Myrtle Beach here we come!

Friday, February 27, 2009

We are just about to leave for Myrtle Beach to go to our church's couples retreat! I am really excited! Another bonus about going to Myrtle Beach is they have a P.F. Changs and Brian said that we could go!!! Lettuce wraps and Szechuan Cucumbers here I come!!

Bread and Butter



Thats right, I said homemade butter! I made butter yesterday! I found the recipe here and knew I had to try it! It was so easy and fast! I will definitly be making homemade butter all the time now! You have to try it! To go with my homemade butter I decided to try a new take on No-Knead-Bread. I have made a few loaves of the regular no knead bread and its really good, but I had tasted a rosemary olive oil loaf @ Harris Teeter that was really good and I thought that I might be able to recreate the taste using a variation to the No Knead Bread Recipe.


No Knead Bread

Keri's Whole Wheat Rosemary Version


Yield: one 1 lb loaf
1/2 cup bread flour

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon instant yeast

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon rosemary

olive oil

1 1/2 cups warm water
Covered pot (five-quart or larger cast iron, Pyrex, ceramic, enamel…something that can go into a 450F oven.)


1. Mix dough: The night before, in a small dish place teaspoon of rosemary, coat with olive oil. After a few minutes combine all ingredients in a big bowl with a wooden spoon until the dough just comes together. It will be a shaggy, doughy mess. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit 12-20 hours on countertop.
2. Shape & preheat: The dough will now be wet, sticky and bubbly. With a wet spatula, dump the dough on a floured surface. Fold ends of dough over a few times with the spatula and nudge it into a ball shape. You can use your hands if you like, just keep your hands wet so that the dough does not stick. Generously dust a cotton towel (not terrycloth) with flour. Set dough seam side down on top of towel. Fold towel over the dough. Let it nap for 2 hours. When you’ve got about a half hour left, slip your covered pot into the oven and preheat to 450F.
3. Bake: Your dough should have doubled in size. Remove pot from oven. Holding towel, dump wobbly dough into pot. Doesn’t matter which way it lands. Shake to even dough out. Cover. Bake 30 minutes. Remove and let cool on wired rack. If not eating right away, you can re-crisp crust in 350F oven for 10 minutes. Best way to eat it? Smear a warm slice with some good homemade butter.


***The verdict: Brian didn't like this bread as much as he liked the regular no-knead bread. He said he liked the addition of the rosemary but he didn't like that I used whole wheat flour because it made the bread more dense. Next time I will make it with 2 1/2 cups bread flour and 1/2 cup whole wheat which is what I would have done in the first place if I would have had more bread flour.

17 weeks!

Thursday, February 26, 2009




Treasure Hunting!

When I was a kid I used to hate it when my Mom and my Aunt Kris used to drag Kimbe and I around to garage sales and thrift stores. Well I am older now and I have seen the error of my ways! I love going to thrift stores and garage sales now! I view it like I am going on a treasure hunt! And usually but not always I find a great deal!


I went to the Whistle Stop today and found these 2 awesome finds! First I found a $1 tupperware breadbox. I am always looking for tupperware when I go, and you know what the kicker was that made this great find go from great to awesome... The lid is blue just like all of the tupperware modular mates in my pantry!!! This find made me super happy.
And then while I was still looking around I found this $1.50 plain white crib bumper. Since I am planning on making the crib bumper for the babies room anyway I snatched it up and I can just slipcover it and save myself the cost of the batting! And since I am new to sewing it will probably make the project much easier on me!




Yay for great deals!


Ultrasound Pictures!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

We went to get an ultrasound today! It was such a blessing to be able to see our baby! One of the most awesome things was when we were in the waiting room, one of the nurses called the other nurses back there so that they could all pray together before the day and before all of the ultrasounds. It was so encouraging and really made us feel at ease. God is so good!

Here is the baby's face
This one is our favorite!
This is the baby's butt and legs. It looks almost like he or she is sitting on a glass table and we are looking up. He or She would not open up his or her little legs for us so we still dont know if its a boy or girl.


This is the face again and you can see the elbows and then its hand and arm up by its face.


So yeah this was an awesome experience! We cant wait until our next one on March 20th!


