Clearly, I suck...

I'm sorry...

I don't even have a good excuse for not blogging lately.  Probably because I feel like I'm just sending random thoughts out into the world with no one to even read them..  I mean, my life is kind of chaotic with my Husby being in another country, school, keeping the Curvey Sisters in line at work, Oh! and my cat can be quite the handful.  But, I know that I do have 2 loyal followers Jerrica (Check out her blog! She's pretty awesome!) does, and Ana (Here's her blog! I've adopted her as my own personal skin care & beauty expert!), so if only for them, I will be better.  Oh! and now welcome to the blogosphere, McKenzie (Here's the link to this Lovely Ladie's blog as well!), she's the amazing mod on TheKnot's Military Brides message board, which is also where I "met" Ana!! Yay for new friends and blogs to follow!!

I'm choosing to blame my lack of posts on Pinterest.  Do you have one yet?! If you don't, You're lame and we can't be friends anymore!  It's pretty much amazing!! I've made lots of new recipes, and crafts and stuff, all thanks to Pinterest.  If my dear sweet Husby would ever get me a new laptop like he's promised I would post pictures, but as it is all my pictures are on the computer downstairs, and yes.. I'm just that lazy.  Give me a break though, I have the strep.. or the flu.. it's one of those and I'm feeling pretty under the weather.  Kitty face doesn't mind though because it means lots of snuggling with him in his favorite place... bed.

Exciting news though! I've lost 30lbs officially!! Only 7 more to go and then I'm halfway to my ultimate goal!! And I've been reconnecting with a friend.  A friend that I lost touch with, through my own stubbornness, but it feels nice regardless.

I'll be attempting an apron this weekend.. I've never sewn with a machine before, only by hand, so I'll post my success (or failure) soon!!

I promise I'll be better..if for no other reason that to make Jerrica happy!

Look at what I did!!

In honor of the Crimson Tide & College Football Season I give you:

 

How did I accomplish this darling little mailbox cover?  Sooo easy! At Hobby Lobby I found this houndstooth bag.  It's one of those plasticy recycled things.  Anyway, I used a seam ripper to deconstruct it, sewed on some velcro and voila! I got the wooden football and "A" from Hobby Lobby as well, and painted them accordingly.

Credit for the bow totally goes to my Mom, aka the most incredible bow tier in the world!!

Oh and for your viewing pleasure:

Yes, that is my red-headed step cat, Max... in the mailbox..

Anyway,

Super Easy and Super Adorable 

(If I do say so myself.. and I do)

Labor Day

Friday my mom had a 31 bag party with all her Zoo friends.  It was good times.  I got to see Khloe which is always a plus, and I got to order some bags.  It started while I was still at work, so I felt bad because I was exhausted (as I usually am at the end of the week) so I wasn't quite as personable as I probably should have been, but Oh well!

Saturday was my birthday! It wasn't great (I wasn't able to be with my adorable husband and Maddie didn't come watch football with me like she was supposed to, but it's okay, All has been forgiven), but it was definetly sweetened by the Crimson Tide beating Kent State 48-7!

Plus, last night we had company over for burgers.  Maddie and her mom Debbie came over and I got some fabulous birthday gifts from them.  They seriously out did themselves.  Books, bookmarks, my favorite tea, some fiestaware in Cobalt to go with my set and my favorite:

Fiesta Silverware!! I have been coveting this set for almost a year!!! Since we set up our registry!!! I am so excited!!! Yayyyyyyyyyy!!!

Now, Maddie and I are off to grab some lunch, do some shopping and go see "The Help".  I'm pretty excited!! Happy Labor Day everyone!!

books Books BOOKS

I've been a terrible blogger lately.  I've been super busy trying to get back into the swing of things, going back to school, work, it's been hectic!!

I've finished "The Last Letter from your Lover" by JoJo Moyes.. it was INCREDIBLE!!!

"The Friday Night Knitting Club" & "Knit Two" both by Kate Jacobs.

I actually picked those two up because I read "Comfort Food" also by Kate Jacobs and absolutely loved it!!

Before that it was "The Girl who stopped swimming" by Joshilyn Jackson, which was positively haunting.  Seriously, I adored it!! 

Somewhere in the middle of all those was "Sing you Home" by Jodi Picoult.

"Hope in a Jar" & "Thin Rich Pretty" by Beth Harbison. 

Last but not least of course were "Perfect Little Ladies" & "Good Little Wives"

It's a wonder that I've had time for anything else with all the reading, but seriously.. It's my favorite leisure activity, so don't judge me.

Food Fanatic!!

I've been cooking up a storm lately!!! Here are some pics to make your taste buds water!!

Mini Omelets!! Broccoli, Cheese, and Ham

Baked Ziti

Whole Wheat Blueberry & Banana Muffins

 I've also made several variations on the whole wheat muffin recipe I found originally by Gina, like Apple Cinnamon, Banana Nut, Chocolate Chip, and Mixed Berry.

