Tiffany & Chad in Real Life

Warm Day. Cold Day.

2012-02-20T17:24:00.001-08:00

This weekend was another great couple of days with plenty of sunshine! Inspired by the sun, I dug around and found some of the seeds I saved from last year and those I recently purchased. I made my way down to the greenhouse and got to work planting all different kinds of vegetables, flowers, and even a few "experiments". Can you guess what is in each row?! Here's to hoping everything germinates and we have a green (and colorful) and growing garden in no time!

Today though, it snowed. Just when I thought spring was on its way!

Oh! What is that I see?

2012-02-17T16:28:00.001-08:00

Bulbs popping up all over my garden!
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And a few weeds too...

Birdglar

2012-02-10T11:53:00.000-08:00

You may well know that Chad and I went to Eugene for an Oregon football game this fall. You may not know that we had an intruder in the house while we were gone! When we leave town, Chad's Grandma Nellie often swings by and checks on the house, feeds/waters Roscoe, waters the plants (depending on the time of year) and generally just makes us feel safer by knowing someone is keeping an eye out for us!

After a long day of driving across Oregon, we arrived home early in the evening and as I started bringing my bags in from the pickup, Chad went to let the dog out. As I walked in the house, I knew something was wrong. You see, we have a bulletin board next to the back door by the garage and on it are stacked years of cards, notes, photos, and other tidbits from loved ones. Paper. Everywhere. In the kitchen, anything hung on the wall was crooked - or simply on the ground.

As I made my way through the house, I saw the same thing everywhere. Papers scattered, picture frames on the ground or crooked - our house was in a major state of disarray. Even the jewelry boxes on top of my dresser looked as though they had been tossed around and gone through. Immediately - I thought, we've been robbed. Those dirty [insert expletives here].

Then, I thought - no. There has to be a reasonable explanation for this. Maybe Nyssa had an earthquake while we were gone? Hm... that probably would have made the news. Maybe Nellie needed something from in the house and accidentally left a window or a door open (which is probably more unlikely than an earthquake - she's very responsible). So, I had Chad call Grandma Nellie - no earthquakes, and she did not come in the house - so I must have been the one to leave a window/door open in the middle of November and a big wind storm must have come through and blown through our house to knock everything out of sorts. Doors, windows, check, check. All closed.

I started looking to see if anything was missing. Roscoe, check. Guns, check. Real jewelry, check. TV, check. I'm not sure what a burglar would take from our house, but someone had been in the house while we were gone. Naturally, I called the Nyssa Police Dispatcher and asked if there had been any suspicious reports or break-ins in our area over the weekend. The very nice dispatcher informed me that there had not been any such reports, but there was an officer in the neighborhood and he would stop by.

In the meantime, Chad and I were walking around the house, fixing things - checking under the bed to make sure the boogeyman wasn't really there, you know - the normal. As I walked in the dining room I saw a trail of white spots on the floor. Shit. As soon as I saw it, I knew what it was - bird droppings. A bird in the house... again! This is the second time this has happened to us (read about the first time here).

Now that we knew what it was that had destroyed our house (and the closer we looked, the more evidence we found), we had to find the culprit! Right as the police pulled up, Chad found the bird, which appeared dead. He grabbed a fish net and threw it on top (just in case) of the bird. No movement. I opened the door to greet the officers and told them (with a big smile) to "come quick, we caught the intruder!" They exchanged confused looks and we continued to tell them the story of our "birdglar".

It must have come down the chimney while we were gone and either died of dehydration or exhaustion from trying to escape. I never knew a bird could poop so much - at least he knew enough to stay off the damn carpet! Time to seriously look into a fireplace insert!!!

McKenzie's Questions

2012-02-07T21:38:00.000-08:00

Recently, one of my very best friends and Kappa Kappa Gamma Big Sis started a blog! McKenzie has jumped right into the blogosphere and she recently 'tagged' me in her post, Kilee's Questions. The basic premise is to spill 11 random facts, answer the 11 questions, and 'tag' more friends in the blog world - asking them 11 questions in the process. So, here goes!

Random Facts:

I like nuts. I love chocolate. I hate them together - unless it is in the form of Reese's candy.
During a sports physical in high school I was informed that I have a mild case of scoliosis. So that's why my collarbone is crooked - check it out one of these days, it's kind of funky.
I had eye surgery when I was in elementary school to correct my "lazy" eyes. Yes, go ahead and make fun of me, I was the kid with the "crazy" eyes and I've got the pictures to prove it.
I get really ornery when I drink red wine. I'm getting better though.
I am a little obsessive-compulsive. For example: checking the locks several times, making sure the garage door has been closed - even though I know I closed it, ensuring I have my planner, phone, camera, whatever it may be that I need at that point.
I think hand-written thank you notes will never go out of style.
I own more black dresses than probably anyone I know. Seriously, there are a lot in that closet. So if you ever need to borrow one, let me know!
My mind (and garage) is full of projects. I tend to get a lot more done under pressure, or when I have a partner in crime. Basically, accountability is a good thing for me.
Love to read.
My go-to remedy when I am feeling under the weather includes Airborne, as much orange juice as I can drink, a hot tottie, and Vicks. I really love Vicks.
I'm not quite sure what the true color of my hair is these days.

For more random facts about me - check out my "10 Things" post from 2010. Apparently, I really love Vicks.

McKenzie's Questions:

1. Who or what inspires you?

That is a tough one - it depends on what I am being inspired for... I feel like I am definitely inspired by my friends and family to live a beautiful life. When it comes to projects - the Internet is an obvious inspiration, other bloggers, Pinterest, HGTV, etc. I love nature - wildlife, beautiful spaces and places, gardens, and so much more. I love to be inspired - don't you?

2. What is your favorite hobby or one you would like to start?

I love to ride horses. It is probably my favorite thing to do. I would love to become a better roper and hopefully I will continue with that hobby! I also love to scavenge thrift stores and make "junk" beautiful.

3. What would you do if your day had a few extra hours in it?

This time of year (during our busy season) I would probably clean my house? Ha! No, that is not the answer - if Chad had a few extra hours in his day, the answer would be different - he'd be hunting. If by myself, I would probably work on one of my many projects - refinishing furniture, scrapbooking, trying new things - possibly riding Ranger. Maybe sleeping :) I do love a good nap!

4. What is your go-to, last minute dinner you always have on stand-by?

Ha! What's the pizza number? Just kidding - I don't have one dinner that is always on hand, but with our garden in the summer and Bountiful Baskets during the winter, fruits and vegetables are a large part of our diet. Chad is also pretty good at throwing what's in the fridge together and making it taste decent. However, I would be lying to you if I didn't tell you I eat cereal for dinner on occasion.

5. If you could buy a vacation house anywhere, where would that be?

Maui. But I would need a private jet or a lifetime supply of round-trip tickets to go along with it. If I couldn't get that, I would probably pick one in McCall, Idaho - lakeside.

6. What is the best gift you have ever received?

I have been extremely fortunate in my life, but I would say that the best gift I have ever received is my education. Now, I know it is not technically a "gift", but my parents were extremely supportive, generous, and instrumental in my educational experiences and successes and that is something no one can ever take from me. If you are reading this, thank you!

7. What is your favorite childhood memory?

Another tough one. For the most part, I had a pretty darn good childhood. As for a favorite memory, I do think the holidays were always a great time. Christmas Eve was always spent with my mother's family - the MacKenzie's. Mama Hon & Papa Hon had us convinced Santa visited their house a night early. I still have many of the books I received as gifts those Christmas Eve nights. They hold a special place in my heart! Moving on, Christmas morning was always fun (as it should be) and we were always blessed with a tree bursting with presents and a yummy breakfast. Christmas afternoon, we made our way over to see my father's family for "Schaffeld Family Christmas" where all the grandkids would compare gifts and play games. The whole holiday schedule is a little hectic these days, but Chad and I still try to make our way to see everyone!

