Did ya gobble til ya wobbled?

Back to the grind Monday, huh?

We had a good Thanksgiving break.  For the life of me, I cannot remember what we did on Wednesday which obviously means it wasn't anything blog worthy - I know that it was raining so we stayed in, that's about it!  I have been limited this past week with being in the ER on Monday, Keith wanted me to stay put and I was okay with that!

Thursday we headed to my parents early because my sister in law decided to hire a photographer to take a family picture.  We have not seen what this picture has turned out like yet but since she covered the photographer, if we are interested in the print, we buy that on our own.  From there we laid out our spread of food and ate - all 21 of us!  Once we all ate, we started dispersing for the next activities (Keith's family did nothing for the holiday so we weren't invited anywhere with them).  We decided to play Cards Against Humanity with the people left:

My Dad had never played, needless to say he enjoyed it, ha!

As the evening grew closer, my brother wanted to take Lainey out to get her 100th geocache.  They love finding this stuff and I had never been so I decided to tag along.  This one was along the Rock Hollow Trail, aka Zombie Road to those in St. Louis, in the same city as my parents house.  Unfortunately we didn't find it as people before us didn't leave it in its original spot but it was a fun little hike:

We headed back to my parents after that and got ready to go Black Friday shopping.  Keith was the sole male to go with us 5 ladies but he had his own fun at a few stores.  I was able to get some shopping done (but no pics, boo), for both me and for Christmas presents and was in bed by 1am.

Now that's a winner!

How was your Thanksgiving?

Friday Five!

Happy Day after Thanksgiving everyone!

1)  Turkey Day was a blast as usual.  Everyone gathered at my parents (all 20+) and we had a family picture done, then ate our hearts out.  Keith's family never does anything except go to the movies all day, we weren't invited so we didn't see them.  More on this next week!

2)  I planned on working out and getting back into that this week however my little trip to the ER on Monday has us on alert and to be safe Keith hasn't been wanting me to go.  I've also not had iced tea or soda since last weekend, which is great in my book.  I'm planning on only doing it on special occasions now, because while that's not the only reason my body doesn't like me, it'll help in the long run.  I make it sound like I'm a soda freak but I'm not, I swear!

3)  I think we're going to set up Christmas today, and who knows, 2 of our favorite Christmas traditions started this weekend so we may go ahead and do one of them before the craziness of the holiday hits next weekend.

4)  We did venture out last night and I'm super happy that all I have left is Keith for presents - heck yeah!  That was my goal and I made it big time with various deals I've caught, etc.

5)  I've worked Black Fridays in the past, and I still have to work holidays with the hotel on occasions.  I can say that, even though it does suck, why be grumpy about it?  Smile and at least pretend you're having a good time because its the attitude of a sales person that will stick with the customer (the lady at Kohls, this is directed to you!).

Have a great weekend!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for...

my family

my friends

Keith

my health

my job(s)

the changing Missouri weather

the ability to travel

I wish each and everyone of you blessings for today, however you may spend it!

Baked Chicken Tacos recipe

Not too long ago, one of my favorite bloggers, Katie Elizabeth, posted a recipe for Baked Chicken Tacos.  I had bookmarked it and finally made it tonight...

...oh my, why did I wait so long - they were delicious!

I modified the recipe just a bit to use ingredients that I already had but I didn't alter it too much from the original that you can find on the link up above.

What you'll need:
4 - 5 boneless chicken skinless tenderloins unfrozen
5 - 6 stand & stuff taco shells
2 cups of your favorite salsa
1 pkg. taco seasoning (seasoned as much as you like it)
1 cup of your favorite shredded cheese
olive oil

Preparation:
1)  preheat oven to 425 degrees
2)  In a large saucepan, cook the chicken until fully cooked.  I cut it up before I cooked it to make it easier to mix.
3)  Once chicken is cooked, add the salsa and taco seasoning to the chicken, mix and let simmer for 5 or so minutes.
4)  Grease an 8x8 baking dish and line the shells in the dish.
5)  Divide the chicken mixture evenly into the shells.  Top generously with the shredded cheese and bake for 10 minutes.

