Wednesday Ramblings

...Can't believe tomorrow is MARCH already. Feels like February just started.

...This weekend, Mom and I are going to Springfield to do WEDDING SHOPPING! I am so excited to get a lot of little things knocked off my big to do list.

...There's a lot of little personal details going into the wedding that I can't wait to share. :)

...We ordered bouquets online. I had wanted to make my own to make it more personal, but after coming across bouquets for $6.99 that idea quickly went out the door. You can't hardly even buy the stuff that cheap to make your own.

...This month I plan to get almost 75% of the decor done, wedding band for Mike picked out and ordered, my wedding band ordered, passports, picking out tuxes, ordering koozies and possibly cups.

...Sorry in advance if I'm repeating anything with the wedding! I tend to forget what you don't know or already do.

...Can you tell the wedding has officially consumed my life? :)

MARCH 7th IS 'SUPPOSE' TO BE THE GRAND OPENING OF KOHLS!! Can't wait!!!!!

Correction: They open SUNDAY, their grand opening is still Wednesday the 7th! Yay!

Weekend Wrap Up

Friday
Stayed home to clean the house.

Saturday
Mom, aunts and cousins met me at my house then we all headed to Jeff. Had lunch at El Jimadors, it was so nice and quiet there. Went to Victorias so the girls (Tess, Ashlyne and MacKensie) could get fitted for their candle lighter dresses. To my surprise my dress was on a manikin. I wasn't going to show any of them, but figured what the heck it's right there so we might as well. So glad I saw it again, it reassured me the dress was perfect! Since I was having serious reconsideration after seeing lots of pretty dresses on Pinterest. lol Went to the mall where the younger girls got to venture on their own while I was stuck with the old ladies! Ha! Lizzie got a dress that has the wedding colors in it from Dillards. I've been looking every now and then for a dressy coat to wear with my work clothes. Came across a purple Jessica Simpson coat marked down to $49 and when I went to check out it was $32! CHA-CHING! Stopped at a few other stores after the mall before heading back to my house. That evening Mike and Randy headed to a surprise birthday party for Whitney, a girlfriend of their cousin Matt. I had all intentions of going until my cold kicked in full gear. Come to find out I didn't miss anything so I was glad I opt out.

Sunday
Sunday I slept in. Mike and I headed to his mom and dads for dinner where little MS. KYLIE was there! She was very happy to see her April. It was good to see her since I hadn't since Christmas. A little hard to put on a happy face knowing she won't be my niece in the future. At least for now her mom lets her come with Randy to visit. Spent the rest of the afternoon taking more meds and just taking it easy.

{Thank goodness it's Friday} Quote of the Day!

Wednesday Ramblings

...So far every day this week has seemed like a Monday at work!

...This weekend my mom, aunts and cousins are all going to Jeff for a day out and for the girls to get fitted for their candle lighter dresses.

...Got my first photo prop in the mail last night. Haven't decided yet or not if I will share it on here early.

...Loving this weather although part of me hates it because I don't want it to be super hot/miserable this summer! lol I hate to melt and more importantly not on my wedding day!

...Still so much to do for the wedding and my self deadline on getting decor finished isn't looking too promising since I haven't even started!

...Still looking for that dream job. So far nothing has came along for the right pay or location.

...Etsy is becoming my best friend! I bought my friend a pre house warming gift/wedding and it just so happens to be in the same colors she has in her new house. I'll post pictures when it comes in.

Weekend Wrap Up

Friday
Stayed home, It's nice to have a quiet evening with no plans.

Saturday
Cleaned early that morning then got ready to head to my parents house for the rest of the weekend. My mom and dad took us out to eat that evening at Sybills in St. James to celebrate our engagement. I ordered the Smoked Almond & Pretzel Crusted Topped with a Cheddar Mornay Sauce, it was divine! Headed to a wedding reception for a distant cousin on my mom's side. Thought we were at the right place, well it turns out we ended up at the wrong wedding reception! Luckily people were just arriving at this one and we didn't embarrass ourselves too much. Come to find out a few others did the same thing. lol Mike was surprised to meet a sister of a guy he works with and her niece is dating Mike's distant cousin along with several other people they both new. Small world! The bride's nieces are triplets, two had already left to head back to Kansas City. Sarah, the one that stayed back with her dad was the one I held when she was a baby. I really feel old seeing her now all grown up and 18! We stayed the night at mom and dads since grandma was having dinner the next day. Mom and I watched the new Grey's Anatomy which was suppose to air last Thursday.

