did make A TON! I even cut back the chicken since it was just Justin and I and we still ate it for two dinners and a lunch for me.

Next we made the chicken goat cheese quesadilla. They were my favorite thing we have made. I LOVE GOAT CHEESE so add in some chicken and cheese- delish! I served these with an avocado sour cream dip. Also, delish. 5 stars for this meal. And again we had leftovers. They are found here.

For lunch I am making these. I'll let you know how they turn out.

For the sweets I have made Pink Lemonade Funfetti Cookies- they were DELISH and super easy.

I am going to the store this afternoon to pick up the ingredients to make...

- Strawberry Nachos- *I can't wait for these*
- Baked Ham & Cheese Sliders with Poppy seed dressing
-Skinny Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Nutatella Puff Pastry
- Lime Sherbet without an ice-cream machine
-Homemade fondant

To see all of these recipes go to my pinterest and look under the cooking board and/or sweets board. ADDICTED!

Also just for fun--- so I was in the kitchen getting the baked potato ready and when I came back into the living room Pip was laying on the couch watching "The Dog Whisperer" with his paw right on the remote. Apparently, he is in charge of the remote today.

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

the wonderful:
I got a job!! It is at the new school where I really wanted to be. However it is not a teaching position but its the next best thing for me. I am going to be the library assistant. I absolutely LOVE reading children's books and now I am going to get paid to read to the children. And of all years this is a great year to be in the library. They cut the librarians in half. So the librarian I will be working with with only be there half the time and the other half I will be in charge of the library. Doing the lessons, teaching the kids, keeping the library running. It is perfect. : ) I am super excited. Here is the story area of the library:

the good:
I used my Mom's steam mop on our floors! THEY SHINE! I will never go back to the regular mop again! I loved it!
the worst:
I had a spot removed on my back a month or so ago. Well before we left for Mexico I got my results that I had moderate levels of atipa cells. (pre-cancerous) So they were going to have to take more out. When I had the spot originally removed they just burned it off, well I had to go back on Monday and have some more taken out.

the bad:
Pip ate an ant bait station last night. UGH! talk about panic when it comes to this momma bear. I was so scared! Thankfully we googled the brand and it said he should be okay just to keep a close eye on him. Well thats what we did and low and behold he threw up a little while later, drank some water and seems to be fine ever since.

the ugly:
the photo of my back with my stitches

Paradise Found

So for our 2 year anniversary we were blessed to be able to go on vacation to Playa Muejeres, Mexico with some of our very dear friends, Megan & Daniel. Daniel & Justin have been friends since college and Justin probably talks to Daniel as much as he talks to me. haha. We had a BLAST! Going with another couple was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed each others company. Megan & I have become friends as well so it was a win win situation for all four of us. I am so thankful for that. It was a perfect vacation.

We did NOTHING but lay on the beach every day. We would get up, order room service, eat, head to the beach, lay around, get in the water a little, eat lunch on the beach, take our nap on the beach, lay around some more, get in the water a little more before going back to our rooms to shower and meet back up for dinner in one of the 8 restaurants our resort had.

I would totally recommend our resort to anyone. It was fabulous!! We stayed at the Excellence Playa Muejeres. Each day they would stock your mini fridge with glass bottled drinks! I loved it! I have a thing for bottled cokes! : ) So without further ado- the thing you have been waiting for...pictures of our trip. Enjoy!

Make your own free digital slideshow

I love my husband!

I have been a major slacker in the blogging world the past couple of months. I just don't know whats come over me. Perhaps its that nothing exciting has been happening. However, something VERY exciting happened last week. 

Justin and I celebrated being married for two years! We have done a lot in our two years of being together. We have pushed each other to be stronger, held each other when we were weak and fought for each other when needed. We truly are a wonderful team if I do say so myself.

