I'm Thankful for Jessy!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful 11 year old sister Jessy!! She is visiting me until tomorrow & I am so lucky to get to have her her over her birthday! We have had so much fun & today has been even better than all the other days!

First thing this morning - Birthday girl!

She caught me while I was doing my hair!
Crazy lady.

We woke up bright & early so we could go get some McDonald's breakfast. [I'm pretty sure McDonald's is her favorite place to eat! -and mine, who am I kidding?] We were a little irritated when we got there because they didn't have either of the things we wanted on their menu. Freaking Micky D's! We were able to find something we both liked though!

Connor is wondering why we are going out in the
cold so dang early in the morning!

I have had a surprise planned for Jessy for about a week and a half, but she has had no idea what it is! She usually demands to know surprises, so I was pretty proud of myself for being able to keep this one from her!!!

I surprised her with an appointment at a nail salon to get her very first pedicure! Turning 11 & getting a pedicure. Not too shabby =) She was completely surprised & loved every second of it! She kept asking things like, "what's this part?" and "why are they putting that scrub on?". She had no idea what a pedicure even consisted of before today!

Needless to say, she is hooked! This might have to be a yearly birthday tradition! Pedicures with the big sis!

After our pedicures, Reese & Connor met us over at good ol' DQ for some lunch & a Blizzard! She told me the reason she wanted to go there was because, "I like their fries, I like their food, & I like their ice cream." You really can't argue with that!

After lunch we went over to the Dollar Store and had a lot of fun roaming the aisles. Jessy picked out 5 things she wanted & I picked out a hat for her...

I am making her wear it everywhere we go!!

The rest of the afternoon we are going to lounge on the couch, play some Dance Central 3, watch chick flix, & just hang out! Tonight I am making her favorite food for dinner: Steak & green peppers! [Reese isn't going to complain about steaks! Am I right, Justins?!]

We have to take Jessy home tomorrow & I am pretty bummed out. We have had so much fun this past week & I can't wait for her to come back again!

Happy Birthday to one of my amazing sisters!!! I love her so much & I am so thankful for her & all she does for me. She makes me so happy!

Me Again

Welp, I have decided that I am going to get back to the old Steph, the woman who felt like the world was at her fingertips & like nothing could get her down!

I want that back. I want to be fierce, strong, saucy, & amazing! Even if I am the only one who I thinks I am all of those things, at least I will feel them again!

Most of all though, I just want to be happy! I want to wake up every morning, with a smile on my face, & feel in control of my life! I am going to make it happen.

I have started working out everyday...Ok, I am going to start today! Even if I don't lose weight & get my pre-baby body back, at least I will get some endorphins pumping through my veins & feel better. I just want to be healthy! Also, I am going to start eating healthier! No more Dr. Pepper with every meal! [Don't get me wrong, I can't say goodbye to my dear friend for good, I am just going to cut back.] Less fried foods, more veggies! Endorphins & healthy-ness running through my body!

I've decided to whiten my teeth too. Oh yeah, I went & spent a bajillion dollars on some white strips & I am going to do them everyday! Not once a month, not once a week, but everyday until I do the whole pack! I spent the money, I want the whiter teeth!

I may or may not hit the tanning beds just a FEW times as well. Don't lecture me on how bad it is for me & blah blah blah! I know. I know it's not amazing for me, BUT I do know that it makes me feel better about myself. It makes me feel pretty & like I have less flaws in my skin! So, tanning a few times! Maybe. It's on my list of things I may do. Because I wouldn't mind looking like her again...

White teeth, tan skin, & skinny! Ahh. Yes please! I like me now, I like the person I am. I LOVE being a momma!!! I do miss doing the little things to lift me up though. I spend every waking [and sleeping, to be honest] moment thinking about Connor & how to be a top notch momma to him, because that is the most important thing to me, but I have been doing it for 5 months now & I am kinda getting the hang of it! I think I am getting the hang of it enough to take a little bit of time to do the things that make me feel like me again!

So, here's hoping I am not just a bunch of talk & that I can get healthy, happy, & beautiful again! Let's take care of me to enable me to be the best momma on the planet!

does that make me a cat?...

Disasterous

I live in a smallish town, so when I go out I don't expect a "big city" treatment. I expect to have a good time, but not exceptional service. It just isn't expected or required by really anyone in town, so it isn't given.