I served ours with a side of taco seasoned rice and applesauce.

I think I've found a new staple to our menu.

Have any recipes you've just loved recently?

Great weekend...until a trip to the ER!

What a weekend we had!

On Friday, after a funeral visitation, I grabbed some Pretzel Boy's and headed to Ellen's for Girls Night.

It was only Ellen, Katy and I who showed up as many of the girls don't come anymore unless certain people are there, and others dropped like flies.  Oh well - its still fun, no matter how many come!  On my way home, the rain started...

...turned to snow on Saturday!  It wasn't enough to accumulate but when we opened the door to leave spinning at the gym, it was falling.  We were supposed to have our pictures done this day but the photographer canceled so we spent Saturday getting things done around the house.  That night Keith went to the hockey game with Ryan while I went to celebrate my mini me's 7th birthday:

Lainey wanted everyone to meet at the American Girl Store to help her pick out her birthday presents then we went to eat at California Pizza Kitchen.  It was fun, I brought my doll Molly (per her request) so they got to pick out outfits and had a blast:

Surprisingly the hotel has given my area the entire week off so I started Sunday off by getting up and meeting my parents for breakfast at Bread Co and going to church.  It was the Youth Sunday so they presented the entire service then it was the Fair Trade Market Day so we got to look around at all the goodies that were available for purchase.  We then headed to the mall to purchase another Christmas present before going home for a bit then out to Zombie night at my parents, which is every Sunday night.

Feeling pretty good, Monday arrived fast.  I got up for work, drove there, got into the classroom and BANG, I suddenly felt like I had been hit with the flu or something.  I was hot, flustered and didn't feel like standing.  My coworker comes in and is like you don't like like yourself and I honestly didn't feel like myself.  The kiddos came, luckily they had a special first thing, so I got them to art and had the nurse take my temp, and I didn't have one.  She also mentioned that I didn't look like myself so I went to talk to the secretary and I decided that I needed to go home.  They got me a sub and I drove home, and on the way home pain hit me hard on the left side.  I made it home and it was bad, called Keith and we figured out it was my kidney:

Off to the ER he took me where I found out I had blockage on my left side (a few years ago it was on my right) and they were surprised I didn't faint or black out with the symptoms I had earlier.  They loaded me up with drugs and were able to see it on the CT scan and said it was already dissolving and passing (which I've never passed a stone in my life, they always break up) so I didn't have to be admitted since it was spotted, yay!  They gave me some prescriptions and told me to pretty much do nothing the next few days.

So after that whirlwind few days, I'm literally doing nothing today.  I feel better, thankfully, so I'm making my shutterfly book and hoping the pain stays away like it has.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Friday Five!

Hey hey its Friday!!!

1)  My mini me turns 7 today!  I cannot believe my niece Lainey is growing up - too fast if you ask me!  I love how she plays word scrambles with me and how, still, to this day, she'll remember and talk about being in our wedding when she was only 2!  We are celebrating with her tomorrow by going to American Girl for her to pick out a present from my brother and sister in law then out to dinner.  Keith can't go tomorrow so we gave her her present last weekend (thank you shark tank for the idea):

2) Our picture session for tomorrow was cancelled by the photographer for the weather that's supposedly moving into the area.  I'm quite bummed and of course now the weather won't happen because of the cancellation.  I'm not sure what we are going to do now but I'll come up with something.

3)  This is the last calm before the storm weekend - meaning last relaxation weekend before the crazy holiday stuff begins.  I'm super excited for a lot of fun holiday activities and parties happening soon.

4)  I have 13 people to buy for this Christmas and 3 are done - score!  I hope to get some more (at least 2) done this weekend.  My goal is to have it all done before I leave for Chicago.