8. What is the best party you have ever been to?

Our wedding reception - duh. Seriously, my favorite party ever.

9. What is your signature karaoke song?

Oh, I am a horrid singer. If I have to though - probably something country. I do know a lot of the words to many "country gold" songs.

10. What is your signature drink- coffee or cocktail?
Tanqueray & Tonic - extra lime.

11. When did you start your blog, and what made you start?
My Name is Tiffany... and I am Starting a Blog. That was my first blog post on November 11, 2008. Apparently, I started because,

"Talk about change. In the past four months, I have graduated from college, gotten married, moved into an old, new-to-me home, and started a career. It seems as though friends and life were much easier to keep up with when I was at college. Now that we have all chosen our separate paths, it is noticeably different. Rather than being able to discuss the days events when we get home from school, we are limited to daily gmail chats, occasional telephone calls and text messages, not to mention hilarious facebook conversations. Not that these changes are bad - they are just different. Basically, I religiously read blogs created by my best friends and family and thought I might as well start one too."

Tagged Bloggers:

Karen & Jordan in the City: http://jandkinthecity.blogspot.com/
Kickin' I.T.: http://kickinitatwork.blogspot.com/
How to Learn Spanish in 10 Minutes a Day: http://ashlystewart.blogspot.com/
Marry You Me: http://www.marryyoume.com/
McCauley Madness: http://www.mccauleymadness.com/
Arvydas Blogbonis: http://arvydasblogbonis.blogspot.com/
Long Family: http://longfamily20.blogspot.com/
Propose Purpose: http://www.proposepurpose.com/
Hanna & Tyler: http://htswanson.blogspot.com/
Blargington: http://blarginton.blogspot.com/
Elliot, Traci, & Madison: http://elliotandtraci.blogspot.com/

Questions:

1. Give me your Elevator Pitch. Basically, a quick summation of who you are and what you are about.
2. Tell me about your most prized possession.
3. What recipe of yours should I have in my arsenal?
4. Do you love your job? Really? Tell me about it.
5. What book did you most recently read for pleasure? Would you recommend it?
6. What is your go-to remedy when you or someone you know is feeling sick?
7. Tell me about the best gift you have ever given.
8. Quick, go to the fridge! What is on the top shelf? What's on mine? Margarita mix, a half bottle of wine, milk, water, juice, and leftover beef stew.
9. Finances aside, if you could own a vacation home anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
10. What is something you hope to accomplish in 2012?
11. When did you start your blog and why did you start?

Can't wait to see your responses!

Cut Whiskey Bottle in Action

2012-02-04T07:58:00.002-08:00

Ask and you shall receive. After I posted about cutting the whiskey bottle, I had a lot of questions wondering what I did with the bottle post-cut. Well here you go - two cute options I came up with for my house!

Apparently, the 1/5th size bottle is perfect for most candle sizes. It fit like it was made for the bottle. I have also thought about pouring wax and making my own candles in some of these glass bottles, but I have not bought the supplies yet. More on that later. Anyway, I added a cute raffia bow and voila! As you can see though - there are a few imperfections around the top of the glass, I think I need to sand a bit more! I had some fresh flowers around the house and originally when I cut the whiskey bottle I was thinking it would make a cute vase - especially for a country wedding centerpiece! I am sure this vase will be put to good use during the summer when I have all my garden flowers, but for now - the grocery store variety will have to do!
Let 'er Buck!

Linking at Savvy Southern Style!

My Super Talented Family

2012-01-31T17:08:00.001-08:00

If you have ever read my blog, you know I love to craft and tackle DIY projects. What you may not know is I am not the only one in my family with the "crafting/diy bug". I recently had a birthday and my sister made these beautiful pillows for me! I cannot sew to save my life so I am thankful I have her talents to fall back on! Aren't the pillows awesome? And the flowers - courtesy of my mother - gorgeous, right?! She is amazing and always puts together the most beautiful arrangements. Love you both!

Pinterest: Cutting Glass Bottles

2012-01-31T10:38:00.001-08:00

Pinterest, oh Pinterest. You are a dangerous one. Short and sweet - it is an online "pinboard" where you can organize and share things you love.

I have a pinboard called "Projects on my {LIST}" - basically things I want to try, create, do, etc. Apparently, nine whole weeks ago, I pinned this project: http://pinterest.com/pin/145733737911569060/ and it came from the blog, Crafty, Scrappy, Happy. Basically, a tutorial on how to cut glass bottles - specifically wine bottles. Then, you can use them for anything from flower arrangements to candle holders, and more! I wanted to cut a Pendleton Whiskey bottle so I gathered my materials... bottle, lighter, nail polish remover, yarn, and a sink full of ice water. Also - I used safety glasses, oven mitts, and a plate. I kind of felt like a mad scientist...
I then followed the instructions from Crafty, Scrappy, Happy and wrapped my yarn around the bottle toward the top many many times. I tied it tight and then rolled it off the bottle and soaked it in nail polish remover. The easiest way I found to do this was to tie a little yarn to the yarn and slowly lower it down into the nail polish remover bottle so it got a real good soak!

At this point, I realized I was going to have nail polish remover all over the counters, so I grabbed a plate and put the bottle on the plate before I rolled the yarn back onto the bottle. Making sure my yarn was semi-straight, I then wiped the excess nail polish remover off the bottle, stepped back, and lit it on fire.

Then, I started to get nervous. How long do I let it burn? Will the fire go out by itself? Is the glass going to explode? Thank goodness for safety glasses. What if it shatters when I put it in the cold water? Wait, what? How am I going to get it into the cold water? By the time all those thoughts had raced through my mind, I figured I better just go for it. I grabbed my oven mitts and tossed the bottle in the sink filled with ice water.

It shattered - in a good way.

It worked, I was really pretty surprised, but it broke just above the yarn and though the line isn't perfect and there are a few hairline fractures toward the top of the glass, I think I can sand out some of the imperfections at the top. I can just see it now - my cute Pendleton Whiskey vase filled with spring flowers!
One Pinterest project down, 5,372,918,032,421 projects to go.

Oh yes, and if you see something on my blog you want to "pin" to one of your idea boards on Pinterest, at the bottom right of each blog post, there is a red button that says "Pin It". Click there, select the image you want to pin, and you are on your way!

Sell. Garbage. Donate.

2012-01-18T16:06:00.000-08:00

We have accumulated a bunch of "stuff" through the years. It seems like when we moved in we both had those "boxes of stuff that I'll go through one of these days... and no you cannot throw it out". Riiiiggggghhhttt. Out of sight, out of mind. They have been in the basement ever since. Mostly untouched.
Until recently! The majority of said "stuff" has been in the room Chad wanted to sheetrock so we spent an evening moving it all into the main basement area. Wow! We have a bunch of junk we never use! Hence the title: Sell. Garbage. Donate. Oh yes, and KEEP.
There are some things I just cannot part with - or things that we actually use and just keep stored in the basement... like holiday decorations. My hope is to create an organized storage space in the basement and invest in some shelving and totes/bins with labels so we can get to what we need quickly. Until then, and while our basement is still in a state of chaos, I have made myself a promise to attempt to go through one box/section per night after work. Last night, I went through two. Lots of donate, put a couple of Chad's things on Craigslist (and got a couple calls already), some major garbage, and of course, you know I am going to keep some of that stuff - because I might need it someday!

Oh yes, and don't judge me for the above photos. I had been painting all day and we found that crutch in the basement - apparently it was an added bonus that came with the house. It went to the donate pile. And you know you love the floral wallpaper.

It all started with a leaky faucet...

2012-01-12T15:19:00.000-08:00

Last week our bathroom faucet was leaking. While I was in Boise on Saturday, Chad tore the whole thing apart and we needed up going to Home Depot to find replacement parts later that evening. Let's just say that a couple of replacement parts turned into sheet-rock, tile, a new faucet, sink, and more! Details and photos to come!

Let's just say that I am totally impressed with his newly acquired "handyman" skills.

