Looking ahead to what the new year will bring...
We had our cozy little house for a year now. I cannot imagine living anywhere else besides St. Elizabeth.
A much needed girls day and heading to a winery and local pub afterwards.
Lisa's big 21st birthday and party!
The arrival of my cousin's little baby boy, Parker.
Casey's wedding and all the festivities to come along with it.
My grandparents' 60th Wedding Anniversary followed with family pictures at a local park.
River time.
A co-worker's wedding in Festus, MO.
My bridal showers including one called a grocery shower.
Bachelorette party.
Danielle's wedding and all the festivities to come along with it.
MY WEDDING! It will be hard to get use to writing April Holtmeyer.
Honeymoon. Still debating on a destination...
Another year blessed with two amazing grandparents!
Family will be growing in size... I will officially be able to say I have a sister come September 8th. I could not ask for a better person to be my sister-in-law. She is the sweetest!
Mom and dad have their big 35th wedding anniversary.
I turn the big "27". Where has the last three years gone? I still feel or want to feel 24. Guess I need to take my grandma's words to heart, "If you don't grow old, you die young".
Mike turns 30. Hopefully the wedding doesn't consume too much of my time so I can plan a surprise party for him.
Have a happy and blessed New Year!
Friday, December 30, 2011
{Thank goodness it's Friday} Quote of the Day!
I think I will start doing a random quote on Fridays. It may be something I find encouraging, heartwarming, sincere, motivational, spiritual, completely random or just down right hilarious.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday Ramblings
1. I am almost embarrassed to admit this one. Psycho by Puddle of Mudd. For the longest time I thought it was "Meet me on the wall, meet me on the wall..." even though I knew it made NO sense I still had no question of what they said until I was ever so corrected by Danielle. The real lyrics are "Maybe I'm the one. Maybe I'm the one. Who is…"
2. How about Aerosmith's lyrics "Dude Looks Like A Lady"? I always thought and sometimes still do sing it as "Do just like a lady"!
3. Dirt Road by Jason Aldean. I thought it was "Memory relaying up in the headlights". Actual lyric is "Memory lane up in the headlights".
4. Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll... my brother Todd thought when he was little that it was so cool someone would sing about Jeff City. lol To this day, my whole family still sings it as "Built Jeff City, we built Jeff City on rock and roll..." :) Which you have to give Todd credit, it does sound like it.
I know there is more, but I think of them right now.
Do you have a song you misheard?
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Weekend Wrap Up
Friday
After work Mike and I headed to his Luebbert family Christmas. Had a great evening and ended up staying until almost 11:30! Never seen his uncle laugh so hard and get so tickled. lol
Saturday
Headed to Mike's mom and dads for their Christmas. Kylie got a bride barbie doll from Mike's mom. She asked if I was going to be just like her. It was sweet and she was so excited I was going to look like her barbie. Oh and we have matching rings! lol I asked her about being a flower girl. She said she is going to wear a blue dress, throw bells instead of flowers and ride a reindeer. lol I think she got it mixed up with a Christmas play she had at school.
Later that afternoon we had the Feeler Christmas. It's hard for all of us to be there every year, but there was still a big majority of us there. Afterwards we had my immediate families Christmas at mom and dads. I got a pretty pink tool set from my brother Todd and Mike got a head phone set so he doesn't have to hear the TV blaring when he's trying to sleep. lol Guess the head phones are more for me since I will be wearing them. They're the ones on the commercials where you listen to the tv while others sleep, etc. Chad got me a nice griddle, makes life so much easier especially when cooking pancakes! :) Ended the evening watching Soul Surfer. It was a really good movie.
Sunday
Mike and I went to church. Fix breakfast consisting of ham and eggs when we got home so I could try out my new griddle. Cleaned around the house some since we hadn't really been home all weekend besides to sleep. It was a disaster. Mike's mom got me Brides Maids for Christmas so we watched that to kill some time. I was very disappointed. I thought it was the girls version of the Hangover and the majority of the show was going to be in Las Vegas. Ha, they didn't even make it there, what a waste of my time! It ended up being an okay movie. That evening we headed to Mike's grandmas for Christmas dinner.