Tonight Hubs, baby & I went out to dinner with some friends. [Really good friends that we love very much!] I won't say where we went, because as I mentioned previously it is a small town & you don't want to really bad mouth anywhere or anyone. Though, we only have 5 or so acceptable restaurants so if you live here you can probably guess where we went!

Aside from the great company & conversation, our evening was horrendously bad. I need to grab my thesaurus to help me think of some words to describe how awful the service, food, & timing was. Alas, I am lazy so I shan't.

Oh, the absolute best part of this horrific evening is that the food is extremely overpriced. I am talking, double the amount of Hubs & I going to PF Chang's China Bistro [which is my all time favorite, but a little spendy]. I don't mind spending money on a good meal, but I do mind spending money on an awful meal.

Night [almost] ruined. If we didn't have great friends we wanted to spend time with we would have just stayed home, made some chicken & watched Austin Powers. Hmm, that sounds like a good Sunday evening plan...At least we have good friends that we can laugh about it with.



P.S. I never said I'd have anything of worth to write about, I just said I'd be back to writing!

Zombie No More

Ahh, it feels good to be back among the living again. It's funny how I consider sitting at a computer, alone, typing to ambiguity back among the living! Regardless, I am back.

Last night, after getting back on the wagon [again], I went through & read some of my old posts. Such a fun stroll down memory lane; it was like a time warp.  My life is exponentially different than it was last time I wrote.

For instance I am not working anymore, instead I am back to being a "housewife". Although, I guess I could be called a "stay-at-home-mom" now, because I am! I love it. There really aren't words to describe the elation my Little Guy brings to me!

I cook a lot. I used to make dinner 4 or 5 nights a week. The other nights we'd have a frozen something or other or go out to eat. Not anymore. I cook lunch & dinner 7 days a week! What the what? Me & the hubs are trying to be super healthy, so I am a cooking maniac. Really, it's a problem! I guess it keeps me nice & occupied though!

Mostly, I am pretty lazy. All. The. Time. I watch a lot of Netflix. Ok, maybe not a lot....but ya know, a couple hours a day. Is that a lot?...[Don't judge me!]

I am productive though, too. I clean! Well, I try to. Mostly I want to just sit on the couch/bed & snuggle my little Connor. So recently, I decided to make myself a cleaning schedule to help me get everything done.

I like lists. They help me feel productive. Well, they help me be productive! When I have a list of stuff in front of me that I need to get done & that I can check off, it really helps me be oober productive! Although, I made this list on Thursday...and it didn't make sense to start at the end so I have decided to wait until Monday comes around to get started =) Don't get me wrong, my house isn't a disaster zone, it just needs the regular upkeep.

Anyway, this has been a hodgepodge mess of jibberish. Maybe someday soon I will gather my thoughts & have a more normal post. Lesbihonest though, I'm not all that normal, so my posts never will be!

Fail.

Dear Readers, I suck. I know this. I am fully aware of this. I can't help it. I lasted about 4 days on my 30 day challenge! Life got in the way - which it always does. That dang life!

Speaking of life, though, it's good! Busy, but good. The hubs & I spent the weekend in Laramie with his family. We went to the UW vs. TCU football game & had so much fun. Well...let's be honest, I only stayed until half time - but that was still fun. I like football. I like spending time with the family. I don't like freezing my butt off. I did cute a cute new hat though...

After I left at halftime, Brittany & I went and hung out at her new salon. Salon 220 - It's awesome, looks great, & everyone that knows anyone that lives in Laramie should send people there! She gave me a great cut & color! I've been wanting something new for a long time & I finally did it. It's time to be a little shorter. Long hair is so last year!

*camera phone picture, sorry.*

We had lots of fun with the family - eating good food, playing some fun games, making inappropriate that's what she said jokes. All the good stuff! It always gets a little bit silly when Reese & his brothers get together. They revert big time. They crack us all up!

And...last but certainly not least - I got a new computer! Oh yeah! Reese's dad got a new computer & had a practically new one that he wasn't going to use anymore. He gave it to me! So right now, I am sitting on my couch with my new computer on my lap! Gotta love life!

I hope you all had a great weekend! Enjoy your week =)

Your Vices.