Top Moments of 2011

2012-01-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

2011 has been a busy year for us and here's the rundown.

In January, I traveled to Arizona for the BCS National Championship - and we welcomed our first beautiful niece {Madison} into the family! I also had a big quarter-of-a-century birthday.

February didn't have anything too exciting so I spent my free time cooking and scrapbooking. We did go to the Four Rivers Cultural Center Ball and as always, we had a "ball at the ball".

In March, we found out I have high blood pressure (which we're working on fixing) - and I finished my master's thesis.

April brought very exiting events for Karen & Jordan's wedding including a bridal shower and bachelorette party! While I was doing all that, Chad was coaching up the Nyssa High School Baseball Team! 2011's spring was very rainy so we ended up branding with the McBride family several times during April and even once when our Texas family - Matt, Jodi, & Madison were in town over Easter!

In May, we were able to celebrate the marriage of Karen & Jordan! We also worked diligently in the garden and Chad's brother Boo graduated from high school!

Africa was the hot topic in June - Chad, Greg, Dad, and a few other friends traveled to Africa on a hunting safari. I also graduated with my MBA from Eastern Oregon University in June. And, Mom, Alisha, and I (along with some much needed help from Rachel) gave Greg's house a facelift while the boys were in Africa. Chad and I also went on two work-related trips in June - Baker City, OR and McCall, ID.

During July we took full advantage of our open schedules and had a little fun - boating, dates, rodeos, and more! We also worked on the curb appeal of our house for future buyers (and for our enjoyment).

August brought the Malheur County Fair, a visit from McKenzie & Brian, Chad's birthday, and the end of summer - start of school and onion harvest. Our newest nephew, Willy turned the big #1. We also paid a little attention to the garden, our beautiful zinnias, and our big dog, Roscoe! Additionally, we celebrated our third wedding anniversary!

I am sure it is a big surprise that hunting encompassed the month of September. While Chad was hunting (he killed a nice Idaho bull with his bow), I was working on a couple projects and keeping the garden alive - it was a really warm month!

I was the big killer in October. I took a nice four-point buck with my rifle this year with Chad's guiding assistance! Mom, Alisha, and I had a great "Martinis & Mayhem" Premier Jewelry party which is going to become an annual event - so be on the lookout next year! Chad and I were super busy in October - I managed to be in six states in a two-week period. Georgia for a produce convention and Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention.

November took us to Eugene to the Oregon v. USC football game. We were lucky enough to see many friends including Beth & Chris and McKenzie & Brian. We also got all dressed up and went to the TVCC Sting Foundation Fundraiser in Ontario. Other than that, a few projects, bird hunting with Roscoe, and Thanksgiving kept us busy!

Wrapping up the year with December. Christmas kept us on the move and the lack of snow kept us home from snowmobiling - hence more projects. Chad went bird hunting with Roscoe a few times and we even went tree hunting with a big group of friends! I was even lucky enough to go on a date with some of my favorite guys - Chad, Matthew, Peter, & Greg. Some of the biggest news of December - Alisha & Toby are adding to their family! They are expecting baby #4 in June!

Happy New Year!

November/December Rewind

2011-12-31T14:05:00.000-08:00

What else could we have packed in these past two months??

Chad's youngest brother Boo turned 19 in November and we had a really fun family outing at the bowling alley. I was surprised at how good Chad and his entire family are - and I was not surprised at how bad I was. Apparently, Grandma Nellie and Grandpa Dick used to bowl in the bowling league at the Nyssa Sugar Bowl before it burnt down and they taught Teri and all her boys the tricks of the trade. Nellie gave me a few pointers and I even broke 100 one game! However, that doesn't really compete with the loads of strikes, spares, and Turkeys the rest of the players were getting! Seriously - turkeys!
Oregon v. USC wasn't the only football game I was able to go to this year. Karen had an extra ticket to the TCU v. BSU game and I went over to Boise and spent the day with Karen. We had a really fun day tailgating and watching the game. Even though her Broncos lost (those field goals will get ya), my Ducks won later that night! It is always great to spend some extra quality time with Karen.
In December, Chad went down to Winnemuca, Nevada to visit one of his buddies from high school - Heath. His poor wife, Katie had to put up with those two wild boys all weekend - I was working so I couldn't go down, but we did end up seeing them for a bit while they and their three children (including a very new baby girl) were in town for Christmas. Chad also got a new set of wheels and tires for his pickup - which I like to refer to as the "family vehicle" these days since mine is so much smaller :) He's very excited about the new wheels/tires... maybe not so much about the "family vehicle" status.
The same weekend Chad was in Nevada, I ended up going to Kuna, Idaho and Patrick's "3rd Annual Sweat-Stache Party". Justin and Courtney went along with me and we wore some really fabulous ugly sweaters. I found mine earlier that day and could not pass up the fur collar - I mean seriously, that is classy... look at the shoes. I made mustache props the night before since the invitation said "mustaches/sweaters mandatory". We had a really great time and ended up going to bed way too late. Somehow, I am getting older and the whole "stay up late drinking all night" doesn't go over as well as it used to!
Speaking of parties, we went to the Dinsmore/Meyer party at the Elks and I must say, it was the best one yet. Chad and I had a fantastic time, we would not leave the dance floor and when we did, there were so many great people to visit with! I had one picture of us on my phone from the night, but we both look a little haggard from swinging around the dance floor so it "accidentally" got deleted! We also went to Brewsky's on the 23rd and as Chad said "I know everyone here!" It was Dan's birthday so we had dinner and drinks with Dan, Mom, and Greg. Once we were done eating we made our way into the bar and it was jam-packed with tons of locals and others in town for the holidays. Greg, Chad, and I ended up taking the Ontario Courtesy Cab home and it was awesome. Seriously, I love those old-school cabs. The next morning, however - was not awesome... I needed sleep.

Oh and we ate. A lot. In December. Off the top of my head, we had the Snake River Produce dinner, Nyssa High School dinner, a dinner with the Cruickshank family, one with Jim & Trina, we stuffed ourselves at Mom & Dan's annual Christmas Eve presents and dinner, we ate even more at Nellie's with the Pounds' family, and then we topped it all off with dinner at Dad & Jana's. I'm thinking Chad and I need to hit the gym! With all that hustling around during the holidays, we are having serious conversations about leaving town during Christmas. Don't be mad if it happens.

During all the Christmas festivities, I mentioned I wanted to go see War Horse and my sister informed me that her two older boys had really been wanting to go see the movie too! Date night! So... last night, Chad, Matthew, Peter, and I met up with Greg at the movie theater and watched the movie - I thought it was very good, but you know I am a sucker for horse movies. Matthew and Peter stayed the night and we probably got home around 10:30 p.m. from the movie. Then we started Rodeo-Opoly (rodeo themed Monopoly) and we played and played and played until we were all too tired to function. I'm not going to tell you what time we all went to bed, but I am still tired. This is how we left the game and it was really getting interesting. Peter had just gone out and "scores" and "gold buckles" (houses and hotels) were starting to pop up all over the board. I'd kind of like them to come back and finish the game because I am pretty sure I was going to kick their trash. Bring it on boys! Seriously though, we had a super fun night together and need to do it more often.
And now on to January! We are looking forward to a wonderful 2012 full of many memories and moments that will be recorded here and in our hearts. First things first, the 2012 Rose Bowl. And to get you in the football and Oregon Duck v. Wisconsin Badger spirit, I leave you with the Top 10 Chipisms: The Wit & Wisdom of Chip Kelly. Oh yes, and just in case you haven't seen them - the uniforms for the Rose Bowl are worth checking out. Go Ducks!

Wednesday Wine Class

2011-12-30T20:51:00.000-08:00

The first Wednesday of the month, you can usually find me enjoying a nice glass (or four) of wine and dinner with the ladies at Romio's in Ontario. You see, a few months back, one of my friends Ashley asked me if I would want to go with her to Wine Class. At the time, I couldn't go, but I told her I would make it in August. I really didn't know what to expect, but what the heck, right? I like wine, I like food, I like friends - what could go wrong? Nothing! It was too much fun - we met up and another of Ashley's friends, Veronica was there with us and we drank, ate, gossiped, and had a really fun time. Naturally, we signed up for every month after that!