5)  I need to figure out if we're going to decorate for Christmas with our condo that will be on the market.  Suggestions?  I've been told either way!

Have a great Friday!

Thursday is a little sneaky

Thursday sure did sneak up on us, didn't it!

~*~ I've been absent from the blog world this week until yesterday.  Not going to apologize, I did miss it but I've been busy and just no time to write.

~*~ My parents went to Branson last weekend for their Christmas celebration and they had fun with all the holiday celebrating.  I now am hoping to get there next year, as it looks to be a lot of fun.

~*~ We've been looking at houses more and more, which is a great thing and we think we may have found a few.  Just got to get the push to get the condo on the market and its go time.

~*~ Keith took a sick day today and all I did was switch summer clothes to winter clothes.  Now I'm sure because I did that, it'll be like 80 degrees the next few days.

~*~ One month from today we are road tripping up to Chicago for Christmas up there.  Can't wait!

~*~ Anyone do any crafts lately?  I need to come up with one for December - I guess my scrapbooking would count as I plan on doing it on Christmas break.  Hmmm...

~*~ We are getting our Christmas card pictures taken on Saturday.  I cannot wait - haven't had pictures since our wedding!

Have a great Thursday!

November Make & Take Craft

Last Sunday was our November Craft day!

My sister, her friend and I met first at a new restaurant in Soulard called Twisted Ranch.  Everything is ranch based and we both are big ranch lovers:

I got a grilled cheese with 3-4 cheeses, bacon and ranch with their ranch fries.  Overall it was good, not over the top and the waitress wasn't by too often, but different.  Not sure if we'll go back but I'm certainly glad we finally got a chance to try it!

After that, we needed some liquids for the craft time, so we stopped at the new Tropical Liqueors that opened in Soulard - a branch of the one in Columbia - aka alcohol slushies.  I stuck with my favorite, Sex on the Beach, while my sister and her friend got a special Louie brew in honor of the Blues.

Then it was time for crafts!  We met at my sister's friends rented space in Soulard and were greeted with these supplies:

We painted the board, applied the decals, attached some ribbons and it turned into an adorable display for our Christmas cards:

It was much easier than last month's craft but I've loved them all!  December is going to be an off month with the holidays, so I'll need to come up with something on my own for my monthly craft, but we'll all get together in January to start the year off right.

I love crafts!

Stuff -n- things

Hey hey its Thursday!!

~*~ I was super excited to wake up today and see that the Muny posted its season for next summer:

Its been a running joke between Keith and I the last few weeks about me telling him I spent XX amount of money on tickets to see Mamma Mia...when in reality I didn't but he's going to see it anyway this summer now, haha!

~*~ We've decided to host people for New Years this year.  Nothing will be able to top our Nashville New Year's from last year but we're staying put this year.  Not sure who all will come and if no one comes, oh well, we'll still have fun!  The best part of this - I won't have to drive anyone anywhere (coughJeffcough) because they'll have to come to me!

~*~ Speaking of Jeff, he's getting worse.  I hosted this Blues watch party last weekend and he said he and his other friend were going to come.  Then suddenly like 2 hours before it, he asks me what time we are leaving for it.  Then suddenly Charter was coming to his house and his mom, who was already there for them, was forcing him to stay.  So he said he'd show later...and then bailed because no one was driving him out there.  He then tells me he didn't bail on me, that I have no clue what he's talking about but yet he'll throw a full throttle hissy fit if someone can't go to something he has or wants to do.  So we've taken a step back with him, again, and I wish him luck!

~*~ This Sunday is our November Make & Take class.  We are making something to display Christmas cards, I'm excited!

~*~ Have you guys started your Christmas shopping?  I want to but I feel like I'll be giving no respect to Thanksgiving if I start.  I'm weird, I know but I think a part of it is that I don't know what to get everyone either.