Anyone Mac Savvy?

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

If you are smart with Macs, I need your help! My iBook G4 will no longer let me access https:// websites. Does anyone know how to fix this problem? Because I cant access blogger, gmail, banking, or anything like that. I realize that my laptop is old. I do not have leopard on there. If I got that would it help? I was looking at it online last night but it didn't say anything about an ugrade for Safari. Thanks for helping if you can!!

Ski Trip Pictures

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Brian was really excited to go snowboarding so he drove with the goggles on from our house to the church.
Here are some of our teens skiing, I didn't get great pictures of them because I was up in the lodge by the window.

That is two of our teen girls that slid into that ditch. :) One of them is behind the fence thing.



This is the only bedroom at the whole place. Mikey and I grabbed it! Sleeping bags were still required though. :)



This is the girls dorm area. Its like 90% unpainted plywood. The girls were all pretty shocked when they saw that this is where they would be staying for two nights. I told them to take lots of pictures because this could be their memory of the plywood ski trip of 09'.



Yes, those are plywood shower stalls. I am the only girl who showered twice.


Group Pics!

See that snow on the "mountain", that is the ski slopes we were at. Elevation 3,252. Kinda crazy for Brian and I since we are so used to Washington slopes. Mt. Baker's elevation is 10,778.

16 Weeks Pictures!




I am a little late to upload these because of the ski trip. I have some exciting news though, I felt the baby move! It was on Friday (16wks 1day) after we had gotten back from skiing I was laying down and I felt this weird feeling in my stomach like someone ran a q-tip across my stomach from the inside! So that was pretty exciting!

We leave today for the Ski Trip!!!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

I am really excited! It does make me miss Grace Snow Retreats very much. But to keep up with the traditions of snow retreat I made sure to go to the store to get the snow trip essentials. :) Mo will understand this picture :)



In other news... Brian got into a car accident this morning on his way to work. Thankfully no one got hurt. Praise the Lord for Brian's huge metal bumper, there was no damage at all to his Jeep but I guess the other guys car was pretty smashed up. So now we are just waiting to see what insurance says regarding who's fault it is. The other guys insurance called Brian and it sounds like the other guy totally lied to his insurance company about how it happened so we will see what happens.

Updating the blog.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Updated 2/19 to say that I lightened the blue of the font color. Is it easier to read now?

What do you think about the colors? I wanted to switch it up a bit because the white was totally my style but I realize that its also a little bit on the boring side. :)

Also I added a [From My Kitchen] section to the sidebar so now you have easy access to all of the recipes that I have posted on here! Enjoy! And try some of the out for yourself! I highly recommend that you try the jalapeno popper spread, the croutons, the flax seed crackers, and the microwave caramels!

How to make an amazing Tuna Melt

I dont make this sandwich very often but it really is the best tuna melt ever!




You need:
2 slices of bread
1 packet tuna
1 slice american cheese
Some mayo
Some pickles w/juice
Some french fried onions
& butter



Mix the tuna with the mayo. Add as much mayo as you like. Then throw in a little splash of the pickle juice because that is the secret ingredient. Then place the tuna mixture on one side of your bread. Top with some french fried onions, not to much just a sparse layer. Top that with the cheese and then top with other slice of bread. Now throw that butter on your preheated griddle and place your sandwich cheese side down so it gets nice and melted. Flip when that side is golden brown. After the flip I like to press down on it a bit with my spatula just to make sure the cheese and the tuna melt together.

There you have it the best tuna melt ever! Serve with some pickles and wash it down with a glass of 7up and pineapple juice (my new favorite drink)

Enjoy!

My 100th Post!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Wow, I can't belive this is my 100th post! Its going to be a random one!

We had a doctors appointment today. I got blood drawn and I didn't throw up or pass out so that was a huge improvement! I have only gained half a pound though since my last visit and I am still not back up to what my normal weight was before I got pregnant since I lost 6 pounds the first trimester from not being able to keep anything down. I think thats weird but the doctor said it was normal. We got to hear the heartbeat again. Its an awesome thing to hear. This time it was @ 156. Before it was @ 170 and people at church told me that high heartbeats mean that its a girl.