To think back to when we first started dating always being nervous, wondering whether he would kiss me goodnight, making my roommate go on all our dates with us because I was so nervous (I mean he is 5 years older than me and I was just a sophomore in college) and to somehow get to the point where I was wondering every holiday, occasion, etc when he would propose. All the way to the final moment being on the patio of his parents lake house where he told me, "You know I love you right?" before getting down on one knee and asking me to marry him. Oh I am truly the happiest girl in the world. I really can't say enough wonderful things about my husband. Granted I am bias and everyone thinks their husband is the best but honestly, I got pretty darn lucky. : ) He makes me happier than I thought possible and we truly lean on each other for everything.

one of our first photos together @ DG formal- March 2007

My 21st Birthday - January 2008

The night he proposed- January 2009

Just married- July 2009

Cruise for our 1st anniversary- July 2010

Playa Muejeres for our 2nd Anniversary- July 2011

I love him and am so very proud of him. xoxo. 

Happenings

Since I blogged last I suppose I have been kinda busy so instead of writing each one out in its separate post I figured I'd do a recap of whats been happening. Some photos are from my phone and some are from my good camera.

• For the fourth of July, I went to my parents. J had to leave for work so instead of spending the fourth alone, I traveled to be with my parents and grandma. I arrived on Sunday. For the fourth, my aunt and uncle came over along with my grandma and parentals. Here we are at lunch- 

• Mom & I got festive and made some cute decorations out of food. 

• While home Mom and I got crafty. I started my super cute wreath- which I haven't finished- *I'll do a  craft tutorial when finished with all my crafts*, we put photos on canvas (instead of buying them- which was super easy), and a trash bin that goes around the back of your seat for my car thats cute and not just a walmart trash bag

• I came home Wednesday and hubby got home Wednesday too. I have been reading Harry Potter like a maniac and am on the 5th book. I am trying to read all 7 before Friday. I think today I have realized it won't happen. My friend and I are starting a marathon of all the movies this week leading up to the opening of the 7th and final part of the Deathly Hallows on Friday. 
• This weekend we traveled to Houston for our nieces 3rd birthday. I can't believe she is three! She is precious. She kept telling everyone, "Thank you for coming to my party." There were kids everywhere and they were having so much fun! They had a huge blow up water park thingie in the front yard and the kids LOVED it! Happy Birthday Avery!! I hope you had a wonderful birthday!

• After the party, we went to the outlet mall and tried to find Justin some new running shoes, new jeans and me some new jean shorts yet we left with nothing. It was so hot and neither one of us were in the mood to try things on so we walked around and just enjoyed hanging out. 
• Around 3:45ish we headed to visit Nana. Nana is Justin's grandmother. She is a beautiful woman and I thoroughly enjoy getting to spend time with her. The Cokers and Justin and I got there and we all sat in a sitting room for awhile before heading to dinner. We had a good time talking and laughing. She is a hoot! 

Justin, Nana, Taylor (Justin's sister)

The Whole Coker Clan with Nana
Grayson, Cannon, Gunnar, Nana, Ella, Emerson (in the belly), Taylor & Eric

• Today J and I went to church and heard a wonderful sermon on having faith in God. It was exactly what I needed to hear this morning. We came home and Justin got in a crazy cleaning mood and went around cleaning like a mad man- he even went as far as vacuuming after I had vacuumed. He gets cleaning crazy sometimes. Drives me crazy. After awhile we just sat around and watched TV and read some Harry. I then decided I would clean out our closet in our laundry room. It wasn't that it was bad it just needed some organization. Here is what it looked like afterwards...

• I have been in contact with a lady who has the sweetest little puppy. Justin isn't 100% sure and we probably won't get him but he is too cute not to post a photo of. Check out those beautiful blue eyes

• I also put together a cute Disney puzzle and Justin glued it today for my classroom. It was so much fun to do the puzzle. A change in pace. (Granted it took us a total of 20 minutes to finish)

• I'll leave you with some photos from my phone of what's been happening... 

My OOTD : ) 

We babysat my friends puppy, Copper. This was how they were for 3 days. Cooper up on my chest, Pip at my feet. They were adorable together. I loved it!

My cute new cup I got for 50% off at Hobby Lobby. Mom got a matching one as well. : ) 

I looked down at a stop light the other day and look what it was at...2009 miles.
WHOOP!
I graduated from Texas A&M in 2009. 

And I'll leave you with the cutest little thing...Pip. This was him on the way to Kingwood. He lays there with his little paws under his chin. Oh how I love him. 

