Two Years Ago...on this Night....

My wonderful husband proposed to me!

Wow, how things have changed since then. I am so lucky to be married to a wonderful man that God chose just for me. We aren't perfect, but we are happy!

Happy New Year's to You and Yours!!

30 Things before I'm 30

I recent discussion on The Nest made me think...wow...I am almost 30! When I was younger, even just by a few years, 30 seemed so old, ancient even, like the time when all the fun in my life would be over and I would have to be *gasp* an adult!!! Well, turns out that life at 28 is very exciting, full and wonderful, so I don't think that 30 will be that different. I am however, going to set some goals for myself. I don't know if I can meet them all, but I am going to try! I've read that it you make your goals public, you are more likely to meet them (an accountability thing, I guess), so I thought I would share them with you. Here goes!

1. Read the Bible. Yes, all of it
2. Become and active and contributing member of a Church
3. Treat my Mom to a spa day
4. Get Jeff a racing day
5. Organize my recipe book
6. Get on a schedule where I make a point to see my girlfriends once a month. Both sets of them.
7. Get hardwood floors!
8. Pay off my new car
9. Finish emergency fund
10. Work out 3x weekly for a month (hopefully then it will become a habit?)
11. Organize closets (all three of them!)
12. Paint our home - all the rooms!
13. Buy bedroom furniture
14. Daily devotionals
15. Join a volunteer organization
16. Tithe the entire 10% - Always - no matter what.
17. Adopt a family for Christmas
18. More DIY projects - I know I can be crafty!
19. Have a booth at a craft show
20. Take a wine 101 class
21. Have wedding dress cleaned / repaired
22. Make a scrapbook for 2009
23. Finish wedding book
24. Order wedding album
25. Get rings sautered
26. Buy Jeff a nice watch
27. Get a T-Shirt quilt made
28. Refinish table in the man room
29. Sew stockings from wedding fabric
30. Sew tree skirt from wedding fabric

Well, there it is! After reading this again, it appears that I might need to win the lottery....haha! I'll keep you posted on my progress!

Are there any must do's that you have prior to an age of life stage milestone?

40 Days of Thankfulness - Day 18

Today, I am thankful for after Christmas sales! I went to Gift Junkie today, one of my favorite little boutiques that is conveniently located at the front of our neighborhood. I bought only two small Christmas things there, because their beautiful, trendy things are a little pricey for me. But, when I got the email this morning that all of their Christmas stuff was 50%, I knew I was in for a treat!

I got all of these beautiful items for only $21! The little heels were just too cute! They had many, many more things, but I am going to wait and see if they go just a little bit more one sale before I treat myself again : )

This corn plant was given by my coworkers to my family for my Nana's funeral. I have started decorating it for each season. It's silly, but it makes me think of my Nana. I treated myself to the little red and green pick earlier this season, and got the poka dotted one today! I love it with both of them!

I feel like it completes our little hall area.

Love them!

Hope you find some great after Christmas deals this week!

Michelle's Breakfast Casserole

I love, love, love this recipe, and after everyone raving about it this weekend, and the time that it saved...I just had to share it.

It can be made the night before, which makes it so much easier to have breakfast ready for a house full of guests. You can spend more time with your company, or sleep, if you're like me and has a Daddy that gets up REALLY early every morning...haha!

Here's what you need -
1 roll breakfast sausage
1 lb bacon
1/2 onion
1 green pepper
8 eggs
2 packages of crescent rolls
salsa
1 cup shredded cheese

Brown the sausage, drain and rinse
Cook the bacon and crumble
Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with pam
Line the pan and the sides with the crescent roll dough
Chop the green pepper and onion into small pieces
Put the bacon, sausage, green pepper and onion in the pan, distributed evenly over the crescent roll crust
Sprinkle cheese over the mixture
Whisk the eggs, and then pour over the mixture
Cook right away, or store in the oven overnight to cook the next morning
Cook for 30 minutes at 350, until the center is solid
Serve with salsa and enjoy!

We ate this for breakfast all three mornings. I had planned on making french toast and waffles this morning, but everyone wanted the breakfast casserole again!

Side Note: Aren't my Christmas plates cute?? I'm just sorry they were paper! I got them at Hobby Lobby, 1/2 off, for $3. Can't beat that!

Outside Trees

I just had to share a couple of pictures of our outside Christmas trees this year. My Mom and Daddy bought them for us, and she bought me the decorations (of course!) but I did decorate them myself - and i am so proud of them! I don't want to put them away!

I think they are just adorable next to our front door - the perfect size!

40 Days of Thankfulness - Day 17

Today I am thankful for our families. Both of them!
As our first married Christmas approaches, I have been very concerned and worried about the logistics of it all. Traveling here, having Christmas Eve here, Christmas day activities...not hurting any one's feelings by missing an event that is important to them...making everyone comfortable on "their" Christmas...the list is pretty much endless.