The next month, our mothers joined us (Donna, Kathleen, & Julie) and I'm sure you can imagine how that turned out... hilarious. More entertaining than before! Since then, Ashley's invitation has turned into a regular group of ladies with some variety meeting up the first Wednesday of the month - Rachel and Courtney have joined and so have Jan and Hanna! Generally, it is a four-course meal with four wine pairings - they teach you about the wines, though we don't always pay attention :)

Every month, I look forward to "wine class" as we refer to it. It is scheduled, I have it on the calendar, and it is nice to have that little girls night out each month to catch up on what is going on, relax, and most importantly, learn about our wines ;) Looking forward to January!

Starting a new tradition...

2011-12-29T19:59:00.001-08:00

I am not sure where I saw it, but last year I saw a photo of several slices of what looked like tree stumps. As I looked closer, I noticed they had been written on - it seemed as though this photo was taken of a family's collection of Christmas Trees. Let me clarify - each year after they cut down their Christmas tree, they sliced a piece off the bottom, drilled a hole through it, wrote the year and any other important details on the wood, strung a piece of ribbon or twine through the hole and kept it to be hung with the previous tree pieces. Each was different - some thin, some thick, some hung with pretty sparkly ribbon, others with simple twine... some with major details written in small print and others just the year.

We are starting that tradition at the Cruickshank household. We are looking forward to adding to our collection each year!

Christmas Tree Hunt: 2011

2011-12-20T14:55:00.000-08:00

Who knew tree hunting could be such an adventure? Chad and I have gone on a "tree hunt" every year since we have been married to find the perfect Christmas tree. Chad cuts, I observe. A couple days before we left on our all-day tree hunting extravaganza, we were talking with some other friends and they were going too! Obviously, we joined forces and went together! Justin and Courtney came with us on their very first Eastern Oregon tree hunt and I would say they were naturals.

With six rigs (vehicles), 18 people, a few saws, one chainsaw, and a lot of beer - we managed to cut down enough trees for our crew and a few family members who didn't make the trip. Once all the trees were down and tucked away in the correct pickup, we stopped and had a fire complete with chili and cornbread. Really, what more could you ask for?

We had more fun than we bargained for and I just wish a little of that snow would come our way for Christmas! I climbed up to the top of a hill near the road and slid down on my butt - just because I was so excited to see snow! Next year, Courtney and I are wearing snowboots - but other than that we stayed pretty warm. Chad, Justin, Courtney, and I ended up playing Pitch (card game) until the wee hours of the morning and let me tell you, that made for one rough Monday morning!

Totally worth it.

Merry Christmas Tree

2011-12-19T11:31:00.000-08:00

I have been wondering lately what my home decor looks like without a giant tree covered in sparkling lights and other holiday goodness. Why don't we do this 365 days of the year? I love Christmas decorating - glitter, lights, color, candles, you name it - it is out in full force at the home of Tiff & Chad.

Starting with none other than the "grand champion heifer" tree - as Chad has named our Christmas tree.
More on the Christmas Tree Hunt adventure later (we cut down our own tree every year). On to the decorating. This year, I didn't want to cover up the beauty of the tree - because really, she is a beaut. We went with simple. Lights.
Raffia bows and wooden star garland.
A few matte green ornaments and a burlap tree skirt and we are ready for Santa to visit!
Merry Christmas!
Love, Chad, Tiffany, & Roscoe

Handmade Wreaths

2011-12-14T17:46:00.000-08:00

My mother has a knack for hand-made wreaths which I have shared in various posts. However, I haven't ever shown her Christmas work! This year, I wanted to make my boss and his wife a Christmas wreath for their home. Below, you will see my sparkly silver, white, and green wreath Mom gave to us a few years ago. Every winter, it hangs on our front door welcoming friends and family alike.
To make one of these gorgeous wreaths, you will need to start with a grapevine wreath - I generally purchase mine at JoAnn's. Make sure to use a coupon as they rarely go on sale! You will also need a hot glue gun, ribbon, silk flowers, and other holiday adornments like pine cones, glittery "things", etc.
Start with your base layer and make sure the stems are firmly placed in the wreath. Hold off on the hot glue gun until everything is in place and you are satisfied with your work. From watching my mom, the base layer might not always be seen, so make sure it is more "filler" than anything.
Slowly, start adding the fun stuff - poinsettias, berries, ferns, whatever you might have in your bag of tricks. Seriously, my mom has bins and bins of this kind of stuff!
I love the gold in this wreath!
Once you are satisfied with the placement of all your greenery, flowers, and accents - bust out the hot glue gun. Some pieces may need to be removed, the stem covered in hot glue, and then re-inserted back into the wreath. You'll want to tug on each piece to make sure it is secure. Next, ribbon! Not every wreath needs ribbon and it can be done in many ways. Rather than a bow, we went with several strategically placed pieces of ribbon on this wreath.
This is the wreath hanging on the inside of my house all ready to be gifted!
All gifts need a tag - and this was one of my first projects with my new Cricut. When Chad and I were in Eugene for the Oregon/USC game, Beth gave me a Cricut with a few cartridges and it has been awesome! Thank you so much Beth!!
The wreath is now hanging above the mantle at my boss' house and I must say, it looks fantastic! They love it and it matches their holiday decor perfectly. Thank you Mom for all your help :) Hope you enjoyed this little tutorial!

Linked at Laugh, Love, & Craft, Someday Crafts, Sew Much Ado, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Fireflies & Jellybeans, Thrifty Decorating, & Katie's Nesting Spot.

I Love The Pioneer Woman

2011-12-09T11:30:00.000-08:00

And I love warm soup on a chilly night.
And I love the Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana.

For those reasons, I am sharing with you one of the best soup recipes I have tried in a long time!

The Pioneer Woman's Sausage, Potato, and Kale Soup
Photo via Pioneer Woman.

Ingredients

2 bunches Kale, Picked Over, Cleaned, And Torn Into Bite Sized Pieces
12 whole Red Potatoes, Sliced Thin
1 Medium Yellow Onion, Chopped
1-1/2 pound Italian Sausage
1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (more to taste)
2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
2 cups Whole Milk
4 cups Half-and-half
Splash Heavy Cream
Fresh or Dried Oregano
Black Pepper to Taste

Preparation Instructions

Prepare the kale and set it aside.

In a medium pot. boil sliced potatoes until tender. Drain and set aside.

In a large pot, crumble and brown the Italian sausage - toss in the onions and cook the two together. Drain as much as the fat as you can. Stir in the red pepper flakes, oregano, chicken broth, milk, and half-and-half. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Give it a taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Add the potatoes, a splash of heavy cream for richness, then stir in the kale. Simmer an additional 10-15 minutes, then serve.

I have made it several times, served it to friends, Mom has made it, and so has Alisha - and I mean really, if her kids will eat it, you know it is a winner!

Confession: I may have wanted to eat this for breakfast the day after I made it for the first time. It is THAT good!

We {LOVE} Our Ducks!

2011-12-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

In November, Chad and I made the drive across the state to watch the Mighty Ducks play at dear old Autzen Stadium. It was Chad's first game at Autzen since 2007 and only his third ever! We went to the unfortunate Oregon v. USC game and witnessed the devastating loss to the Trojans, however - we had a great time!
We left Friday afternoon and made it over Santiam Pass with no problems - though there was plenty of snow along the way. Since we got into town pretty late, we decided to hit the hay so we would be in tip-top shape for our Saturday tailgating activities.

Saturday we started the day by going to the Duck Store to do a little Christmas shopping and to add to my vast Oregon gear collection. I took Chad to breakfast at Taylor's Bar - which is across the street from campus and from the Duck Store. It's a little different in there when you aren't a student :) but the food and drinks were good and the early football games were on - always a plus!