Summer Weekend

This weekend truly has felt like summer. Friday we did something I have been wanting to do all year. Normally, the 2nd graders go the Blue Bell Factory but this year it was booked so we didn't get to go, however, Friday my dream came true.

Friday morning Carla called us and asked if we wanted to go with them to the Blue Bell Factory for the day. OF COURSE! Justin was hesitant at first, but I told him when he looks back on life he needs to see his weekends full of fun memories not more work. We cleaned up the house, did some laundry, went to Best Buy with Mr. Knight and before we knew it- it was time to leave.

We had a lot of fun. I am glad we went.

Carla & I before the tour started

Justin & Kason in the funny hats : ) They were thrilled, can't you tell?

The Four of Us in front of the cow and girl

Again, the four of us with the old blue bell truck

Me & J in front of cow

Carla & I in front of historic marker

After the factory we all came back to College Station and hung out. Justin grilled us steak for dinner and Justin, Me, Kason, Carla & Mr. Knight all enjoyed a hearty steak and potato dinner. It was a lot of fun and it was good for us all to be together. After eating, the boys all played their game (yes we had two ps3 hooked up in rooms right next to each other- don't judge) and Carla & I looked up swimsuits and talked about our upcoming vacations!

Saturday we relaxed all day- I am re-reading all 7 Harry Potters so I read while J napped. We had a pleasant day just being together and hanging out at home- which for us is rare. Around 4:30 we headed to The Cokers for Ella's 4th Birthday party. She had said she wanted to celebrate with her best friends and family and that is just what we did. We had hot dogs and ice cream. Taylor is so creative and had some super cute decor! The girls all played in the baby pool and played with water guns. It was nice to hear the laughter of little girls and know they don't have a care in the world- their laughter was so genuine. Ella's real birthday is next weekend. I can't believe she is already four. Justin and I are so blessed to be able to be a part of Ella's life. I can remember my aunts & uncles being around and I loved it so I hope that we can be that Aunt & Uncle to Ella. We love you little Ella!!

the mom behind the camera- no one ever gets her on camera!

Ella Bella Ballerina

Picking her cupcake

Today we went to church, stopped at Lowes on the way home, made egg salad for lunch and now Justin is finishing up some work- I'm about to run to walmart for a few things and then I'm gonna get back to my reading! I've got a lot to read before July 15 (the day the 2nd part of the last Harry Potter comes out) Hope you all had a wonderfully summer weekend as well!!

June 18, 2011

On June 18, 2011 my cousin Jennie married Matt. I got back from Virginia just in time. Saturday morning Justin and I drove to Louisiana to watch them get married. It was a beautiful wedding and everyone had a good time.

Not only did Jennie get married on June 18th but it is also Sam's birthday. Sam is Elissa's (cousin) husband. So before the wedding we all went to eat and by "we all" I mean...Dad, Jess, Roy, Me, Justin, Elissa, Sam, Aunt Joan, Uncle Ed, Erin, Jonathan, Kaylee & Annabelle. We went to a place called Copelands. It was where my other cousin had her rehearsal dinner last November. The food was delish but I had a MAJOR headache! After some Advil though thankfully I felt better in time for the wedding.

: ) Before the ceremony

The Birthday Boy, Sam & Elissa

 

Rowen & Paul (my cousins husband)



the beautiful flowers



The Cousin Photo- tradition at our weddings to take the cousin photo in oldest to youngest order. We have this photo dating way back when we still were stair-step height. : ) Emily, the youngest is the only one missing she had clinicals for nursing school Sunday morning and couldn't make it.



Me & Annabelle

A.Joan, Dad & A.Janet (Dad and his sisters)

Erin & Annabelle

the beautiful bride

pretty sisters

J, Me & Dad

Husband & Wife

The Three Cousins that are the same age. Elissa and I are two days apart and Vanessa is a month younger than us. Crazy!

Me and the bride, Jennie

Cousin Photo without the bride & emily

Dad, his girls and their hubbys (Mom was still in Virginia)

It was a beautiful outdoor setting on the golf course with the sun setting behind us.