But, as the day approaches, I am so thankful that we have all of these loved ones to coordinate! There are so many people that do not have a Christmas celebration, or family to spend this special day with. It is so easy to let all the little things get to you and worry you - but wow, we are lucky. We have so many people that want to celebrate Christmas with us in their own special ways. We are so loved and so very fortunate to be so surrounded with love.

And, I think we have it all worked out!

Last weekend we celebrated with my extended family. Edaddy, Emommy and Aunt Cindy (my mom's parents and sister) traveled all the way from Alabama to watch my little sister graduate. Pappa (my Dad's Dad) also joined us, making the occasion so much more special. We celebrated Christmas that weekend as well, and even though it was the weekend before, it really did feel like Christmas!

On Christmas Eve, my parents and sister are coming from Dallas to Houston to celebrate with Pappa and his sisters and their children. Since it is Jeff's parents' Christmas this year, we will miss that celebration and attend Christmas Eve Service at the church that his Sister will be married in this Spring. Everyone in my family has been very understanding of this, and for that I am also thankful. I am very excited to attend Christmas Eve Services - I've never been before! That just wasn't something that we did with our family, we were usually traveling across the country to visit our Grandparents, so we didn't spend too many Christmas' at home while I was growing up. I can't wait to celebrate in a church.

On Christmas, we are going to do a Christmas brunch with my family and sister (they are staying with us). We will open our presents that morning, and spend that time together. That afternoon, we will head over to Jeff's parents' house, and have a Christmas dinner and exchange gifts. What a wonderful day filled with family and love!

On Saturday, we are working on getting everyone together to have dinner together. My parents are not in town very often, so I think it would be nice for both families to get to spend some time together, especially after the pressure of the holiday is over. I'm really excited to spend time with both of our families!

What are your Christmas plans? Is it hard for you to see everyone that you would like to see on Christmas?

40 Days of Thankfulness - Day 16

Today, I am thankful for my sister. She graduated from UNT this weekend! I am so thankful that she is doing so great - we could not be more proud of her! She also already has a job - they hired her on the spot!!! She is going to be teaching math at NCTC, a local community college. She has grown up to be such a beautiful, successful young woman and I am so proud that she is my sister.

I love you Val!

Christmas Decorations

I love, love, LOVE Christmas! This is our first married Christmas, and my first year really decorating our home. It's not near what I want it to look like, but if we add a little each year, I think it will be perfect! I just wanted to share some of our pics, hope you like them!

Our bakers rack. It's hard to see, but we have our snowman martini glass, and our alligator with the santa heels.

My Mom made this tree for my grandparents. She used a glue gun to keep everything in place so they won't have to worry about fixing anything, and it's small enough for them to store it in the storage shed each year.

Isn't it cute??!!

Our wrapping paper was chosen by Jeff this year. To go with our red theme, I ordered the gift tags from Vista Print.

I love glitter...and bows...

My mom made these chandilers for us. They were hanging from each of our centerpieces at our wedding. Now, they are hanging on our Christmas tree! I love them and it makes me so happy that we can use something from our wedding on our Christmas tree.

Bandit loves to check out the presents : )

Our wreath. Made by my Mom - it is the most beautiful wreath I have ever seen. I keep it inside because I don't want it to get ruined!

Our front room.

Hope you like it!

40 Days of Thankfulness - Day 15

Today Jeff and I are thankful for the same thing - great neighbors.
We are so fortunate to be surrounded by such wonderful, fun people.
We had our Christmas party last night, a progressive party themed "An American Christmas". Each couple drew a state, and served food and drinks that represented that state. We had an amazing night!
We visited Utah, Arkansas, West Virginia, New York, South Carolina, Mississippi, Montana...and one other state that I can't seem to remember right now. We had Long Island Iced Tea, New York Cheesecake, Arkansas Avalanche, Fried Okra, Deer Sausage, Carolina Sweet Tea, Sliders, Mountain Dew on Acid (that was a new one for me!), Mississippi Mud Pie, Sangria, Kahlua Cake, Corn Chowder, Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches, Mudslides, Pulled Pork Sandwiches...and more! Needless to say, we are full and sleepy today : )
I hope everyone has neighbors as wonderful as ours!

Pinwheels

Thanks to the wonderfully helpful ladies on the nest, I have an amazing new recipe!

I altered it for our tastes, and love, love these pinwheels!

I made them for my incredibly particular husband, and *gasp* he loves them!

He ate the two that I brought him while he was watching TV, and then, upon discovering that I was putting them in the fridge, says, "Why don't you put those on a plate and bring them in here?" That's when I knew I stumbled across something good. To get another opinion, I took them to work the next day, heated them in the toaster oven, and served them to my recipe guinea pigs - my coworkers. They loved them too! When I got home, there was a very disappointed hubby on the sofa asking for the leftover pinwheels. Oops.