Oh boy, talk about airing out my dirty laundry! Vices can say a lot about a person - about me they say that I like sugar. Well, at least currently I do. I don’t know that I have a year-round vice, they seem to change. So I will tell you about my current vices.

Firstly & most importantly: Candy Corn. Not just any candy corn, it’s GOTTA be Brach’s candy corn. I like what I like; deal with it.I’ve filled this mug 3x times today & each time I told myself that’d be the last time I’d fill it. Then I’d eat it all & fill it again. I’ve almost eaten a 1 pound bag today [plus my 3 meals]. Let’s not talk about it.

Secondly: Absolutely Zero Monster Energy Drinks. For those of you have followed my blog for a while you’ll know that it went from Green Monsters, to Blue Monsters, & now finally onto the Purple Monsters. But…it’s always been Monsters. They are delicious. They are bad for me. That’s why it’s a vice - right?
Also, please notice my TOTALLY cute Menu Board behind my flat of Monsters - My mother-in-law made it for me & I love it.
*Please note that this is the second 24 pack/flat of Monsters that I’ve gone through in a month & a half. Don’t judge.

Thirdly: Watching corny/hilarious/stupid movies & shows with my husband. [That one might be an all year deal.] Right now we are popping in Hot Rod & are going to laugh our booty's off. Be jealous.

Have a great Sunday & I’ll see you all tomorrow!!

Delicious Cookies.

Have you ever been so busy that you feel like you don't have time to breathe? I have felt that way for the last two weeks. I still feel that way! I feel like I don't ever see Reese anymore. Every night this past week I had something going on, & I just miss him! But this weekend is a great refresher - time to sit, relax, get spiritually edified, spend the whole day together & eat good food [I may or may not have eaten a whole bag of Candy Corn today...]!

First of all today was General Conference & it was amazing. So many wonderful talks from our wonderful Church leaders. I keep a notebook that I take notes in 2x a year at each General Conference. This year I could not write fast enough to keep up with all of the wonderful things being said. The best part is that it isn't over! Tomorrow we get 4 more hours of amazing lessons from great, spiritual Church leaders! I can't wait. If any of you want to come over to my place to watch with us, just let me know!

Then...for the delicious cookies part of the day. I made some tonight. Cookies, I mean. They are chocolate & toffee & divine! [A few of them are Reese's Peanut Butter Cups flavored - it's a new thing I tried, so I hope they are good.]

The yummy stuff.

The dough.

The finished product. They may not be pretty, but they are good!

We are having a potluck thingy-majig on Monday at work & I am taking cookies. So, I figured I'd make them tonight so we could enjoy a few tomorrow - plus I am going to take some over to my neighbors to try & make them like us! Living in an apartment can be so hard & I always feel bad whenever we are loud or obnoxious. So maybe I can earn some brownie cookie points with them. Good idea, right?!

Anyway, the cookies are delicious, my day was fantastic, & I just wanted to pop in and say hello to the bloggy world!

I hope your Saturday was at least half as good as mine was, because then I know it was amazing!!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Friday Night Success.

Reese & I take turns planning our Friday night date nights. Last night it was my turn, & after a long week of work I wanted to do something relaxing together & stay at the house. We typically do dinner & a movie [doesn’t everyone?] & I was a little sick of that, so I wanted to think of something different!

I spent a good portion of my afternoon trying to come up with something that would be different than the usual, but still fun. We have a rule that we have to do something different than our usual week nights. We don’t have kids yet, so technically every night could be considered “date night”, but we don’t want to just eat dinner & watch Psych every night of our lives.

I got home from work & informed Reese that tonight we would be watching a movie at home [my choice - but I picked one he’s been craving] & play a game, but there would be a little extra to go along with it. I had $10 for each of us & we were going to go to the store, split up, & buy something[s] that will be used during our date night, & then surprise each other with it. It could be anything!

So off to good old Wally World we went. We got there & had 10 minutes to find something fun for the night & meet back at the front of the store. We brought our phones so we could be talking the whole time [since we were on a date I wanted us to kind of be “hanging out”].