Marinating Tuna Steaks... yummmmm

Oven Roasted potatoes, seasoned with salt, pepper, rosemary, and olive oil

Yummmmmyyyy

Tuna Steak, Beets, my yummy potatoes, and Italian cut green beans!

I have really found a passion for cooking!! And I very rarely use a recipe.. It seems to be something that I'm just kind of naturally good at!! Thank goodness I found something.. Just kidding!!  Some other memorable dishes were meatloaf, shrimp and chicken kabobs, & mushroom and Swiss omelets.

Baby Love!!

Meet Khole!!

 

 

I absolutely adore this little girl.  She's the sweetest, happiest baby girl in the world and just loooovvvee her!!! Plus, I get to watch her every Monday while her parents play softball!!!

Jealous much?

Pesto anyone?

I absolutely adore Pesto sauce.  I eat it on pasta, chicken, bread, I'd probably eat it on ice cream.. never mind, No I wouldn't.

Anyway, I was watering the garden and collecting cherry tomatoes and cucumbers, and I noticed that our basil had gone CRAZY!!! it was so big and tall!! I simply had to cut it back right? For the health of the plant!! Side note: My mom is a horticulturist at the NC Zoo, she's taught me well.

So I come back inside with both my hands full of fresh basil and a hankering for pesto.  Uno problemo!! Our food processor broke during our move, and we haven't replaced it yet. Well several cuts to my fingers later, I had a very roughly cut 2 cups of basil.  I saved some of the water I boiled my pasta in (like maybe 1/2 cup), threw in some olive oil, 1/2 tbsp of butter (don't judge me.. I'm Southern), 2 cloves of garlic minced, salt & pepper to taste, and a splash of white wine. At the last second I tossed in the basil so that it would be coated in the rest of the sauce and kind of mix in with the rest of the sauce.  Then I simply added the pasta (I used vermicelli, but you can use whatever your precious heart desires!), and tossed it all together.

Bon Appetit!!

Another project

the original bottom was super ugly..

The finished product!!

Adorable no?

I used acrylic paint in "Caribbean Blue" 3 coats, some fun clearance paisley fabric and hot pink satin ribbon.

Stars and Stripes no more..

I went thrifting with my mom recently.  I got a ton a furniture, for like $30. My first completed project was this chair..

It had lots of potential..

It wasn't terrible, but it was far from great.

It had been blue, then white, then red and white striped, then half red... It was a mess.

Painter's Tape. Use it.

I took the seat off...

The seat cushion, was sadly attached with hot glue. I re covered it with this cutesy scrap of chicken fabric my mom had..

The bottom of the actual seat was horribly warped and cracked..

I used a smaller scrap of green fabric to cover the sad seat bottom.  Then finished covering the cushion..

I tried to center the chicken stripe, but it wasn't wide enough.

I painted the whole chair yellow (Valspar Golden Maize), and actually I'm pretty pleased with the results.

What do you think?

Essie

I adore Essie nail polish. I try to stick with one color a week (usually only on my toes.. all my crafting and wood working wrecks my mani's), but with my incredible collection of polish (Maddie thinks I'm crazy) it's always hard to choose!!

My current color is Watermelon:

So yummy!!

Secrets of a Shoe Addict

Another great girly book by the extrodinarily talented Beth Harbison.  It took me like 4 hours to read, but it was awesome!! I love books about the strong relationships between friends.  Check it out for yourself!! I purchased the hard cover edition from the BAM bargain section!! Best $5.47 I've ever spent!! Get yourself a copy!!

Confessions of a Rebel Debutante

I just finished this fantastic little book. Set in Burlington, NC (only 30 minutes from yours truly!!) It was a fun, even if a little slow at times.  It was a fun little autobiography of one girl growing up, and growing into herself. 

Plus, I love any book that's filled with Scarlett references..

TheoBaby

I Love this kitty cat. He has completely stolen my heart..

He's beautiful, and so sweet. Plus, he's a pretty great snuggler!!

On another note... Check out my Green Eggs...

I put these and some yummy country ham in a gift basket and gave to one of our neighbors.  Green Eggs and Ham.. get it?!

Noah's big mistake...

He had some sort of hole in his back.. If I cared more, I might have investigated this...

Time for your close up...

If any animal should have been thrown off the Ark, it was the Opossum.  They are the most foul, vile, disgusting creatures in the world and I hate them.. It's been a week and I've caught 2 raccoons (also pretty foul, but yet slightly cute) and a opossum.  Why all the hate? in my post declaring war on the rodents {Clicky here and Here} I mentioned that these menaces are responsible for the death of my 3 baby chicks {Another Clicky here and Here}.  I haven't personally killed any of these rodents, and only 1 has died (the opossum in this photo actually, but I think it had more to do with the hole type wound on his back and the 100 degree temps, he was going to be shot though.  We've relocated the 'Coons.  The War on Rodents continues...