Saturday, December 29, 2012

A Year In Review {2012}

"Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want."
-Jim Rohn

We got married.
 

Honeymooned in Orlando....highlight of the trip, HARRY POTTER. 
 

We got a new puppy, Bruno!

I received my first teaching job...as a long term substitute.
 

Received my favorite present of all time....my beloved camera.
My best friend got married!

I began Five on Friday....this is just one of many.

This year held a lot of first for me....I made my first pillow, I cooked my first pot roast and cobbler, and I planted my first garden.

I also got crafty, in 2012 I made.....a new chalkboard, a yarn wreath, burlap door hanger, and a sunburst mirror! 
Photo: December's #chalkboardart! #favorite stress reliever

We lost our Nonnie, I know I have another guardian angle watching over me!

I finally got my first REAL teaching job!

Corey and I took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch.







We went to Gatlinburg with Corey's brother, sister in law, aunt and uncle!! 


2012 was a big year for us! AND I can not wait to see what 2013 has in store for us, I know it will be AMAZING!

Friday, December 28, 2012

Chicken Salad

Now there are a lot of chicken salad recipes out there, and this is no where near the best. BUT this is a pretty basic/simple recipe that you can build on and make your own. (Sorry about the picture quality, they were all taken with my iPhone.)

I began with 3 raw chicken breast.  The first thing you need to do is bring a pot of water to a simmer (just a few bubbles), make sure you have enough water in your pot to cover all of the chicken. You will simmer your chicken for about 20-25 minutes depending on their thickness.

While your chicken is cooking you can prepare your other ingredients. This time I used celery, green onion, green grapes, purple grapes, almonds, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.


I love celery, so I chopped 3 stalks up and left them pretty chunky.

 Next green onion, I am not a huge fan of these so I chopped them pretty fine but I did use the whole onion....white parts and green parts

Next I sliced my green grapes and red grapes in half...I forgot to capture that step
 Once my chicken had cooled a little I put all three breast into my stand mixer and mixed it on medium...
 Until the chicken was shredded pretty fine.
 Once my chicken was pulled apart, I added about a 1/2 cup of mayonnaise (feel free to add as little or as much as you like). Then the rest of the ingredients (onions, celery, grapes, almonds, salt and pepper). Just keep tasting until it taste perfect to you! 
 This is the fun part add whatever you want, because its YOUR chicken salad. You could add dill, rosemary, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, spicy mustard, paprika....whatever your heart desires.
Cool, Eat, and Enjoy!

Sausage Balls

WITH CREAM CHEESE! I do not know why cream cheese makes sausage balls so much better, but it just does. This is one of my favorite "snacks". AND since I was craving them the other day I thought I would share this amazing recipe with all of you....did I mention that is one of the easiest recipe of the face of this planet! (Sorry about the picture quality, they were all taken with my iPhone.)

All you need is:
1 lb of Sausage, 1 1/4 cup of Bisquick, 4 ounces of Cheddar Cheese, and 8 ounces of Cream Cheese.
 Put them all in a bowl together and mix, I used my stand mixer with the dough hook.

 Once it was mixed well, I rolled them into 1 inch balls and baked for about 20 minutes or until they were brown.
Eat and Enjoy. They really are AMAZING!!
Why yes, this is me...sitting on my couch, watching a movie, and munching on some sausage balls. Don't Judge.

Monday, December 17, 2012

A Day of Remembrance

"I am not sure how I could hug my kiddos any tighter or love them any more, but knowing I get to spend the day with my babies makes me so thankful!
Praying for peace for all those affected by this horrible tragedy."

-I couldn't find the right words this morning, but a wonderful lady I graduated with said it perfectly! I know I will hug my kiddos extra tight today!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Five on Friday

I am exhausted! Sooo basically I am just going to post pictures... I might explain later, or might not....ENJOY

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Learning to Breathe

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It is easy to give thanks when you fell so blessed in life. BUT what's important to remember, is to give thanks when things are not going your way, or when your stressed out! I am a victim to both; I like to think I give thanks when things are beautiful and lovely and such a blessing, BUT I must also remember to be thankful; when things do not go my way or when I am beyond stressed out or when people don't react/act the way I want them too!

I need to remember to breathe and keep calm AND not to stress! I am a very stressed out lady....like my momma says "put it in a bubble, and blow it away!"


Sunday, December 9, 2012

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

My house is finally decorated from Christmas, although I am not completely finished yet. I have been such a slacker this Christmas season, hopefully I will have the stockings hung and my tree skirt finished soon (both DIY projects to be posted soon hopefully!).

But here is what I do have up and some of my FAVORITES.

Wreath, My Nonnie's Christmas China, My Beloved Chalkboard, Christmas Tree, Santa Cookie Jar, Santa Mailbox Cover, Presents (my theme: dots and stripes), and My DIY Cardholder 

Merry Christmas Y'all!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Five on Friday {Week 27}

Today' s Five on Friday is all about my amazingly awesome job.


1. A special little elf arrived in our classroom today!

2. Christmas has blown up in our classroom, and this is just one of the many Christmas crafts we have done. Today they applied to be an elf. I made copies so I could send one to Santa, and they glued the other onto their elf.

3. Everybody in the class got new crayons today! So they turned in their old crayons to me for extras, and my OCDself organized them.

4. My awesomely amazing boss gave us theses "gift certificates" that allows us to leave two days early next week (3:10) and wear jeans the ENTIRE week before Christmas Break. Let just say he is amazeballs!!!

5. Fun story: I am losing my mind. I packed my kids up an hour early today because I thought it was three o'clock....long story short it was only 2 o'clock. I just wish I was kidding. ALL of my kids had their backpacks ready and were on the rug reading their books, waiting for their names to be called over the intercom before I even realized what time it was.......My kids probably think I am going crazy!


One last thing! Kristin, here is proof my roses are still alive AND they are blooming in December.
I picked these today.
Haha, I Love You.