Time for Some Organization

Buying a house can be very stressful, from looking at a million houses (at least that is what it felt like) to putting in offers to the rejections and so on and so on until you finally find the one.  Then what?  You buy a house, but then you need everything else to go inside or at least I did.  It seems like every house you go to, whether it's family or friends, everyone has some sort of canister set on their kitchen counters.  So I was just like every other person out there.  I wanted a cute, modern, inexpensive canister set to store flour and sugar that would be easily accessible.  I had found exactly what I wanted.

Three years later, it was time for a change.  I don't know about you, but while they look great on the counters, they are not very functional.  At least, they weren't for me.  I could never get my measuring cups in them so I would have to tip them up and then pour the flour or sugar into the measuring cups, which would most of the time result in a disaster.  Flour everywhere, go figure!

  So I decided on these.

I had bought 4 from Wal-Mart and for only $0.96 per container, I had hit the jackpot.  Since I have been making bread and baking, I had 3 different kinds of flour.  I knew I had to label them some how to make sure I was always using the right kind of flour I need at that time.  With the handy dandy Cricut and some vinyl, I created these.

  
I wasn't concerned about the letters being straight or centered.  This is just for me and no one is going to be seeing them.  Now I have more counter space and my flour and sugar is all organized.

 

It is also so much easier to get my measuring cups in and out of without making any kind of mess.  I can measure exactly what I need perfectly each time, which definitely makes a difference when making bread.

A little bit of cheap organization can make your life so much easier sometimes!

Blueberry Yum Yum

A few months ago on my way to feed dogs, I passed Stacy at her nanny's house picking something with Tyler.  So being curious, (what girl ain't), I stopped by to say hey and see what they were up to.  They were picking blueberries.

Stacy had some extra ziploc bags with her so I filled one up for myself.  I ate half the bag on the way home and hid the other half from Cody so I could eat them for breakfast the next morning.  Fresh blueberries = amazing!

She told me anytime I wanted I could call her up to go pick some more.  Heck yeah!

A few weeks later, mom and I had to run some errands for her store one Sunday afternoon and I had told her how good the blueberries were.  So on our way back home, I text Stacy to see if we could come pick some blueberries.  Twenty minutes later, we were there and picking like there was no tomorrow.

Now besides the fact that I just ate my first batch of blueberries straight out of the bag, I really didn't know what I was going to do with them and not really sure what mom's intentions were.  After being there a while, I told mom we had plenty, but oh no!  She said, we are here so are going to pick all we can.  Well guess what, we did and ended up with an entire Wal-Mart grocery bag full of blueberries.

 I had eaten some of them fresh out of the bag, but by the time I got home, I didn't know what I was going to do with them so I decided to freeze them until I had a plan.  Finally, that day has come.  I decided that tonight I would make some homemade blueberry muffins.  

I found the recipe from Our Vintage Home Love.

So I started mixing my dry ingredients and this is what happened.

Really, what the hell?!?!  This is one reason I am not fond of baking.  No matter how hard you try, flour always gets somewhere.  The harder I try to keep it clean, the worse the outcome.

Finally, after 25 - 30 minutes baking in the oven, my final result.

    

Now they need to hurry up and cool down just a little so I can give one a try because I don't think I can wait for breakfast. 

Another Before and After

A few days ago, I decided to give my washing machine a good cleaning.  Today, I thought it would be a good idea to clean something else from an idea I found on Pinterest.  I decided I would give our shower head a good cleaning.  I followed the steps from Frugally Sustainable.  

Here is the before picture.

The rust and residue that has built up over the past few years was pretty disgusting.  

Here is the after picture.

I couldn't believe how clean this came.  It looks so much better than before.  

Both my washing machine and shower head cleaning experience involved white distilled vinegar.  That stuff stinks so bad and the smell is so strong, but what a miracle cleaner.   

The best part of this whole process was the fact that I didn't have to spend a dime.  I already had everything I needed and I am sure you do to.  I love super cheap cleaning projects that turn out great! 

A Clean Machine

I have found so many great things on Pinterest and I thought it was time I actually did something that I pinned - clean my top load washing machine.  When I first started seeing these tips on how to clean your washing machine, I was wondering why on earth would you need to clean your washing machine.  It cleans your clothes so it should be clean, right?