Sunday
Breakfast was served! Mom and Dad cooked breakfast with eggs, bacon, homemade hash browns and toast. Mike and dad stayed home while mom and I headed to church. It's been a long time since I've been to my Methodist Church. It's just always closer/easier for me to go with Mike to his especially if his mom is having dinner. Grandma fixed her famous homemade chicken and dumplings for MacKensie's 14th birthday. Mike and I took the long way back through gravel roads and ended up at his parents house. He left with his brother while I stayed back to talk wedding details with his mom. Came home to do some window cleaning while I waited for my girl scout cookies from Lauren, who's mom bowls with Mike.

{Thank goodness it's Friday} Quote of the Day!

Wednesday Ramblings

...Trying my best not to spend so much unnecessary money. For example I've been taking my lunch to work. It's the not the same as my love for Subway which I had about twice a week, but it will do. My pocket is already telling a difference. I used to browse JCP on my lunch a lot, I haven't been there in about 2 months! I'm sure this new habit may change once Kohls opens. :/

...April,
I'm sorry!!  The permit number is wrong!  It's my fault.  I have GOD as the prefix. It is GOB as in going out of business.....duh!!!  Can you fix it and resend it to me? I promise you will get a good wedding present April!!!!
Welcome to my world of advertising! This was an email I got this morning. lol

...Mom and I tried baked cauliflower last week. It was sooo good and to my surprise some of it did taste like french fries!

...Look what was in Rolla yesterday at the US Cellular Store... the World Series trophy!

Taco Bake

The recipe & picture came from this website

Ingredients:
1 lb. hamburger
1 pkg. taco seasoning
8 oz. sour cream
1 pkg. crescent rolls (8)
1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes (optional)
1 c. shredded cheese
Dorito chips

1. Brown hamburger and drain.
2. Add taco seasoning, tomato sauce, tiny bit of water, and diced tomatoes. Simmer...
3. In 9x13 dish, press out crescent rolls and roll them to form crust.
4. Here comes the Dairy!!! Layer hamburger mixture, sour cream and then cheese.
5. Crush about 3/4 of a bag of Doritos and put them on top. Bake at 350 for 30 min.

Weekend Wrap Up

Friday
Left work early so Mike and I could meet our photographer. We were almost to her house and I read the directions wrong, we ended up at Tom Henke's house! If only we knew that at the time. I was even going to have Mike go ahead and drive to the basement because I was sure it was her house. LOL Christina was so nice and had so many great ideas. Looking forward to seeing our wedding pictures already! Dropped my ring off to be resized and picked out a wedding band. Crazy how a little band makes the ring looks so much different. Now I feel naked without my ring! :) We ate at Buffalo Wild Wings for the first time before heading home. I wasn't too impressed with their food.

Saturday
Headed to Mike's mom and dads with Mike and his brothers for dinner. Came home to do some laundry while they headed to Jeff to pick up some furniture for Steve. After they got home we went to Kittys to visit for a awhile. It was such a pretty day that I wasn't ready to go home so we took some gravel. Ended up at one of my favorite houses for a visit with Brian, Colette and their cute little daughter, Maley. She kept us entertained the whole evening. Came back home in time for supper. I usually don't try too many new recipes so close together since it gets too pricey with all the extra groceries. Luckily I had all the ingredients for Taco Bake that I found on Pinterest. It was pretty good. Mike wasn't too sure of it then took a bit and was hooked. He ate almost half of it. lol Recipe to follow.

Sunday
I woke up with another migraine so I stayed home while Mike went to church. Headed to mom and dads for Sunday dinner, everyone made it plus grandma, grandpa, cousin Michael and Desmon. Had a good afternoon visiting. That evening Randy ended up grilling brats for us. Aaa our Sunday cook is back! :)

{Thank goodness it's Friday} Quote of the Day!

Wednesday Ramblings

...This Friday we're meeting our Photographer for the wedding for the first time.

...It's been so nice to be able to drive my own vehicle again. Although I did see a deer on Monday night coming home. Same side, same day of the week, same time, but different spot. Gosh!