Ok, now for the fun parts - here’s what each of us got! I got Milk Chocolate Milano Cookies [they are Reese’s fave], the new Asiago Cheez-Its, & some Crayola bathtub finger paints. Let me tell you I spent about 8 minutes in front of the Cheez-It row because they were $3 bucks & we’d NEVER tried them - What if they weren’t good? What if I wasted almost a third of my money on something gross?! Should I just get Cheddar Jack, we both love those?! What should I get? It was quite the dilemma, but obviously I ended up getting the Asiago. Oh & they did not disappoint. Delicious.
Now onto Reese - he took a little longer than I did to decide, but to be fair I had been planning this since mid-afternoon so I had some ideas preplanned. He got Rook [we played it last week with some new friends & really enjoyed it], Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chuck ice cream, Good & Plenty, & some Sour Life Saver Gummies [I ate all of those last night & we took the trash out so they couldn’t participate in the photo shoot.] 
We totally skipped dinner & just ate junk food all night. Let me tell you - it was amazing. You know how when you were a kid all you wanted to do was eat candy, cookies, & junk instead of dinner? Well, we did it & it’s totally as good as one would think it is as a kid!

We used, played, & ate everything that we bought. It was so much fun. We also played another card game, that I had planned for the night before I knew he was going to buy Rook. It’s called Split & it is so much fun. We are hooked & we play a couple times a week.
Last but, not certainly not least, we watched The Count of Monte Cristo. Reese brings it up at least 3x a week & I am never in the mood. So, since I was planning our date night & I wanted it to be amazing for him I picked to watch it. It’s such a great, entertaining movie. We enjoyed it very much [whilst eating more junk food.]
So, if you ever think you’re stuck in a rut for date nights & all there is to do is go out to dinner & to a movie, think again! Be creative & you can think of something. We spent $20 & had the best night we’ve had in a while.

Now it’s Saturday & time to relax & hang out. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend & I’ll ‘see’ you all next week!

The Amazing Pancakes!

Remember those awesome pancakes I was telling you about the other day? Well, I talked to Brittany & she hooked me up with the recipe to share with all of you!

French Toast Pancakes

1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 TBS. sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 TBS. unsalted butter, melted [plus more for the skillet]
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Whisk the ingredients together but don't over whisk.

Pour 1/4 cup into a hot skillet.

Cook until golden brown on both sides.

So now you need to turn off the computer [I know it's difficult] & go make these pancakes right now for Sunday breakfast! Whether you are making them for you, your husband, or your kids - just go make them! They are delicious.

Enjoy & have a great day =)

Pumpkin Bread (Cake)

My mom makes the BEST pumpkin bread ever. [She really makes the best everything!] I have been telling my sister, Brittany, about it & she has requested the recipe. So, I decide to just post it here so everyone can have it! It's so delicious.

Pumpkin Bread

4 1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup oil

6 eggs

1 cup water

4 1/2 cup flour

1 Lg. can of Pumpkin (3 cups)

2 1/4 tsp baking soda

2 1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp nutmeg

3/4 tsp cloves

3/4 tsp ginger

*Preheat oven to 350.

*In blender/mixer mix sugar, oil, eggs, & water until smooth.

*Pour into bowl & add remaining ingredients.

*Mix well.

*Bake in well greased & floured bread tins for 1 hour.

-Makes 3 loaves.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Sumo

Reese, Sami, & I went to Happy Sumo today for lunch. 

It. Was. Delicious. 

Sami [my 17 yr. old sister] had never had Sushi before. 

It wasn't her favorite, but at least she has tried it now. 

My little sistew is all grown up now!

I love it. It's one of my favorite foods. 

Reese & I have only eaten Sushi together once & he'd NEVER eating at Happy Sumo. 

We had to remedy that immediately.

Isn't it weird how good food can totally help your crappy week turn into a pretty good one?

Me & Reese at Happy Sumo

Me & Sami.

The Samuri Roll.

The Panko Popper Roll & The Vegas Roll.
[The Vegas Roll is my fave.]

I love him with all my heart!

Yeah. I love Sushi.

We ate it all!

So, there you have it! Pictures & proof from our delicious adventure today. 

We didn't end up having time to go to IKEA, but I'm not too upset about it - since I got full on deliciousness.

Sorry that I'm being obnoxious & posting 2x in one day, but I couldn't resist.

Now I'm off to watch Sami play some soccer & kick some balls butt.