Beth (KKG advisor) snagged us two tickets and a parking pass for the game - which was awesome so we met up at the Sheehan/Walton household to hang out, taste-test the "adult hot chocolate" debuting at their tailgate later that day, and simply catch up! It was so good to see Beth, Chris, and the whole family - I have missed them and after we left I reminisced with Chad about how their home was very much like a "home away from home" while I was at college - a getaway from the college life. You see, I was one of the Kappa babysitters for their son Rory and my, he has grown since I saw him last (it has been well over three years)! We both think the world of their family and hope to see them sometime soon on our side of the state - hint hint!

We finally made our way into the tailgating parking lot and met up with McKenzie (KKG Big Sis) and her husband Brian to get our party on! They are definitely some of my favorite people and we love catching up with them anytime we can. They are the other couple in the photo collage with a camo'd man and "O" eye-black'd woman! Great minds think alike :)

Half-time was spent at the Sheehan/Walton tailgater drinking the last of the "adult hot chocolate" and snacking on the (seriously) gourmet tailgate food comprised of a yummy cheese tray, smoked salmon, lasagna, and other goodies!

The game was exciting, cold, and a bit sad at the end - but as Chad reminded me, " we won the party". After the game, we met up with McKenzie and Brian to drown our sorrows at McMenamins and to snack on some of my favorite tater tots (honestly they are the best around).

The next morning, we hit the road and managed to have clear blue skies and clear roads most of the way - don't worry, we did stop at Sno Cap for a milkshake - a must if you are in Sisters!

Until next year! We love our Ducks and we're hoping for a big Rose Bowl win against the Wisconsin Badgers!

*P.S. That hat? It's a one-of-a-kind Oregon Duck hat courtesy of Grandma Barbara!

Costumes? Casino? Cold Beverages?

2011-12-05T14:17:00.000-08:00

You know I'm in!

While at Wine Class (more on that some other time) last month, I was offered two tickets to the Treasure Valley Community College Sting Fundraiser. Basically, it is a 20's/prohibition themed casino party with a live auction, silent auction, games, raffles, and best of all - a costume competition! Obviously, we went.

Not sure what to expect, we decided it best to pre-funk the party with none other than my mom and Dan. I mean really, Chad and I learned all about these kinds of events in college and a good pre-funk can be the best part of the night!

Pre-Funk: (noun): an informal social gathering that takes place prior to the official ceremony, or social gathering, usually involving intoxicating activities and generally resulting in pre-function inebriation.

We showed up, ate, drank, played cards, visited with friends (old and new), and even competed in the costume contest. Chad and I placed fourth, however, I am pretty sure we should have placed higher - everyone said we were "too young" to win. Ha! We didn't win anything in the raffle, but we did end up buying a gift certificate to Andrew's Seed in the silent auction, which will definitely come in handy next spring.

It really was a great time, but more people need to come, so next year - grab your prohibition themed clothes and head to the Cultural Center for a great time and a great cause!

Holiday Ornament Wreath Tutorial

2011-11-29T09:38:00.000-08:00

We've all seen them - those really awesome wreaths made of holiday ornaments. I have always wondered how they do it - but I have unlocked the secret and am ready to share with you! It is super easy, inexpensive, fun, and even if you don't consider yourself a "crafter", you can totally do it.

Tools of the Trade:
*Ornaments - you can create a wreath with any combination of sizes/colors/finishes
*Wire hanger
*Hot glue gun/glue sticks
*Wire cutters/pliers
*Ribbon
Since I didn't really know what I was doing when I started this project, I went down to the local thrift store and bought a variety of ornaments. Really though, in our small town, it is probably the only place to buy ornaments! I opted for the "shatter proof" ornaments which was definitely a good idea. Once home, I removed the wire hooks and sorted the ornaments by color and size. I then shaped my hanger into a circle and used my pliers to unwrap the hanger to create an opening.
This is when you should do as I say, not as I do. To make sure I had the right combination of ornaments, I then started putting them on the hanger. The problem was, I needed to do a little hot-glue gun action beforehand. The balls started popping off the hanger from the tension! Remember - glue those suckers together before you put them on the hanger!
Just a dab of hot glue to seal the ball to the top part of the ornament. I removed the top, dabbed a bit of glue on there, and then pressed the top back on.
After letting the ornaments dry, I re-strung them on the hanger, wrapped the tail of the hanger back around to secure the wreath. This may take a bit of muscle and your pliers depending on how many ornaments you have. I had to remove a few to make it work.

Lastly, add a beautiful bow to cover the top of the hanger and voila! Easy, fun, and festive!
Ours is hung inside the house, but I am sure it would hold up outdoors as well. Next time, I think I will select ornaments that are all the same size to have a bit more consistency with the edges of the wreath. Try it! Let me know how it goes!

Linked at Today's Creative Blog.

October Rewind

2011-11-18T10:50:00.000-08:00

During October, I managed to make it to six states in a two week period - let's just say it was a busy month!

I went to the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit Convention in Atlanta, Georgia for three days to represent both Snake River Produce and the Idaho Eastern Oregon Onion Committee (IEO). Three days including travel always ends up being an exhausting trip, but it was well worth it - I was able to make contact with many of our customers and have a little fun too! As always, the IEO booth had "Jumbo" the mascot in addition to America's Next Top Model's Chelsey Hersley representing our growing/packing/shipping region.
As soon as I got back from Georgia Sunday night, I had to start preparing for our trip to Indianapolis. You see, Chad had an FFA team (Farm Business Management) qualify for Nationals and we left Tuesday mid-day. Chad and I took ten high school students to Indianapolis, IN for five days. It was fun, entertaining, educational, inspiring, and definitely exhausting.

Our schedule was jam-packed, which was a good thing because it kept the kids from getting into any trouble! Aside from sessions and competitions, we attended leadership seminars, an FFA specific trade show, and visited a few pretty fun tourist destinations. We went to the Indianapolis Zoo, Churchill Downs (where the Kentucky Derby runs), the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, and even the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Churchill Downs:
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory:
Official Dress at the Convention:
Bulls & Broncs Rodeo:
Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
Needless to say, we were all tuckered out when we finally got home Saturday night. The next weekend was Halloween and we did a whole lot of nothing. We did have a lot of trick-or-treators - so many that we ran out of candy and had to turn out the lights!

Ladies...

2011-11-16T22:33:00.001-08:00

Because it is important...
Because it is funny...
Because I care about you...
Because this will make you laugh...
Because it could save your life!

Because I know you have been wondering...

2011-11-08T19:19:00.001-08:00

In an earlier post, I mentioned Chad and I are DWTS fans. If you don't know what that stands for, I am not sure we can be friends - google it :) I also discussed that we select teams at the beginning of the season - one for fun and one to win.

This season, Chad picked Mark Ballas & Kristin Cavallari to win and they went off so early! He also picked Hope Solo & Maksim Chmerkovskiy and they are still in the competition. Chad always goes with Mark because he thinks he is the best pro dancer - and he almost always goes with an athlete.

For my season winner, I went with JR Martinez & Karina Smirnoff - obviously a good choice since they got two perfect scores last night! I also went with Carson Kressley & Anna Trebunskaya because Carson was so outrageously hilarious. Unfortunately they have since gone off the show, but it was great while it lasted.

For now, we each have a couple in the runnings - and they have both made it to the semi-finals!

Posted from my phone - please excuse any and all typos.

Earring Frame 2.0

2011-11-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

After I made an earring frame for Rachel's birthday, my sister hinted she wouldn't mind receiving one for her birthday. I wanted to do something a little different so I picked up a frame at one of my favorite shops - "Bob's". Then I made my way over to Home Depot to pick up other supplies.

