*happy dance*

Every once in awhile something really nifty happens.

Like today, for instance, I got my table runners for the wedding for 63% off! 

Originally $3.99 a pop, they were on sale for $1.49! 

I ordered them as soon as I saw the price. 

One less thing to worry about.

Seriously, I am so excited about it. 

 

And I bought my Christmas cards today and picked up the second batch of my Save The Dates.  I get to start addressing those soon and hopefully have them done by the 16th so I can throw our Christmas pictures in them and send them out.  I know I said mid-November, but my photographer didn't have any openings until mid-December to get our family pics done, so everybody has to wait. 

 

I am so excited for this holiday season!  I have tons of cookie recipes that I want to try out (and will be posting pics of!), lots of crafts to do with our Whimzy, and even more presents to give! 

*sigh of contentment*

Hopefully, everybody is as excited as I am!

If not, come over, I am completely willing to share some holiday cheer!

Holiday Spirit and BBC

I put aside all day yesterday to do Christmas decorating.

Including bringing the boxes up from the basement and then bringing them back down afterwards, it took about an hour.

Tree up, decorated, and the rest of the decorations up.

Still, it looks pretty nifty and completely reflects my little family.

A bunch of decorations are Nana's, but we are slowly building up our own collection. 

Our stuff is glittery and un-traditional.  I love it. 

And, I just got done wrapping round 1 of presents.  I need a few more boxes for some of them, because they are so oddly shaped.

I also started watching Merlin on BBC tonight.  BBC sucks me in once again.

 

On a more emotional note, even though this is the second Christmas that I have been able to truly enjoy the season, it still surprises me that I am enjoying it. 

I am so lucky that life has given me a chance to actually enjoy it. 

Whimzy is going to know the true meaning of family because of my second chance!

 

Well, off to engross myself in more British TV.

Thankful!

So, today is Thanksgiving!

A bunch of my friends did those "whole month of thankfulness" thing.

I didn't. 

I would have forgotten a few days and looked silly ;)

So, I am going to list a few important things I am thankful for on here! 

1. First and foremost: my new life.  I was on the wrong path for a while and I am so happy that I feel like I've been heading in the right direction for a while now.

2. Second of all, Ty.  I love him so much.  I am so lucky to have such a great guy to call mine.  He is a wonderful Dad, a wonderful best friend, and an all around perfect guy. 

3.  Whimzy.  She is amazing and has inspired me to be a better person.  Not to mention, she alwasy makes me giggle and amazes me everyday.

4. My Miteks.  I am so lucky to be supported by an amazing family. I am so happy that Whimzy has a real Grandma and Papa to spoil and love her. 

5.  My new relationship with my Dad. I love that I talk to him so much and that I am able to have this chance to re-build it.

6. My friends.  Even at my lowest, they have always loved me and helped hold me up. 

7.  Noodles.  No explanation needed :)

8. My second chance to go to school.  I am loving it and I love that I finally have a chance to live up to my potential.

9. Ty's job.  He is able to support us and do something that he seems to enjoy.

10.  My upcoming wedding.

11. The fact that I am fighting my anxiety without meds.

 

I really could go on and on, but these seem to be the important ones!

What is everybody else thankful for?

Addicted To Pinterest

So, I did another Pinterest recipe. 

 Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken.

I almost died it was so good. 

 

So, this is where I got the recipe from:

http://www.halfhourmeals.com/recipe/cheddar-bacon-ranch-chicken-pasta

 

And here is the recipe:

Ingredients

1 lb mostaccioli or other short pasta
6 strips bacon, diced
1 Tbsp butter
2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 packet ranch dressing mix
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Cook pasta according to package directions in boiling salted water; drain, return to pot, and keep warm.

2. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Drain all but one tablespoon of bacon drippings from the pan.

3. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the butter to the reserved bacon drippings, then add the chicken to the same skillet. Cook until tender, no longer pink, and slightly browned.

4. Sprinkle the flour and ranch dressing mix over the chicken, stirring to coat evenly. Stir in the milk, and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and bubbly. Stir in the cheddar cheese and half of the reserved bacon; cook and stir until the cheese is melted. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.