Monday
Fixed a pumpkin pie and headed to my mom and dads for the Elrod Christmas. After dinner some of us played Liverpool Rummy. I love that game and the grandma Dodie in me was coming out. I was getting a little antsy when it was taking some of them forever to discard! lol I may have to blog about the game instruction sometime soon. It's like phase 10 except you don't stay on that number if you don't get it. Everyone moves to the next one each hand and the last hand is very tricky. On the last hand all the cards in your hand has to play when you are ready to lay down and you cannot have any discards. So needless to say you will more than likely go through at least 3 or 4 deck of cards. Fair warning your hands gets very tired very quick!
Came home and I was ready to get rid of my Christmas decorations. I said last week I wasn't ready to take them down anytime soon. Well that quickly changed after having about 6 Christmas'. lol So glad it's all put away in the basement and not ready to come back out until next Christmas.
After work Mike and I headed to his Luebbert family Christmas. Had a great evening and ended up staying until almost 11:30! Never seen his uncle laugh so hard and get so tickled. lol
Saturday
Headed to Mike's mom and dads for their Christmas. Kylie got a bride barbie doll from Mike's mom. She asked if I was going to be just like her. It was sweet and she was so excited I was going to look like her barbie. Oh and we have matching rings! lol I asked her about being a flower girl. She said she is going to wear a blue dress, throw bells instead of flowers and ride a reindeer. lol I think she got it mixed up with a Christmas play she had at school.
Later that afternoon we had the Feeler Christmas. It's hard for all of us to be there every year, but there was still a big majority of us there. Afterwards we had my immediate families Christmas at mom and dads. I got a pretty pink tool set from my brother Todd and Mike got a head phone set so he doesn't have to hear the TV blaring when he's trying to sleep. lol Guess the head phones are more for me since I will be wearing them. They're the ones on the commercials where you listen to the tv while others sleep, etc. Chad got me a nice griddle, makes life so much easier especially when cooking pancakes! :) Ended the evening watching Soul Surfer. It was a really good movie.
Sunday
Mike and I went to church. Fix breakfast consisting of ham and eggs when we got home so I could try out my new griddle. Cleaned around the house some since we hadn't really been home all weekend besides to sleep. It was a disaster. Mike's mom got me Brides Maids for Christmas so we watched that to kill some time. I was very disappointed. I thought it was the girls version of the Hangover and the majority of the show was going to be in Las Vegas. Ha, they didn't even make it there, what a waste of my time! It ended up being an okay movie. That evening we headed to Mike's grandmas for Christmas dinner.
Monday
Fixed a pumpkin pie and headed to my mom and dads for the Elrod Christmas. After dinner some of us played Liverpool Rummy. I love that game and the grandma Dodie in me was coming out. I was getting a little antsy when it was taking some of them forever to discard! lol I may have to blog about the game instruction sometime soon. It's like phase 10 except you don't stay on that number if you don't get it. Everyone moves to the next one each hand and the last hand is very tricky. On the last hand all the cards in your hand has to play when you are ready to lay down and you cannot have any discards. So needless to say you will more than likely go through at least 3 or 4 deck of cards. Fair warning your hands gets very tired very quick!
Came home and I was ready to get rid of my Christmas decorations. I said last week I wasn't ready to take them down anytime soon. Well that quickly changed after having about 6 Christmas'. lol So glad it's all put away in the basement and not ready to come back out until next Christmas.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Christmas Party
Yesterday was my work's Christmas party. Those who wanted to participate played dirty Santa in an ornament exchange which I did NOT think it would ever end. I ended up with an ornament candle which is perfect because I love candles. The ornament above was made by a co-worker, Corrie. She got the idea from Pinterest to take old newspapers to an ornament. What a perfect gift for all of us newspaper bums! :) Got to love Pinterest!I mainly want to blog for this delicious recipe that Mary made. It was to die for and I can't wait to make it. Definitely a recipe to share. The recipe originally came from my cooking idol, Paula Deen! Sorry Ree. (Like Ree Drummond really reads my blog to see my apology. Just in case she stumbles across it because we're now pals, ya know! Okay, so just because I saw her once at a book signing and couldn't even mumble out the words "Hi" or "So nice to finally meet you" doesn't really make us gal pals, but I like to think so! :) ). Now back to Paula - I love that woman and her southern accent. Wish I could talk and cook like her.