  Then I started looking and realized I was completely wrong.  It was so dirty, I couldn't believe it.  However, Cody is a mechanic and he doesn't come home in clean clothes so I should have known better.  And I enjoy working out in the yard, and in this 100 degree Georgia weather, you ain't coming inside smelling like roses.

Then I started thinking that when I purchased my house, the previous owners were kind enough to include the washer and dryer with the purchase.  For me, that was huge.  One last thing that I didn't have to worry about purchasing.  Even though the house was only 2 years old, it didn't look like they were only 2 years old.  Still not complaining, they work and do what I need them to do.  Knock on wood!  Do I think they washed their washing machine when they had it?  Probably not so this definitely got me a little more motivated to start this cleaning process.   

So I decided I would try Jillee's steps over at One Good Thing.

Here's what my washing machine looked like at first.

Here's what my washing machine looked like when it was all done. 

 

Pretty clean, huh?  Don't think that the bleach and vinegar do all the work.  During the vinegar cycle, I did have to wipe all that nasty grim off, but it wasn't difficult.  Now I have a clean machine.  Let's just see how long it lasts.

Their Going to do What?

Sometime at the beginning of June, dad had taken a pretty bad fall at work.  This fall was bad enough for the ambulance to take him to Grady Hospital to the trauma center.  Needless to say, this scared us all.  The only thing mom could tell us was that he fell, his speech was slurred, and when he didn't have a neck brace on, his extremities would go numb.  Great, is that all?

Mom picked up Sarah from work and headed downtown to Grady, while I was at work waiting for Melissa so we could ride together.  From mom and dad's house, it normally takes about an hour and a half to get to Chattanooga so I figured I would add another 30 minutes to that and Melissa would be at my work.  Man was I wrong!  She made it  to my work in an hour and 20 minutes.  I was glad she made it there fast because I couldn't concentrate at all, but I was completely shocked when she sent me a text and said she was in the parking lot.

So onto Grady it was.  First of all, that place is scary!  From security being inside and outside of the hospital to a girl asking her mom why she was there, basically to just make up a story to get some pain pills, this was quite the experience.  Unfortunately with dad being in the trauma center, only one person could go back at a time.  Are you serious?  We had to sit in the waiting room with all those scary, crazy people.  Poor Sarah had to lean in towards us, hold on to her purse for dear life and keep a conversation going because the teenager sitting beside her looked like he was ready to pounce at any given moment for her purse.  Needless to say, I hope we never have to go back their again and I pray that you don't either.      

After hours of being there and only a few x-rays, dad was released.  However, they didn't even x-ray where he told them it hurt.  Hello?!?!  Doesn't this sound a little odd?  We were completely shocked.  I'm not a doctor, but seriously?  Something has to be wrong.

After a few months and several chiropractor visits, the chiropractor suggested dad get a MRI.  Well guess what?  The MRI shows a fracture exactly where he told Grady it was hurting.  Go figure!

So this morning, dad was scheduled for a balloon kyphoplasty.  As much as I hate blood, hospitals and anything related, this process actually intrigued me.

Here are some pictures of how the procedure went, step by step.  I took these pictures from his brochure with my iPhone so they are not that great, but you get the point.

 
 I can't believe they used cement to make the internal cast in order to hold the vertebra in place.  Pretty cool, huh?

Only two stitches and after 24 hours, he can take his bandage off.  He showed me his bandage, but I was not about to ask if I could look at his incision.  No thank you, the pictures above will do just fine.  I am sure he will be out on the golf course before we know it. 

One of Those Days

I'll just start off by saying, yesterday was one of those days.  I'm sure you know, where it seems like nothing is going to go your way.  It started from my morning drive to work.

Living in Jasper and working in Marietta, I have to take Hwy 575 to work, roughly 40 miles.  Like any other day (except when all schools are back in), I have been leaving around 7:00 and making it work in at least 45 minutes.  No problems at all.  Until yesterday morning!

A wreck on the highway about half way there.  Luckily, there are back roads so when I heard this over the radio, I thought to myself, oh well, no problem, I'll just take the back roads.  Big mistake #1.  Not only was the highway at a standstill, the back roads were too!