5. Serve each plate of pasta with more bacon sprinkled over the top. Green onions would also be a delicious topping.

 

I used whole wheat four, Barilla Plus Penne, and I had to eat like 2 cups of veggies before I could even try this so I didn't ruin my diet.  Ty absolutely loved it and there were tons of leftovers!

In other news, I also made roasted chickpeas.  Not sure if they are blog-worthy, though.  We shall see.

Spending the day doing school stuff and cuddling with Whimzy. And I plan on updating the wedding binder tonight!  If there are any fun new developments, I will let you know :)

 

 



 



Yummm....Marshmallows!

First of all, I didn't cite my source for the chili-cheese dog casserole recipe:

http://thatchbo.blogspot.com/2010/06/chili-dog-casserole.html

 

I feel much better now!

 

So forever ago I saw a way to roast marshmallows without a fire that still makes them crunchy.  I cannot remember for the life of me where I saw this idea, but I decided to try it.

 

Put your oven on Broil setting (with mine, that means about 500 degrees)

Basically, spray a baking pan (I used a square 9x9) with cooking spray.

Put a layer of marshmallows in said baking pan.

Bake for about 5 minutes. 

Make sure you check on it constantly because it seems like it would be super easy to burn!

Then, serve with chocolate covered graham crackers! 

 

 

So gooey...yumm!

 

And so easy :)  Going to be perfect for cold winter nights!

 

How does this relate to the wedding?  Well, this is why he is marrying me ;)



Chili Cheese Dog Casserole and Pinterest

So, I just made a recipe that I found on Pinterest.

I've decided to add my Pinterest stuff to this blog.

Granted, it might not happen often.  I do not get to do stuff like that nearly enough, but I figured I would add it in :)

 

Today, I made a Chili-Cheese Dog Casserole!

 

This is the original recipe:

2 (15 oz) cans chili with beans (I like Hormel Hot & Spicy)
1 (16 oz) package beef frankfurters (I prefer Ball Park)
10 (8 inch) flour tortillas (the fajita sized ones)
1 (8 oz) package Cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Spread 1 can of chili and beans in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Roll up franks inside tortillas and place in baking dish, seam side down, on top of chili and beans. Top with remaining can of chili and beans, and sprinkle with cheese.

Cover baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes

I changed it up a bit because I only had one can of chili and a can of cheese sauce.

So, I laid down the can of chili, with a layer of tortillas.

Then, I added the hot dogs and poured the can of cheese sauce over it.

I then put another layer of tortillas down and covered it with shredded cheese.

I baked liked the recipe called for and we all loved it.

I served it with macaroni and cheese and steamed asparagus.

 

Ty absolutely loved it, but I thought it was a bit spicy.  It will probably end up getting made again :) 

 

 



Taylor Swift, Cardio, PMS, and Holiday Spirit

Taylor Swift's mini-series thing "Road to Fearless" is on Netflix. 

I am apparently PMS'ing because it is making me tear up like crazy.

Ugh.

I love that woman but she always makes me cry.

Stupid.

 

So, in order to tackle my anxiety without meds, I have to start doing cardio.

Alot of cardio.

Which, normally makes me have an attack...so I pretty much have to be willing to have an anxiety attack to 4x a week to get rid of all of the anxiety if I want to do this without pills.

It is going to be hard. 

Super hard.

Probably going to need support, mostly from myself.

When I would normally do cardio is when Ty isn't available for his normal cheerleading when it comes to this aspect of life.

So, it is just me, and maybe Whimzy.

I can do it.

I have to.

To make myself happier, to make me a better person, and be a better mom, fiance, friend, and overall better person.

 

Also, it is HOLIDAY SEASON! 

It feels so nice to be excited instead of dreading it.

I cannot believe how much my perspective has changed.

Thank you, Whimzy ;)

Can't mess her idea of Christmas up with my freakin' issues! 

 

Well, I need to go put pants on Whimzy.

Seems to be an issue alot.

Lol.