Here's the recipe:
Paula Deen's Corn SaladPrep Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 10 mins
Servings: 8
About This Recipe
"This was a delightful salad. Tasty and crunchy. Sure to please your guests for a barbeque or anytime!"
Ingredients
2 (15 ounce) cans whole kernel corn, drained
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup green peppers, chopped
1/2 cup red onions, chopped
1 (10 1/2 ounce) bags coarsely crushed Fritos chili cheese corn chips (If you can't find these, you can also mixed 1/2 regular and 1/2 barbeque corn chips)
Directions
Mix first 5 ingredients and chill. Stir in corn chips just before serving.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Missouri buzz...
Can't believe I forgot to blog about this!
Yesterday the Travel Channel came to Cookin' from Scratch in Doolittle to do an episode. I'm not sure, but I'd say it's the Man v. Food Nation show involving their new 66oz. King of the Road hamburger.
How cool is that? It was so tempting to sneak over to see them and skip work, but I didn't. :)
Yesterday the Travel Channel came to Cookin' from Scratch in Doolittle to do an episode. I'm not sure, but I'd say it's the Man v. Food Nation show involving their new 66oz. King of the Road hamburger.
How cool is that? It was so tempting to sneak over to see them and skip work, but I didn't. :)
Wednesday Ramblings
...I think the hardest part of planning a wedding is going to be the guest list. I'm already dreading it....We have a guy here at work from the Lake that comes about once a week. I think it's a little unprofessional for his phone to constantly ring. I don't want to hear all day "Bar tender I really did it this time, Broke my parole to have a good time, When I got home it was 6 a.m., The door was locked so I kicked it in, She was trippin' on the bills... " Not work appropriate. LOL Not to mention his computer volume is on so every time he gets an instant message we hear a cat meow!
...Pinterest has still taken over my life. So has the wedding! :)
...Mom sent me flowers yesterday as a "don't stress over your dress color kind-of-flowers". Still debating back and forth. It was no question that my dress would be white. Well it doesn't come in white. It's either natural white or bright white. Such decisions!
...Looking forward to my three day weekend.
...Not ready for Christmas to be here just yet so I don't have to take down all my decorations.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Weekend Wrap Up
Friday
Just stayed home.
Saturday
Mom met me at my house so we could go DRESS SHOPPING! Laverne and Lisa met us there and my maid of honor stopped by briefly before heading to a Christmas party. I lost count on how many dresses I tried on. I always hear of people saying they end up with a dress that they would have never picked. Well that was just what happened for me. I was starting to realize my problem that the styles I liked all had something in common with the top - they were similar to bridesmaid dresses I had worn. My bridal consultant said you just hit the nail on the head, that I wasn't seeing them as a wedding dress. So she began pulling completely different styles which the first one ended up being the dress! I wish I could tell you more with details but it's top secret. I can tell you it's a natural white and gorgeous! Boy, that really sums it up, doesn't it? ;) Had a really good day enjoying the moment with my mom and future mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
Sunday
Slept in and completely missed church. I never sleep that late anymore. Went to Mike's mom and dads for lunch. Played ball with Jake while the boys shot squirrels - how exciting (Not). :) It was such a nice day out. Who would of thought that in December! Never had time this fall to pick up some leaves so I did just that when I got home. Randy ended up cooking beer butt chicken for everyone. I need to make a contract for him to sign his life away that he cannot live anywhere else but next door since he's our personal Sunday chef! ;)
Just stayed home.