Knowing that I was going to be late, I sent a text message to my boss letting her know.  No big problem.  My normal 45 minute took me 1 hour and 30 minutes and I was late.  I hate being late!  It messes your whole morning routine up.

Finally, time to work.  We are currently interviewing people to work in our accounting department, which I get to be a part of.  Pretty cool, huh?  I have never been on this side of things so this is all completely new to me and a learning experience for sure.  Well, this did not go as expected either.  The CFO called a meeting with our accounting group 2 times to discuss what had happened with the interviewee and her thoughts, as well as her expectations of the interviewing process.  Needless to say, we received a F on this task.

By this time, it is time to go home.  I had laid out steaks for dinner before work so I was looking forward to going home and cooking a nice meal for Cody and I.  Oh no, of course not, the day could not get any better could it?  Honestly, I was starting to think it was a Monday.

This is how my day ended.

At the busiest intersection near work at a red light, my car just stalls.  I put it in neutral and try to restart it, but nothing.  Cars are honking, it's 5:00 and they just want to get home, but guess what, so do I.  I keep trying, but nothing.  Finally, a car of Hispanics offer to push my car out of the middle of the road off to the side so no one can hit me.  Thank you, finally cars can stop honking at me.  After about an hour and a half, the tow truck finally arrives.

I must say, I am very thankful for all my family and friends because everyone was so helpful.  Travis, Glenda's husband, just left worked at Woodstock and was nice enough to come and pick me up and have the tow truck follow us to the mechanic shop.  And Sarah let me borrow her car for work today.  Thank goodness it's Friday.  I hope this day turns out better than yesterday, but I am waiting for that dreaded phone call this morning as to what is wrong with my car and how much it's going to cost.

 

Pigeon Forge & Homemade Granola Bars

A few months ago, Sarah and I had the pleasure of going to Pigeon Forge with a lifetime family friend, Shannon.  A weekend of 5 adult women and 3 kids ranging from a first grader to a one year old adventuring off to Dollywood.  I know, crazy right?  

The best part was we were staying in a 3 bedroom condo at the Riverstone Resort so we weren't cramped into several hotel rooms.  This place was extremely nice.  If you are going to Pigeon Forge, this place is definitely worth the money.

However, Shannon's daughter has food allergies (milk, peanut and egg).  By staying at the condo, it gave us the opportunity to cook, which also saved us some money.  Sarah and I thought it would be best if we just gave Shannon money for groceries since she deals with this on a daily basis and knows exactly what and what not to buy.

Being a planner (I guess that's who I get it from), Shannon had snacks already made: chocolate chip cookies and granola bars.  Both of these were allergy friendly and tasted amazing.  So of course, I had to ask her for the recipes.  I have not made the chocolate chip cookies yet, but I have definitely made the granola bars.

What I love about the granola bars is that you can add whatever ingredients you want.  Also, the recipe calls for 2 cups of chocolate chips, but this is the part where you can add whatever and I definitely add more than 2 cups.  We have made them with chocolate chips and walnuts and other times by adding sunflower seeds to the mix.  This has become a weekly staple in our household. 

Oh and by the way, if you try this recipe and they don't turn out to be in the shape of a bar, it is perfectly fine.  We like to call ours granola clusters.

Also, if you have not been to Dollywood this year, they have a new roller coaster called the Wild Eagle.  This was the smoothest roller coaster I have ever ridden.

How cool is this?  You are riding on the side of the track!

 Here are a few pictures from the trip.

Top Photo: Sarah and Jasper

Bottom Photo: Brock, Shannon and Kacy

If you need a quick weekend getaway idea or a great go to snack recipe, you have come to the right place.  Enjoy!

       

You Don't Like What?

When I moved out of my parent's house, I had to start figuring out exactly what I was going to do each day for dinner.  Who knew figuring out what to cook could be so complicated.  So I am sure like many of you have done, I started thinking about the meals my mom would cook growing up.  I started thinking of some of my all time favorite dinners, but also remembering those ones that I knew I was never going to make. 

So back to the basics it was - meatloaf and mashed potatoes. 