Once home, I cleaned the frame and drilled two holes for the knobs. The knobs are there to hang a few necklaces or bracelets from. I then put on spraypaint coat number one. Alisha's room is done in blues and reds - with a great quilt reflecting those tones so I went with a wildflower blue.While it was drying, I cut out the mesh to fit the space and I used a spray glue to adhere it to this great piece of fabric I found. After a couple more coats of paint, I stapled the mesh/fabric into the frame and topped it off with two crystal knobs.
I think it is quite pretty - and useful! Now I just need to make one for myself, I can't decide on a color though!
Happy Birthday Alisha! We love you :)

Deer Slayer

2011-11-01T12:01:00.000-07:00

Someone had to bring home the bacon... er, deer this year! I had a land-owner tag in the Owyhee unit courtesy of our friends in Adrian and we (Chad and I) had high hopes because last year there were several big bucks in that area.

Opening morning, it was like rush-hour traffic in Nyssa - so many people were out and about in the wee hours of the morning. Chad and I got to the hunting spot just before someone else did - and since we were the only ones with permission, we sent them over to the landowner's house to work it out... always something to keep it interesting!

After stumbling through the dark and watching the sun come up, we didn't see any bucks. We saw several does and fawns, but no horns. We hunted/glassed most of the day and came up empty handed. We did hear a few shots and across the way, we saw a buck killed. Chad said it was "like the Outdoor Channel - but live" through the spotting scope. Haha!

I think my season was about two weeks long and we hunted after work during the week and spent all day out there the Sunday before the season ended and saw a decent four-point buck, but he was pretty far away and it was getting dark so I didn't feel comfortable taking the shot. At that point, we had only seen that buck and a forked horn. Where were all the deer?

In the corn! It rained quite a bit toward the end of my season and we went out after work the second-to-last day and after we hiked in from the pickup, Chad said, "Now, I am just going to glass for about 15-20 minutes so why don't we just sit down." I get a little impatient and bored at times when I am not in charge - surprise, surprise. So I tried to document the hunt a bit while I was waiting...I didn't get very far because all of a sudden Chad was freaking out. Seriously, having a panic attack brought on by excitement. You would think he was the one with the tag! After marking the spot of the deer (who was bedded down), we trekked a little closer, checked in to make sure he hadn't moved, repeat, repeat, etc.

Finally, we got close enough that the deer stood up because he realized something was up. Chad stuck the shovel (my shooting stick) in the ground and I started shooting. How many times did I shoot, you ask? Enough. I shot enough times.
While setting up for the photo shoot, a pickup we didn't recognize pulled in across the draw and a guy with a gun got out and started glassing - looking and walking around. Naturally, I thought he just wanted to look at my deer - I gave him the thumbs up, waved at him, you know, typical "I'm so excited, look what I just did" stuff.
Apparently, he didn't realize we were there - or that he was on private property, because he shot. It was then my turn to freak out. Thank goodness he missed the little buck he was shooting at because we started hooping and hollering to let him know we were there and he ran to the pickup and got out of there in a hurry!
Once we were ready to go, Jim came by with the ranger and we loaded him up, hung him up, and cleaned him up - well the boys did most of the cleaning... I would say Trina and I supervised and brought beverages. So where did this deer come from, because he wasn't there all season? He came from the corn (we found some in his stomach) - it must have been too wet in the corn fields after all the rain.

Big thanks to my guide, photographer, skinner, cleaner, and husband Chad for helping me kill yet another buck bigger than he's ever killed :) Also thank you to Jim & Trina for allowing us to hunt and for all your help and friendship during the season (and the rest of the year too)!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T15:42:00.000-07:00

For the second year in a row, Chad and I have failed to carve our pumpkins. However, that did not hold me back from decorating the front door! Pumpkins from Purdum's, burlap ghost lights, my spooky Halloween wreath complete with a framed sign inside. Will we be around for trick-or-treaters? Maybe... we might just shut off the lights and leave the for the night. I did buy some candy this year, but a lot of it has disappeared. It is weird how that works!
I made these really cute burlap ghost lights from inspiration found at Burton Avenue, but they are really a Pottery Barn knockoff. I knew I could make them and so I did. I originally made them for a "Martinis & Mayhem" party my mother, sister, and I had earlier this month showcasing Premier Jewelry. It was so much fun, I forgot to take pictures of all the cute details!
Purdum's Produce (located in Idaho) always has really fun fall decor complete with all different types of pumpkins! Chad and I made a late-night dash there about a week ago to pick up these beauties.
And who could forget the mini-pumpkins??
And finally, a close-up of my glitter and glam Halloween wreath - complete with glazed frame and "Enter if you Dare!" sign!
Hope you have a wonderful and safe Halloween!

September Rewind

2011-10-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

September? Yes, I am a wee bit behind, and I have a lot of catching up to do!!

If you know my sister, you probably have heard about the disaster in her classrooms this summer. The paint color that ended up on the trim, cabinets, etc. was horrible so she decided to tackle one of the two rooms over Labor Day Weekend. Willy and I came to help. I know she has a full post planned for this, but just to give you an idea... we went from random orangey/brown/something color to chocolate brown which is oh-so-much better! One classroom down, one to go!
In Chad's world, September means archery season and trust me, there was plenty of that going on. We both had Oregon archery elk tags and one afternoon we went for a hunt - no elk, however, Chad did kill a wiley coyote and a badger with his bow. The badger went back in his hole and we were not risking that he might still be alive - so no pictures there!
Mama Hon turned 72 this year and as usual, my mother and I made a trip out to the cemetery to have a glass of wine with her and Uncle Jimmy. Mom brought the wine - a nice Soft Huckleberry. It's wasn't Mama Hon's typical Carlo or Franzia, however, I think Uncle Jimmy would be pissed if we brought that again :)
This year, I worked pretty hard on trying to get an elk with my bow, but "try" doesn't always cut it, I think you need a little luck too! Chad and I were pretty diligent about practicing this summer to make sure I was comfortable with my bow - which was great because I was much more confident this year! Dad and Greg put up a tree stand for me in a pretty heavily trafficked game area and after the animals got used to it, I started sitting in the stand. Patience, tree stand hunting takes patience... and a good book. The trail cam showed a lot more animals than I ever saw, but I did have a chance to shoot a cow elk and did not take it. After seeing big bulls on the trail cam, I just couldn't bring myself to do it! Dad and I even went out one day looking for a few elk he had been seeing, but no luck!

It was a lot of fun, but exhausting - the drive to the tree stand from my house was about two hours (one way) and that can take a toll - especially when we were just starting our busy season at work! Greg went out with me a couple times, Katia and Gavin even came along - but mostly I was sitting the stand all by my lonesome. And I will tell you, the walk back to the pickup in the dark was a little scary.
I suppose there is always next year! Chad has already asked me what tags I want to put in for for 2012..... I think my response was something like, "Don't I have until May to decide that?!"

Football Season = Scrapbook Season

2011-10-25T18:27:00.001-07:00

A couple weekends ago, our friends Justin & Courtney came to Nyssa to hang out for a couple days. The boys went hunting (surprise) and the girls scrapbooked while watching college football. It was a fun and relaxing weekend - something I wouldn't mind doing again in the near future since we have been so busy lately. What have we been up to, you ask? That is for another post - hopefully soon.

Roscoe turns three years old this month and this photo is from before we even got him! Just a tiny puppy!
Fall 2008 - at the University of Idaho / Boise State University football game in Moscow, Idaho.

Learning to Glaze

2011-10-05T15:18:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to learn to glaze for a l-o-n-g time and I just haven't ever gotten the courage to dive right in and try it. Recently, I did just that! I have had the glaze since June when we worked on Greg's Surprise Home Makeover, but with everything we worked on in that project, I thought it would be best to stick with what I knew. Anyway, I had an old 8x10 frame sitting in the basement and some new gray spraypaint (thanks Alisha). After a couple of coats of gray, I really liked the look of the frame, but it had lost a lot of the wood detailing. Glazing project to the rescue!