Saturday
Mom met me at my house so we could go DRESS SHOPPING! Laverne and Lisa met us there and my maid of honor stopped by briefly before heading to a Christmas party. I lost count on how many dresses I tried on. I always hear of people saying they end up with a dress that they would have never picked. Well that was just what happened for me. I was starting to realize my problem that the styles I liked all had something in common with the top - they were similar to bridesmaid dresses I had worn. My bridal consultant said you just hit the nail on the head, that I wasn't seeing them as a wedding dress. So she began pulling completely different styles which the first one ended up being the dress! I wish I could tell you more with details but it's top secret. I can tell you it's a natural white and gorgeous! Boy, that really sums it up, doesn't it? ;) Had a really good day enjoying the moment with my mom and future mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
Sunday
Slept in and completely missed church. I never sleep that late anymore. Went to Mike's mom and dads for lunch. Played ball with Jake while the boys shot squirrels - how exciting (Not). :) It was such a nice day out. Who would of thought that in December! Never had time this fall to pick up some leaves so I did just that when I got home. Randy ended up cooking beer butt chicken for everyone. I need to make a contract for him to sign his life away that he cannot live anywhere else but next door since he's our personal Sunday chef! ;)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Wednesday Ramblings
...Going for my first dress appointment on Saturday! Crossing my fingers I find one and will be able to get the 50% off....Can't believe Christmas is NEXT weekend. Still have a few last minute gifts to pick up. We have the Luebbert side of Mike's family that Friday night before Christmas. Sure hope I can get off work in time to go.
...Wedding plans/details has officially overwhelmed me.
...Love eating white rice with mozzarella cheese. It's my go-to meal on the evenings Mike has to bowl.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Weekend Wrap Up
Friday
Met up with the girls for our annual Christmas get-together. Had a nice evening and ended it at the pub. I was so relieved it wasn't packed at all. Got our visiting in and I was able to call it a night early.
Saturday
Had to wake up early so I could meet Danielle at her moms house. Dress shopping day #1 was a success! The 3rd dress she tried on was the one. There was no question when she came out that it was the dress. Ended up looking at bridesmaid dresses as well and found one, it ended up being the first dress that everyone picked. I hope to be just as lucky with finding my dress this weekend. Not to mention at this bridal shop, it's "White Wedding" month where the wedding dresses are 50% off. Cha-ching! Trying not to let the pressure of 50% get to me so I don't settle with just any dress. Danielle, her mom, Ashlie and I ended up going to Columbia to get a few things. It was my first Sams experience and I think I'm hooked. Ate at Fridays then headed back home. Glad we came home when we did since I had a stupid migraine coming on. I hate those things so I took some meds and a catnap. Woke up feeling so much better so it was time to clean the house for Sunday.
Sunday
Spent the morning cooking/preparing for white chile for the Elrods/Chad's birthday. It was so nice outside that I decided to get a few windows cleaned before they all got there. It's amazing how they always look clean until the sun shines through them. Never ending job... I had told my dad and brothers to bring their muscles and good backs because they were going to be put to work. I had them move my antique hutch to the living room. It looks so much better in there plus my kitchen looks double the size! Since it was out of the way from everything and everyone, it made a perfect spot to bring out my ceramic nativity scene my grandma Elrod made all by hand. Gosh, I miss her and grandpa so much! I've never got it out for Christmas before since there wasn't really a good spot for it. So glad there is now a special spot for it. Mike's mom bought us a nativity set over the weekend so it fit perfectly in our entertainment center.
Met up with the girls for our annual Christmas get-together. Had a nice evening and ended it at the pub. I was so relieved it wasn't packed at all. Got our visiting in and I was able to call it a night early.
Saturday
Had to wake up early so I could meet Danielle at her moms house. Dress shopping day #1 was a success! The 3rd dress she tried on was the one. There was no question when she came out that it was the dress. Ended up looking at bridesmaid dresses as well and found one, it ended up being the first dress that everyone picked. I hope to be just as lucky with finding my dress this weekend. Not to mention at this bridal shop, it's "White Wedding" month where the wedding dresses are 50% off. Cha-ching! Trying not to let the pressure of 50% get to me so I don't settle with just any dress. Danielle, her mom, Ashlie and I ended up going to Columbia to get a few things. It was my first Sams experience and I think I'm hooked. Ate at Fridays then headed back home. Glad we came home when we did since I had a stupid migraine coming on. I hate those things so I took some meds and a catnap. Woke up feeling so much better so it was time to clean the house for Sunday.