~*~ I'm in search of rainboots and they are hard to find!  Anyone have a pair they absolutely love and recommend me purchasing?

Have a great Thursday!!

Spectre movie review

I had Friday off from work and was cleaning off my desk and came across a gift card to the movie theaters that I forgot I had.  We decided to have an impromptu date night to see the opening of the new Bond movie, Spectre:

We haven't gone to the movies like this in awhile.  Honestly I forgot how pricey they were, as we usually go on the promo nights when the other theater brand has movies for $6 and popcorn/soda combo $6.  Anywho our GC had enough for 2 tickets, a large soda and a small popcorn that we shared (thanks Melissa for the generous surprise gift!) while we settled in for the movie.

It was good!  I'm wondering if its the last Bond movie, for the way 2 things happened, but I'm not going to give it away (unless you saw it and want to talk about it) and we'll just see if I'm right or not.

I fell in love with Sam Smith's theme song for it, "The Writing's On the Wall":

Have you been to the movies lately?  What have you seen??

34 while 34 update

Its been one month since I've turned 34 so its time for an update:

1)  Travel to a new city for a hockey game
2)  Visit a museum in Forest Park
3)  Go on a carriage ride in Tilles Park at Christmas time
4)  Get professional pictures of Keith and I done
5)  Complete a scrapbook for 2015
6)  Get my own classroom
7)  Do something different with my hair
8)  Make a new craft once a month: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July, Aug, Sept

October craft

9)  Explore Christmastime in a different city
10)  Play around at Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags
11)  Go to the Balloon Glow at Forest Park or Eureka
12)  Donate a bag of clothes to Goodwill
13)  Go on just a dessert date
14)  Visit Colorado again (its been a few years)
15)  Get a massage
16)  Sell a condo/buy a house
17)  Attend a cooking class
18)  Make the beignets from New Orleans

19)  Visit Kimmswick - completed Oct 2015

20)  Visit the Zoo - completed Oct 2015

21)  Take a hike outside
22)  Help Dad finish his windmill at our property
23)  Do something spontaneous!
24)  Get back down to SEMO for something
25)  Buy something from American Girl
26)  Attempt to complete C25K
27)  Eat at the Blue Owl Restaurant
28)  Collect more beads at STL's Mardi Gras
29)  Do something fun for New Year's
30)  Make 5 new-to-me recipes
31)  Attend AB's Holiday Lights
32)  Trek back to Crown Valley Winery where Keith and I got engaged
33)  Attend a concert I haven't been to yet!
34)  Just be me!!  Speak up, don't shy away, ya know!

Score is 3/34 at a whopping 8%!  But that's okay, I'm just getting started!

Friday Five!!

1)  I have a Friday off from the hotel - heck yes!!  I finally spoke up to my manager about him always putting me on the weekends and the newbie hasn't worked one since she started.  Hopefully the change isn't happening for just this weekend but we will see.  Allowing the newbie to have weekends off over a 3 year person who should have senority isn't fair any way you slice that pie!

2)  We have no big set plans this weekend and I'm okay with that!!  I need to switch summer to winter clothes however every time I get a chance, the weather changes.  So we'll see if that happens!

3)  I think I can run Amazon out of our condo.  I have boxes to ship out stuff and we get them on a daily basis.  My husband's obsession is more than it should be, ha!  Thank you Prime ;)

4)  I'm off today from teaching, the district is off for a PD day.  So I'm at home, catching up on stuff and I turn on the TV and the soap I use to watch, the Young & the Restless, is on at a new time.  I'm watching it for giggles and man, no offense, the acting just isn't that great, haha!

5)  I have been told that I am going to be asked to do a 3rd grade long term that will start in March.  I've never been in this lady's classroom but I know who she is.  I don't think she realizes who I am though, hence why she hasn't asked me.  I'm not back at that school for another week so we'll see if she remembers.

Have a great Friday!