After reading several tutorials online and the directions on the back of the Martha Stewart glaze can, I just went for it. I poured way too much black paint and way too much glaze into a plastic plate, covered the dining room table with newspaper, and grabbed an old rag and a bristly paint brush and started.
Now you see why I said way too much. I have learned that a little paint/glaze mixture goes a long way and this was overkill for a small 8x10 frame!
I dipped my brush, then tried to get some of the excess off - but I didn't do a very good job at that. I then started covering the frame with glaze/paint. I wasn't sure how fast it would dry, so I only did half when I put the paintbrush down and went for the rag. Be prepared, you will get your hands dirty in this process - or at least I did! Start wiping the glaze/paint off. I was concerned with leaving too much or too little, but I suppose how much color you leave is up to you and your personal preference.
After the first half of the frame had been glazed and cleaned...
I repeated the process with the other half of the frame and made sure to hit the edges and any spots I thought needed a little extra oomph! Final result is below! I am excited about how well the glazing process worked and honestly how easy it was!
Not sure what I am going to do with the frame - it is still sitting on the dining room table. It's a good conversation piece :) I could turn it into another earring frame or use it to frame another one of Chad's hunting pictures... or not!

Seed Exchange!

2011-09-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

My cousin, Karen gave me this great idea a while back - a seed exchange! She asked me if I would save some of my zinnias for seeds for next year and that she had some other flower varieties to trade. I honestly never would have thought of that, but now I have gone into full-on seed saving experimentation mode. Really, you should see the absurd amount of paper bags in my basement - organized by variety and color, of course.

Some, I know will work - the zinnias, tomatoes, peppers, etc. Others... not so much, but it is worth a shot, right? I am saving seeds from pretty much anything and everything and this spring in the greenhouse I am going to be Chad's worst nightmare - get excited!

Here's where it gets fun, I have a lot of seeds - more than I really need. So, what do you have to bring to the table? Let's exchange! In person, through the mail, I don't care! Comment here or email me at tiffanyanne.sc(at)gmail.com and we'll get it going.

I can't wait for next spring to see what all comes up - literally!

Since we are on the garden topic, I found a bunch of pretty garden photos taken at various points throughout the summer on my phone. Now, I realize my photography skills leave something to be desired but here goes!

This clematis has bloomed once, and this was the only bloom. I planted it this spring and it was well worth the wait. I love it - the rich red and pink tones are just gorgeous and different than any other clematis I have seen! Hopefully next year the plant will be more established. Can you gather seeds from clematis? How? Share with me your secrets!
I know you can't share seeds from geraniums, but I do know where you can get some every May - at the Nyssa FFA Flower Sale. However, they probably won't look like these. My geranium plants are several years old and I Chad's students take care of them through the winter.
More pretty clematis. I like them - they don't like me. We are working on our relationship.
Grasses after a fall rain!
Oh look, more clematis - who would have thunk it? Love this purple!
This is one of my planters near the front door. It has gotten quite a bit larger since I took this photo, but it gives you the general idea. I collected some of the purple grass seeds and a few seeds from the lime green "stuff". We'll see if I can get them to grow next spring!
I know my butterfly bushes won't spread - they are sterile. Apparently there is some big problem on the western side of the state with them spreading voluntarily. Notsomuch here, but it is still illegal in Oregon to sell fertile butterfly bushes. Weird. Anyway, the real reason for the photo is the little hummingbird guy in the middle!
Anyway, hope to hear from you soon about what you are interested in and what you have to exchange!

Falling back into a routine...

2011-09-20T16:25:00.000-07:00

With school and onion harvest starting at the end of August, it was time for Chad and I to kick our carefree ways to the curb and start having a schedule - a work schedule that is! Even though we have been pretty darn busy at both the school and Snake River Produce, we have managed to have a little fun in the past few weeks!

The Caldwell Night Rodeo is my favorite rodeo of all - I have some of the best memories from that rodeo - some I shouldn't share on the blogosphere! Ha! This year, we went Wednesday night to represent Snake River in the US Bank VIP tent and it was really fun - food, drinks, music, and the company wasn't bad either :) The rodeo is always good and we ended up sitting with Greg, Chance, and Cory - one of Chad's college friends. We sat in the "civies" side - gasp! Which is totally unheard of, however we sat there Thursday night too! Generally, I don't make my way out of Coors Corner, but this year was the exception!
The same weekend, Chad turned 29! Eek - he is getting old, going to have to start plucking those gray hairs! We had a small family BBQ/party and even though I was kind of a stress-case trying to get everything (mostly just Chad's African Frame Project) finished before people started showing up, it was a lot of fun and so nice to see everyone! Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate the big 2-9!
August is a big month for celebrations in our family - did I mention we had our THIRD wedding anniversary? Three years and going strong :)
September (obviously) means hunting season - for Chad anyway. This year, he had an archery Idaho elk tag. He and we went scouting several times and saw lots of big big elk. Chad's college buddy/fraternity brother/best man just moved to the area with his fiance Courtney (and we couldn't be more excited) and the boys went hunting together. Chad killed this nice five-point bull from 50-ish yards with his bow.
As for me, I have been riding quite a bit while Chad is hunting - since he is hunting out in Adrian and the couple who owns the land has a horse - it just seems right! This is Ranger and the view of the place. I can't think of many better places to be!
At risk of embarrassing my husband, we are both excited for the start of Dancing With the Stars. During the first show, we always select our two "picks" - one that we want to cheer for, and the other that we think will win. Last season, I picked the top two - Hines Ward to win and Kirstie Alley was my favorite from the start. Chad picked Chelsea Kane to win and Hines Ward as his fan favorite, so we were both pretty close. We haven't watched the start of the season yet, but we recorded it and when we get a chance, we will make our selections! Stay tuned! He's going to kill me for posting that :)

Horse Crazy Girl: Part 1

2011-09-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

If you have ever met me, been in my house, or been around me, you would know that I love horses. Obsessed, maybe. Growing up, I always wanted to be around horses - riding them, brushing them, or simply sitting on a fence watching them. To this day, as I drive down the road, I check out the horses on either side and jump at the chance to ride. This is definitely not a "stage" that I will grow out of. I need horses to survive.

The horses I have owned, claimed, borrowed, or simply rode hold a special place in my heart and I have stories about each and every one. These horses and the experiences they have provided to me are near and dear to my heart.

Spotted War Eagle
As I child, I don't remember ever not having Spotted War Eagle (aka - Spotted War Hiney) around. That horse knew every trick in the book, but he was a great horse to learn on. He was super-fast, or so I thought - but he was really smart, like sneaky smart. Some of my favorite memories with this old friend include...

"Barrel racing" around 5-gallon buckets in my horse pasture.
Learning to ride bareback because I wasn't tall enough/strong enough to lift his saddle.
Having to trick him into being caught with a baling-twine contraption which included me hiding behind the haystack to lift the rope behind him as he came in to feed.
Flying off his back after Bobby Maag honked his horn as I galloped around the pasture bareback.
Racing Karen & Princess on the dirt roads behind the farm - and always winning :)
Riding him to school (Willowcreek) for my "how-to" demonstration during the 8th grade.
Transferring him from our house to the farm by leading him down the highway out the window of the pickup. Who needs a horse trailer?!

Princess
Princess (old gal in the back) was another farm horse and she was the mother of Trixi (filly with my younger, glamorous self). She usually stayed at the farm and the only time I remember her at our house was when Trixi was still a little thing! She was one of those gentle gentle gentle horses that plodded along - not really my style, but she was sweet as could be. I seem to remember her having a little more spring in her step when we first got her, but Karen and I used to spend hours with Princess and Spotted War Eagle when we were younger. There was a ditch that ran through her pen and Karen and I would "war-paint" her with mud - she tolerated us.

Trixi
This horse was bat-shit crazy when we first got her out of the pasture. You see, Papa Pete bred Princess with the idea to give Karen and I each a horse and he was going to help us train them so as soon as Trixi was born, Princess went back out with the stud and his wild group of horses. Unfortunately, Papa Pete passed away before he could help us train our horses, but we loved them anyway!