Sunday
Spent the morning cooking/preparing for white chile for the Elrods/Chad's birthday. It was so nice outside that I decided to get a few windows cleaned before they all got there. It's amazing how they always look clean until the sun shines through them. Never ending job... I had told my dad and brothers to bring their muscles and good backs because they were going to be put to work. I had them move my antique hutch to the living room. It looks so much better in there plus my kitchen looks double the size! Since it was out of the way from everything and everyone, it made a perfect spot to bring out my ceramic nativity scene my grandma Elrod made all by hand. Gosh, I miss her and grandpa so much! I've never got it out for Christmas before since there wasn't really a good spot for it. So glad there is now a special spot for it. Mike's mom bought us a nativity set over the weekend so it fit perfectly in our entertainment center.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Allen boys
Nathan helping me clean. He even took the laundry basket all the way into the laundry room from my bedroom. When I came in there he was grunting trying to put it on top of the washer like I do. lol
Nathan wasn't into the whole picture taking, so no smiling from him.
This one cracks me up. Nathan was NOT happy that I gave the tractor to big brother for a picture.
Thought maybe just maybe this would make him smile since he wanted to touch those glittery trees since he walked in the door. Still no smile from Nathan, just wanted to get glitter all over himself. Stinker!
Love this picture of Blake.
What a face.
There's a smile, but he's not looking at the camera! lol
Nathan wasn't into the whole picture taking, so no smiling from him.
This one cracks me up. Nathan was NOT happy that I gave the tractor to big brother for a picture.
Thought maybe just maybe this would make him smile since he wanted to touch those glittery trees since he walked in the door. Still no smile from Nathan, just wanted to get glitter all over himself. Stinker!
Love this picture of Blake.
What a face.
There's a smile, but he's not looking at the camera! lol
Wednesday Ramblings
...This is going to be ONE busy weekend. Friday I am meeting up with the girls for our annual Christmas exchange then we'll probably go to the pub. Saturday I'm going dress shopping in Columbia for Danielle's wedding. Sunday I'm fixing white chile at my house for Chad's birthday. ...Wish I had Georgetown Cupcakes at my wedding. :) I did find my cake already, now just need to find the right person to make it.
...Wedding hint: Navy blue is the main color!
...Thanks to an awesome friend I was able to buy all of her flowers. I may still buy more depending on what all I decide for table arrangements, but for now the flowers for the hall are complete! A big sigh of relief.
...I think I need to buy a snuggy for here at work. lol I am always sooo cold and it stinks after awhile of constantly heating up my corn bag to stay warm.
...Speaking of cold. This is day #2 waking up in a cold house. Our thermostat was outdated and decided to quit for good. So we got a new thermostat and today we're getting a new safety switch or something like that which also broke. Looking forward to a nice warm house tonight, especially since I'm watching Jake tonight so we better have some heat! 59˚ in the house isn't cutting it in this weather.
...Starting to think I am NUTS for having my wedding literally three weeks after Danielle's wedding. It was the only weekend available until late November or December and I wasn't about to have a middle of the summer wedding. I hate to sweat!
...Can't wait for Kohls to open here in Rolla! Slowly getting closer to being done. We heard IHop is trying to get the bid where Dennys was at (they already tore the building down this week). Also rumors of Five Guys and a Culvers coming in the near future. Weird Rolla can get all these new restaurants and yet we still can't get a Target. :(
Monday, December 5, 2011
Weekend Wrap Up
Friday
I met Shelley after work to pick up Blake and Nathan. Nathan always cries at first, but this time he was okay with it. Blake fell asleep before we even got to Vienna and surprisingly Nathan was wide awake and wound up jabbering the whole way. So we enjoyed all the Christmas lights along the way. Mike had to bowl so I got to spoil the boys all evening. I tried and tried to get Nathan to say April, he would grin or giggle each time and say "no Mike". Little stinker!
Saturday
Mike had to help with the cows which was too involved for Blake to tag along so we stayed in and watched cartoons. Later we took the boys to Mike's mom and dads. Surprisingly Nathan remembered Laverne, said hi and went straight for the toys. Before he was too bashful to even get down from Mike or I. Went for a short 4-wheeler ride to checked the cows then went to a neighbors house where Mike's dad was frying. The boys loved the fried biscuits. Nathan was almost asleep by then so we came back home while Blake went with Mike and Randy to fix fence and of course you can come all the way to St. E without seeing the turkeys! Later mom and dad came to pick up the boys. That evening Mike and I headed to Vienna to meet Danielle and Brad at the Eagles to eat where her mom and dad joined us. It was packed! Mike's sister, Lisa ended up being their along with her boyfriend and his family. All of us were shocked to see each other there.