...213 days till the wedding! Who's counting? lol

...Kind of hoping for a snow day SOON! There's nothing like being cooped up at home under some warm blankets sipping hot chocolate!

...My love for Pinterest is slowly dying down. I still love it but it was taking up way too much of my time.

...Some days I'm ready to get this shindig of a wedding over with and other times I panic thinking I don't have enough time to get it all done! lol Going to be a crazy-hectic year, but a good crazy!

Buffalo Dip

Picture from Pinterest

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup of ranch salad dressing

1/2 cup any flavor FRANK'S® REDHOT® Sauce

1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese

2 to 3 whole chicken breasts I used the canned chicken (2 cans of 12.5 oz. chunk chicken in water, drained). So much easier for a quick appetizer and tasted just as good.

Boil chicken. Then cool. Then shred. HEAT oven to 350°F. Place cream cheese into deep baking dish. Stir until smooth. MIX in salad dressing, Frank's RedHot Sauce and mozzarella cheese. Stir in chicken. BAKE 20 min. or until mixture is heated through; stir. Garnish as desired. Serve with crackers or vegetables.

I thought this dish would have a kick to it, but surprisingly it wasn't hot at all.

Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Roll-Ups

Picture from Pinterest.

3 cups chopped cooked chicken		1/4 cup milk
1 cup Ricotta cheese		1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese		8 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese		2 cups Prego Spaghetti Sauce

Yield: 8 Servings

Prep: 1 hour 10 min (70 mins)

• In medium bowl, combine chicken, cheeses, milk, and pepper
• Spread 1/2 cup mixture on each lasagna noodle; roll jelly-roll fashion
• In a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, spread 1 cup spaghetti sauce
• Arrange lasagna rolls, seam-side down in sauce in baking dish
• Top with remaining spaghetti sauce
• Cover
• Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes or until hot
• Serve, if desired, with additional Parmesan cheese.

Weekend Wrap Up

Friday
Look who decided to come home! :) Mike only works three hours on Friday (lucky duck) so he went ahead and picked it up otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get it back until this Friday. So glad I went with Riley Chevrolet. They did an AWESOME job. My hood wasn't damaged or figured into the collision cost, but they went ahead and repainted it as well. Fixed all my rock chips!



Saturday
Spent all day cleaning the house. It needed a good scrub from head to toe. Made Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Rolls for supper. It was so good! Not sure I will make it again for while. It was really good, but I prefer regular lasagna instead. I'll post the recipe in another post.

Sunday
Headed to Mike's mom and dads for dinner. Fixed buffalo chicken dip for the Superbowl party. It was delicious and so easy to make. Recipe to come in another post as well. Walked to our neighbors for the Superbowl party. Had fried frog legs, squirrel (gross), and fish with all the finger food fixings. The dip was a huge hit!

Sunday also marked 14 years since dear friends of my family was murdered (day they were found). I had a sad moment thinking about the traumatic experience they had to endure during their last moments and all they have missed. From now on I am going to try my best to bury that thought and think of all the good times we had with them. They were the BEST!

{Thank goodness it's Friday} Quote of the Day!

Tongue-tied Thursday

Wednesday Ramblings

...Mike's cousin is expecting her second baby! Due to arrive in August. Madison was just born in September so they are going to have their hands full this year.

...How did Superbowl weekend get here so fast!?

...Pinterest has given me a new love for crescent rolls! Love LOVE the mozzerella cheese with pepperoni, ham and mozzerella and I have yet to try the peanut butter and chocolate chips in the crescent rolls. Bet that would taste good with homemade syrup poured over it!

...Finally getting around to trying an actual meal I found from Pinterest this weekend. Also found a good appetizer for Super Bowl. Hard to do the usual dishes since this bunch is a little picky, most don't like onions or black olives. I love them both! I'll post the recipes next week if they are worthy for sharing.

...Looking forward to decorating the hall and to no longer have it be just a vision in my head.

...Stumbled across this quote online. Marriage requires a person to prepare four types of "Rings": Engagement Ring, Wedding Ring, Suffering, Enduring" lol

...My car is almost done! Yay, so tired of driving Mike's truck. Too big for this gal to drive everyday.