Have a fabulous weekend!!!

Thankful Freaking Thursday

Ok, I've had a week of Monday's this week & I've been a grump, but it's time to put everything into perspective & make my thankful list. So here I go...

I'm Thankful For...
-Being able to spend time with family; we've had a lot of that the last few weeks & it's been good.
-Exercise. No matter how bad my day is going, if I get up & exercise I always feel at least a little bit better.
-God answering prayers. I have a job interview on Monday. Nothing is for sure, it's just an interview, but I am so grateful to be able to get out there & try!
-Dr. Pepper. It really helps me have a better day when I need a little pick-me-up.
-Friends & being able to VENT! Sometimes a girl just needs to let it all out.
-All of my wonderful bloggy friends. I always get nice, sweet feedback on my posts, but I was having a bad day yesterday & I got some amazing comments that really helped me. Thank you so much ladies.
-Windows Live Writer. Where have you been all my life?!
-Happy Sumo. I must eat there while I am in Utah. I love me some Sushi.
-How Reese & I balance each other out so well. When he is having a bad day I can be the positive "cheer leader" he needs & when I am having a bad week day he goes above & beyond to help me out.
-Being able to write something out, make me feel better, then delete it so I'm not making certain people mad when they read it.

Ok friends, that's all I've got this week. I'd love it if you left at least one thing you're thankful for in a comment. Come on guys, help me be positive!

Unloading with the Family.

This weekend we went to Laramie, to help Kyle, Jordan & Brittany move in.

It’s Kyle’s first year of college; his first time away  from home, really. It should be really fun for him. Also, I think it’ll be really nice for Jordan & Brittany to be able to be “Husband & Wife without parents around'”. [the in-laws are great, but having alone time when one is newly married is very important.]

We left around 6:30pm on Friday & headed to Laramie. Not. A. Fun. Drive. It’s so boring &….ugly. Let’s be honest. It’s not a pretty drive. [We did catch a pretty sunset though….]] But Reese & I got to spend time together, so that’s always really good. 3 hours of talking, laughing, & just being alone. I sure love him!


Anyway, it was quite the busy weekend – but I’m so glad we were able to help. Moving sucks & it sucks even worse when you have to do it alone.

We got there too late on Friday night to actually do any unpacking, so we just relaxed for a while with Brittany & Jordan – then went to bed.

Saturday we got up & went to Perkins for breakfast. Mmm. Oh my goodness, I love breakfast food. I seriously wish I could eat it everyday, all day long. But….then I’d be gigantic, because I love me some syrup.
Then it was time to work! Jordan & Reese got to work unloading the U-Haul while Brittany & I cleaned and organized. Boy, oh boy did cleaning ever need to be done! Brittany had already cleaned for hours on Friday before we got there & there was still a lot to do.
A few hours later Ray & Cresta [my parents-in-law] came over to help out. They had been over at Kyle’s getting him all settled in.
Ray had some Mr. Fix-It things he started on right away; the closet, the dryer, the towel racks, the lining around the toilet. Lots of things to be fixed! Jordan & Reese helped as much as they could =) [But mostly played games on their Droids.]

Brittany, Cresta & I got to work on the kitchen; unloading, cleaning, organizing. You know – all the “girly” things to do.
I promise I helped a lot, I wasn’t just walking around taking pictures all day! I just had to take a few to document the big move. It felt like we worked all day! But in reality, we sat around & hung out a lot! But…that’s what happens when family comes to help right? Lots of hanging out & chatting!

We went to dinner & had a bad experience. Brittany & I both got sick. And that is all I am going to say on that subject. [Believe me, that’s all you want to hear.]
We got up this morning & Jordan made us Pancakes for breakfast. Oh. My. Gosh. They were to die for.
I really need to get the recipe from Brittany. Maybe she can post it on here so you all can have it, because they were seriously the best pancakes I’ve ever had. [I would know-I am a big breakfast fan, as I mentioned above!]

Now Reese & I are home. Ray & Cresta are on their way home. Jordan, Brittany & Kyle are all settled into their new homes & life is good.

I love Sundays. I love weekends. I love families. Even though it was a busy, stressful weekend I am so glad we went because we got to grow closer to our family.

I hope your weekend was great & I’d love to hear all about it!