Sunday
I headed with Mike to his grandmas before heading to church. When we got to church, I was starting to panic inside. Every time I go there the church seems so big and a little intimidating. Well this time, the church had some how shrunk! lol So I was starting to panic wondering if we could get everyone in there for the wedding. I was also thinking back and forth whether to convert or not, to becoming Catholic. I HATE being center of anything so if I have to do anything up front, I would almost rather not do that. I know it's stupid and I need to get over it especially something that is really so little. Just preparing for the attention on our wedding day is enough for me. I know it's not something I have to do or have to do before the wedding. I could almost break out in hives right now just thinking about it. Eeek! The religion itself it a little different than what I am used to, but in reality not so much. Still the same God so that's what is most important. One thing I love is their church really is a sanctuary and treated like one, where as most churches the kids run wild and lots of gossiping is being done (which I am very guilty of doing myself! :) No one gossips in a Catholic church (or not that I've seen so far lol) and you can hear a pin drop from across the church it's so quiet or in yesterday's case hearing a little boy ask his mommy very quietly if it would hurt if he pulled her earrings out. lol It was hard not to bust out laughing. After church Mike and I headed to Jeff to do some Christmas shopping and ate lunch at Applebees since we had a gift card from TWO years ago. Christmas shopping is almost complete, didn't find a few things which I plan to pick up this week.
I met Shelley after work to pick up Blake and Nathan. Nathan always cries at first, but this time he was okay with it. Blake fell asleep before we even got to Vienna and surprisingly Nathan was wide awake and wound up jabbering the whole way. So we enjoyed all the Christmas lights along the way. Mike had to bowl so I got to spoil the boys all evening. I tried and tried to get Nathan to say April, he would grin or giggle each time and say "no Mike". Little stinker!
Saturday
Mike had to help with the cows which was too involved for Blake to tag along so we stayed in and watched cartoons. Later we took the boys to Mike's mom and dads. Surprisingly Nathan remembered Laverne, said hi and went straight for the toys. Before he was too bashful to even get down from Mike or I. Went for a short 4-wheeler ride to checked the cows then went to a neighbors house where Mike's dad was frying. The boys loved the fried biscuits. Nathan was almost asleep by then so we came back home while Blake went with Mike and Randy to fix fence and of course you can come all the way to St. E without seeing the turkeys! Later mom and dad came to pick up the boys. That evening Mike and I headed to Vienna to meet Danielle and Brad at the Eagles to eat where her mom and dad joined us. It was packed! Mike's sister, Lisa ended up being their along with her boyfriend and his family. All of us were shocked to see each other there.
Sunday
I headed with Mike to his grandmas before heading to church. When we got to church, I was starting to panic inside. Every time I go there the church seems so big and a little intimidating. Well this time, the church had some how shrunk! lol So I was starting to panic wondering if we could get everyone in there for the wedding. I was also thinking back and forth whether to convert or not, to becoming Catholic. I HATE being center of anything so if I have to do anything up front, I would almost rather not do that. I know it's stupid and I need to get over it especially something that is really so little. Just preparing for the attention on our wedding day is enough for me. I know it's not something I have to do or have to do before the wedding. I could almost break out in hives right now just thinking about it. Eeek! The religion itself it a little different than what I am used to, but in reality not so much. Still the same God so that's what is most important. One thing I love is their church really is a sanctuary and treated like one, where as most churches the kids run wild and lots of gossiping is being done (which I am very guilty of doing myself! :) No one gossips in a Catholic church (or not that I've seen so far lol) and you can hear a pin drop from across the church it's so quiet or in yesterday's case hearing a little boy ask his mommy very quietly if it would hurt if he pulled her earrings out. lol It was hard not to bust out laughing. After church Mike and I headed to Jeff to do some Christmas shopping and ate lunch at Applebees since we had a gift card from TWO years ago. Christmas shopping is almost complete, didn't find a few things which I plan to pick up this week.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
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