However, when I asked Cody if he liked meatloaf, he said no.  Do what, you don't like meatloaf?  You love cheeseburgers, I just don't understand.  It's just ground beef.  Anybody who really knows Cody, knows that he hates condiments!  So after a little digging, I was finally able to get some explanation out of him.  First of all, it has ketchup on top.  Well you are just in luck, growing up mom never did that so I don't either.  Nice try, but there has to be something else.  After a little more digging, it came down to the fact that it is a pound of ground beef in the shape of a loaf pan. 

Are you thinking what I am thinking?  You have got to be kidding me.  Nice try again because we certainly can fix that problem too! 

So last night, this is what we started out with.

Yes, that is ketchup and mustard in there.  That will be our little secret.  He couldn't even taste it and it didn't kill him so I think I will keep that a secret.

And here is our final product before baking.

Making them in the shape of meatballs cuts the bake time in half.  I don't know about you, but that definitely works for me!

So I got to thinking, if our meatloaf isn't going to be basic, why should our mashed potatoes?

One morning while I was watching Food Network (surprised, I know), Melissa d'Arabian was making twice-baked mashed potatoes that didn't call for sour cream.  Of course, Cody doesn't like sour cream so this recipe was like hitting the jackpot. 

Here is our end result.

I promise you that if you make these potatoes, you will not be disappointed.  Super easy to make and super yummy!  Enjoy!

Bread Making Time

So a while back, a friend from work brought in some homemade cinnamon swirl bread.  Let me tell you, that bread was awesome.  Toast it up with some butter = delicious.  So of course, it got me in the mood to start making my own bread, but did I really want to take the time kneading and waiting and waiting and waiting?  Of course not, which is why I think I don't really like to bake.  Too much time and so many other things to do.

I had remembered my grandma giving me a bread machine, but it was all I could do to find it.  From moving out of my parent's house and Cody moving out of his house, it was no where to be found.  From the look of it, bread making was not in my future unless I was going to be able to take the easy way out.  Time to start saving for a bread machine.  

Well, who of all people came to my rescue - Cody's nanny.  I am thinking to myself, why in the world does she have a bread machine?  She makes everything from scratch with a little of that and a dash of that.  Good luck learning a recipe from her, especially knowing that it is never going to taste as good.  So I was on my way home with this beauty.

Oh and by the way, it was still in the box wrapped in plastic, brand new.

My first bread was just a basic cinnamon bread, which was very good, but then I started thinking.  Why are we buying white bread for sandwiches?  We can make our own sandwich bread that will taste just as good if not better, probably a little more healthier, plus save us some money.  If anyone knows me, knows that I am all about saving the money or trying to at least, especially with grocery prices on the rise.

Here is my latest creation.

 

     Cody could barely wait for it to cool down before making a sandwich.  So this week, if it's not leftovers for lunch, we will be having us some very good sandwiches with our homemade white bread. 

How Do You Like Your Lasagna?

So if you haven't heard of Pinterest, it is time to jump on the band wagon.  Cody's sister, Tabatha, has done nothing but talk about this crock pot lasagna that she tried from, of course, Pinterest.  I don't know about you, but when it comes to the crock pot, let's talk about easy, so I was definitely looking forward to trying this recipe.

I mean, does this not look good or what?

 Source : Get Crocked

So last Sunday I decided it was time to try this recipe out.  It was super easy to put together and 4 hours later, we had crock pot lasagna.  It was good, but I kept comparing it to another lasagna recipe that I had tried a few years ago - cheese lover's pasta roll-ups.

  
 Source: Kraft Recipes


Do these not look amazing?  They are a completely new take on lasagna.  While they may be more time consuming when it comes to prep work, I must admit, this is my favorite form of lasagna.  This is definitely a recipe I will keep on hand for years to come.


If you try either recipe, enjoy!
  
 

And We Are Ready for Take Off

So I am finally taking the plunge.  Who knew coming up with a blog title could be so difficult, but it definitely sums up our life.  While we might be doing things a little backwards, these two high school sweethearts, live one crazy and aggravating life (Cody is definitely the aggravating one).  I figured with family and friends all across the country, this would be a great way to keep track with what we are up to.