Speaking of if its a girl I picked out the fabric I am going to use in the nursery if it is a girl.

I love it! I found it at the Fat Quarter Shop. Since I got that sewing machine for my birthday I decided that I could make my own crib bedding (And since my friend Becky just recently made her baby boys bedding so she can help me if I totally mess up). So I am going to use this fabric to make the crib bumber and to cover the boppy and to make a valance for the window! I am so excited!






Now on to other news... Brian fixed my Roomba yesterday!!!!! I cannot even begin to express how much I love that thing. It had been broken since July and my wonderful hubby fixed it!! Yay for clean floors!




My wonderful hubby also got me some flowers for valentines day and I made them into this super cute centerpiece! I just took 4 wineglasses and put small arrangements of the flowers into two of them and then I filled the other two with some pearl beads that were left over from our wedding and stuck the taper candles that were also left over from our wedding in there.




Now for the funny stuff. We were cleaning out the office the other day and we came across our Marine Corps Ball pictures from 2007. So I am looking through them and in the middle of our stack I find this....



yeah Im pretty sure thats not us. :) Do you think they have a picture of us?

Happy Valentines Day!!

Saturday, February 14, 2009


and Happy Birthday to me! We just got back from my favorite breakfast place Baker's Square! The french toast was amazing but the company was even better be got to hang out with Maryn & Daniel, Mike & Rosa, Derek & Melissa & the kiddos, and Jim & Jenny & David! Which is extra exciting because Jim just got home from Iraq yesterday! It is so good to have him home and to see David interact with him and call him Daddy. I am so happy for them!
Now we are off to Morehead City to go to Lowes to get some sample paint things for the Master Bedroom, Baby's Room, and Living Room/Hallway. :) We have lots to paint before the little one arrives! We will probably stop at Panera Bread, Ross, & TJ Maxx too!
Happy Valentines Day!!!

Microwave Caramels

Friday, February 13, 2009




Yum! This recipe is super simple and best of all is doesn't require a candy thermometer. I dont have one so there are always recipes I want to try but cant until I buy one of those pesky things! I recommend you use a really big bowl. I didn't so I got to clean out my microwave today. Yay! Haha they were worth it though!

Microwave Caramels

1 Cup Karo Syrup
2 Cups Sugar
2 Cubes Butter

Cook for 5 minutes uncovered in the microwave.

Stir.

Add:
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Cook in he microwave for 11-13 minutes.
Stir every 3 minutes

(test drop in ice water...if you can flatten the caramel in your fingers it is ready)

Cool for 30 minutes in a greased 9x13 pan
Cut the caramels into small pieces using cooking shears (seriously dont try it with the knife its not pretty that way)
Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap


I found this idea over at Epicurean Style. She makes really cute aprons. I love the Madison style.

15 weeks!





I was fifteen weeks yesterday! I guess I'm a getting bigger because Brian is constantly saying it, and Wednesday Maryn told me she thinks I am having twins, and when I was watching Caidence and Danielle today Caidence was choosing stuffed animals to be members of her family. She decided I was the cow. :) Its okay though because she made Melissa (her mom) be the hippo.

We watched 7 pounds last night too. We should have taken the pictures before we watched the movie because I am an ugly crier and my face was all red and puffy for this picture, even after I put a cool wash cloth on it! I was sobbing though even after the movie ended it took me a while to calm down. Its a good movie but its definitely a cry movie. Will Smith is a really believable actor.

Neat Idea

Thursday, February 12, 2009

I just saw this idea over at Hallmark Magazine and I think it would be a really cute gift for family members, or even just a fun way to compile all of your favorite recipes! Mine would definitely be a dessert cookbook!

YAY YAY YAY!!!!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

I am so excited right now! Heres a little backstory...

WhenI first found out I was pregnant, I couldn't get a doctors appointment until after we got back from Washington, this kinda freaked me out because I didnt want to just tell everyone in Washington if we weren't sure about anything and didnt have a due date yet...

So me being impatient looked in the phone book for a crisis pregnancy center. Because I thought for sure that they would be able to tell me how far along I was. When I called the voice on the line sounded really familiar but I didnt say anything then. I went in later that day and it turned out to be my friend Tiffany who was volunteering there and then I found out that it was a very faith-based place, lots of the material they hand out is put out by Focus on the Family and they really try to get the Gospel to everyone who comes in there.