I served these last night at our progressive neighborhood Christmas party. They were a hit! All the wives wanted the recipe.

We are currently cooking another batch to eat while we watch football this afternoon.

Okay, enough talking, here's how you make them -

PINWHEELS

1 8oz Block Cream Cheese

1 Tube Crescent Rolls

1/4 Cup Bacon Bits (I use the yellow Oscar Meyer bag)

2 Tablespoons Finley Diced Onions

Lay out about 2 feet of plastic wrap.

Lay crescent rolls flat, making one large sheet of dough. Press seams together.

Put cream cheese block in a microwave safe bowl. Defrost in the microwave. I used the chicken setting, and defrosted for 1/2 lb. of chicken. Worked great and makes it so much easier to mix and spread.

Stir in onion and bacon bits.

Spread mixture evenly over crescent roll dough.

Roll dough into a log shape, creating a spiral in the cross section.

Wrap in the plastic wrap, and place in the fridge. The colder the log gets, the easier it will be to slice. I made the logs the night before, and sliced and cooked them the next evening right before our party.

Slice the log into 1/2 slices, place on a baking sheet, and cook for about 15 minutes at 350.

Hope you enjoy them!

40 Days of Thankfulness - Day 14

Today, I am thankful for cold nights. Usually here in Houston, it's hot, and Jeff and I sleep on totally opposite sides of the bed. But, when it's cold, every time I wake up we are all close and snuggly. I love it! I have to soak it up, because it's not cold here for very long.

Jeff is thankful for sleep today. I think this has something to do with the fact that I asked him what he was thankful for as we were falling asleep in the before mentioned cold bed. He really does love sleep though - he would sleep all day if he didn't have honey-do chores.

40 Days of Thankfulness - Day 13

Today I am thankful for Bandit, our Pomeranian. He is 6 years old, and definitely our child! He brings so much joy to our lives and I feel so lucky that God blessed me with such an amazing doggie! He truly brings joy to our lives each and every day.

Jeff is thankful for Christmas, he is so excited!

Lessons - Never Judge

"Some People!" snorted a man standing behind me in the long line at the grocery store. "You would think the manager would pay attention and open another line", a woman said.

I looked to the front of the line to see what the hold up was and saw a well dressed, young woman, trying to get the machine to accept her credit card. No matter how many times she swiped it, the machine kept rejecting it.

"It's one of them welfare card things. Darn people need to get a job like everyone else", said the man standing behind me.

The young woman turned around to see who had made the comment.

"It was me", he said, pointing to himself.

The young lady's face began to change expression. Almost in tears, she dropped the welfare card onto the counter and quickly walked out of the store. Everyone in the checkout line watched as she began running to her car. Never looking back, she got in and drove away.

Several minutes later a young man walked into the store. He went up to the cashier and asked if she had seen the woman. After describing her, the cashier told him that she had run out of the store, got into her car, and drove away.

"Why would she do that?" asked the man. Everyone in the line looked around at the fellow who had made the statement. "I made a stupid comment about the welfare card she was using...something I shouldn't have said. I'm sorry", said the man.

"Well, that's bad, real bad, in fact. Her brother was killed in Afghanistan two years ago...he had three young children and she has taken responsibility for them. She's only 20 years old, single, and now has three children to suppport." He said in a very firm voice.

This story goes on, and the people in line all chip in to buy her groceries. Things like this always make me think about making snap judgements, which I am often guilty of doing. I pray that God gives me a pure heart that is not quick to judge.

40 Days of Thankfulness - Day 12

Today, I am thankful that my grandparents will be able to travel to Texas for my Sister's graduation! My Emommy is not in great health, and they were waiting to get clearance from her doctor to travel - and they did! This way we will get to have Christmas with them and it will mean the world to my sister.

Jeff is thankful for Charlie Brown Christmas. As I type, we are watching the Grinch. We love these classic Christmas movies, they warm my heart and remind me of what Christmas was like as a child.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

It really is true...absence does make the heart grow fonder!

Jeff went to Cancun for 4 days for a bachelor party this weekend, and I was really looking forward to some time home alone. I leave before he does in the morning, and he gets home a few hours before I do in the evening, so I haven't spent much time at home by myself since we got married last April.

The first night was great, I cleared out the DVR, caught up on my soap opera, and didn't do the dishes as soon as I was finished with them. By the second night though, I was lonesome. I went to the bride to be's bachelorette party Saturday night, and by Sunday, I was really missing him! I think he should take a trip more often - it was so wonderful to see him last night! We had so much to talk about after not talking or spending time together, it was almost like when we were dating again : ) I've decided that weekends away are wonderful things!

40 Days of Thankfulness - Day 11

Today I am so thankful for my husband. He is amazing.
He is in Cancun this week - weekend, and not having him here really makes me appreciate him:)
It just makes you realize how wonderful it is to be married and to always have him here.
I'm a lucky girl!