It was so cool how God worked it out because Tiffany was able to go through all the steps with me and to confirm the pregnancy.

Well today I get a call from the same Pregnancy Center and they have just gotten some ultrasound equipment in and they were wondering if I would let them do one on me. I was like OF COURSE!!!!! I was so excited. So basically I get to be their guinea pig and I get a totally free ultrasound! I am so excited! So it will be February 25th!!! I am hoping that I will be far enough along that we can find out the sex!!!!!

It is so amazing how I could totally see how God had worked it out in the beginning that Tiffany could go through all the beginning stuff with me and now He is still working this little thing to bless me even months down the road. We serve a Great and Mighty God!!!

Lovin' the Sun!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Its like 72 degrees outside today! It feels so nice to be able to have the doors open and get some fresh air in here! Tyson was enjoying the weather. This way he can be outside and still watch me cook! :)




Craft Ideas

Saturday, February 7, 2009

I have sooooo many craft and sewing ideas that I want to do. I thought I would post them all here so that you can check them out too! Not that I will be able to get all of these done but I love the ideas! I will post pictures though of the ones I do get to!

For Baby
Baby Necktie Onesie
Burp Cloths
Baby Shoes
Boppy Cover
Nursing Cover
Bird Mobile
T-shirt Newborn Gown

For Kids
Ribbon Notebooks and Alphabet Crayons
Felt "Mail Center"
Felt Food
Hairbows
Lunch Bags

Misc.
Duvet Cover
Fabric Crate Covers
Embellished Rubber Gloves
Zippered Pouch

Giveaway over @ ThePioneerWoman!

Friday, February 6, 2009

In case you aren't quite as obsessed with thepioneerwoman.com as I am I just thought I would let you know that she is giving away three Kitchenaid Stand Mixers in your choice of Red or Pink to celebrate Valentines Day! So hop on over there and enter. Entries have to be in by 8:00pm Pacific Time. While you are there scroll down to her next post for baked fudge and drool and then scheme on how and when you should make this for yourself.

thepioneerwoman.com/cooking

Dehydrator Tips Part 1- Apples

I thought I would pass on a few dehydrator tips and tricks for those who would like to dehydrate some fruit! Apples are really good dehydrated. I used red delicious apples the past few times but I think next time I am going to try granny smith or something with a little more tartness.

Step One: Cut apple in half


Step Two: Turn cut side to cutting board and slice apple like shown


Step Three: Feed the mis-shapen tops and bottoms to your apple loving dog


Step Four: Stand apple rightside up keeping slices together


Step Five: Take a melon baller and scoup out the seeds. I just put it at the top and press straight down


Step Six & Seven: Put your apple slices in a bowl of cold water mixed with lemon juice to prevent browning. Arrange on your dehydrator tray.




****Note**** If you do feed apple to your dog make sure that they do not get the middles or the seeds. The seeds can contain cyanide which is toxic to dogs. It is toxic to humans too but you probably already know better than to eat the seeds... right?

14 weeks!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

I am 14 weeks today! I feel like I am actually starting to look pregnant now. Most people who I see out in town probably cant tell though because we have been having a cold snap so I have been in like 50 layers.



Do you see that huge tv behind me? We totally scored and got that for $250 dollars last night! Its a crazy good deal since the guy paid like $2500 dollars for it less than two years ago! We aren't sure if our free cable will disappear when that whole DTV thing kicks in so it might just be for movies but I dont care because it was such an awesome deal!

Inspiration Binder

Sunday, February 1, 2009

I am always tearing pictures and ideas that I like out of magazines and catalogs. I used to just keep them in a big pile in the office but I am trying to be more organized lately so I got an empty binder and some page protectors and went to work on my inspiration binder! In it I have pictures of rooms and decor that I like, craft ideas, and recipe ideas that I want to try! Here are some pictures of my binder! I love it!




Speaking of inspiration I came across this idea the other day and I love it! When our little one comes I would love to make this project to go above our bed!
 
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