Trixi loved me, but didn't like men or dogs. I could walk out the front door and whinny (I actually sound pretty dang close to a horse) and she would come running. She would meet me at the end of the driveway and trot home beside me, but - she had a bit of a wild streak and man that girl could buck! She bucked me off the summer before my 6th grade year and I broke my arm. I was so sad I couldn't play volleyball! My parents hired a local gal to ride her and she ended up laid-up in bed for several days after getting bucked off!

I remember Dad and I were working with her one day - I was riding, Dad was leading. Something spooked her and I ended up getting a rope burn on my neck from the lead rope - so embarrassing for a middle schooler because it looked like a gigantic hickey! After that, Dad thought he was going to "teach her" and he tried to get on, but Trixi had other ideas - she wheeled around and kicked him right in the forearm - it looked like it hurt, a lot. Maybe rodeo was her true calling? :)
Roxy
Roxy was Trixi's baby. We ended up breeding Trixi hoping for a more calm horse - with a little less buck. We bred Trixi to Toby's stud hose and ended up getting another little girl - she was a pretty thing, sorrel with lots of white. I was out of town for a high school trip my freshman year when she was born, but we were fast friends when I got home. She was great - gentle, loving. Toby helped me with her when we got to the riding stage and she did really well. We had another local gal ride her and she did great for her - but by the time it was time for me to really be putting work into her - I was almost out of high school, busy with extra-curriculars, college-prep and everything else. Excuses, I know. I ended up selling Trixi and Roxy when I went to college - sad, but true.
Duke
Karen's horse, Duke was born a year after Trixi and they couldn't have looked more different - their father had some appaloosa background and it definitely showed up in Duke! He has been a fixture at the farm until recently when they gave him to another family.
Chrissy
This was the first horse I bought with my own money - I bought her for $1,000.00 and I am pretty sure I could think of some better things to do with that money now - however, at the time, I loved her and I was so excited! She was a registered Arabian and I kept her down at the Studio (North Road G). I ended up selling her sometime down the road - I don't think I'll ever own another Arabian.

More stories and pictures to come! This is only the beginning!

Scrapbook: Playing Catch-Up

2011-09-09T11:53:00.001-07:00

For so long, I have had a blank space in my "2007-2008" scrapbook labeled, "Spring Break 08". Now, since this was the Spring Break of my senior year of college, you might be thinking it was reserved for photos of wild parties, ocean-front views, and lots and lots of booze. However, that is not the case... more like nephews, cooking, horses, and branding!
I scrapbooked the remainder of our honeymoon a while back, but I had to find these photos first! While on our honeymoon, we took surfing lessons and it is definitely fair to say I am the better surfer - which Chad did not like. He is used to being the most athletic and does not like losing - because it was totally a competition. I got up on my very first try and never fell during our entire surfing adventure. The surfing company had a photographer you could pay to take photos and he gave us a disc at the end of the day - we have SO MANY fun pictures from that day! I loved it!
Fall of 2008 (three years ago), Annie and I took a little trip to Eugene, stayed with Ashly, met up with Jessica - and had a wonderful time - regardless as to the performance of the Ducks. I worked on these pages over Labor Day Weekend while watching college football - seems fitting!

Linked at Scrappy Saturdays!

Project: Earring Frame

2011-09-06T18:42:00.001-07:00

I saw this project a while ago and have been wanting to try it out ever since! Basically, it is a frame with a mesh insert for earring storage - but it is super cute too!

One of my good friends just had a birthday and she is into crafty projects like me so I decided to make one for her. Her favorite color is green - hence the green coloring and I applied a couple coats of spraypaint. Using a mesh screen, I cut out a 9x11 piece for the 8x10 opening. Using a staple gun, I attached the screen to the backside and trimmed the edges. That's it! Super easy! And I think its pretty darn cute!

I tried it out with some of my jewelry and hung it on the wall before I gave it to Rachel for her birthday. Now I am certain I am going to make one for myself, and maybe a few others.

I also cut these gorgeous zinnias for her birthday - I just can't get enough of those flowers!

Linked at Perfectly Imperfect.

Project: Framed Africa Photos

2011-09-01T21:12:00.000-07:00

We all know about what Chad wanted for his birthday and how it was coming along... but here is the entire rundown.

I started with these frames and had Chad select his favorite seven images. I then had the images printed in various sizes (Chad thinks the bigger the better) and in black-and-white.

Before starting any real work, I needed to make sure the images would fit. Obviously, there are a couple that needed a bit of help. Two of the larger frames needed matting and I had that cut by a local framer and it was really reasonable and she was super helpful in the process!

Before I painted, I also took the frames to a local glass shop and had glass cut for each frame. At this point, I still thought this project was going to be a breeze! On to spraypainting - since I was painting them all the same color, I wasn't concerned with overspray so I just put them all on a large piece of cardboard in the yard and went to town.
A couple of coats later, we have matching frames! Make sure you get all the edges, on the inside and outside!

Now comes the tricky part - putting the whole project together. I procrastinated a tiny bit and really pushed it down to the wire... like I finished them right before our families started arriving for the family BBQ. However, they were done and he was (and is) happy!

Finally, six of the seven are up on the wall where they are supposed to be. Chad loves it because he can look at them all the time... silly boy. Hopefully he doesn't think I am going to do this for every trophy he takes!

This one happens to be one of Chad's favorites. Partly because it is really big, the frame is large, but mostly because it is one of his favorite photos from the entire trip. Here's the problem - the frame is not made from your typical material. It is made of some sort of foam, weird material. The frame was just too cool to pass up and when I bought it, I didn't even have this project in mind! I am going to need some assistance hanging it - talking to you Dan! Let me know what you think :)

Here's the view of the area designated for the Africa frames... on the right-hand side where the fleur-de-lis is hanging is where the blesbok will hang - eventually.

The Africa frame project is done - kind of. One more to hang and we will be done! But for now, Chad can still check out his Africa trophies every day. I have some other ideas for frames in the near future - stay tuned, they do not include images from Africa :)

Linked at Perfectly Imperfect.

Garden Gone Wild!

2011-08-19T12:48:00.001-07:00

I haven't been paying much attention to the garden for the past week or so... it has gotten a little out of control! However, I wouldn't have it any other way - lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers, and peas for salad. We also have beans this year, a zuchinni plant, and a few jalapeno plants for making my favorite - cream cheese stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon.
Todiefor.

On the front porch I also have a pot full of herbs. The cilantro has since come and gone, but it was a favorite while it lasted. I have more sage and rosemary than I will ever need (if you want some, come on over), and I have three varieties of basil - my favorite herb ever. I love basil. A lot.

Also, love those zinnias! Such fun color and the blooms last forever.

Summer is officially OVER

2011-08-17T09:08:00.001-07:00

Maybe not, but Chad started inservice today at the high school and school starts Monday. We start bringing onions in Saturday. Basically - summer is over and it is time to really go back to work!

Our summer has been so good, busy, but full of fun. As usual, I was down in Monterey, California for the PMA Foodservice Expo toward the end of July. It is always a great work trip and a nice escape from the heat! Below is my view from dinner at Domenico's On the Wharf - the sea lions (maybe seals?) were super cute and played all evening on the dock and in the water.Still in Monterey, with Shannon playing bocce ball - 2nd Annual Tournament.
Obviously, summer wouldn't be complete without the fair! The Nyssa FFA Chapter did really well at the Malheur County Fair this year and Chad was super proud of all his kids and all their achievements. They earned many top Chapter honors, and even the Champion Round Robin Showman award - pretty awesome! This is the only photo of us from the week - next year will be even crazier, as Matthew and Peter will be taking steers to the fair. It will be so fun to watch them!
Last weekend, my Kappa Kappa Gamma "Big Sis", McKenzie and her husband, Brian came to visit. Brian loves to fish on the Owyhee River and they hadn't been out here for about three years so they made a quick trip and it was so good seeing them! Friday night, we showed them our house, ate, drank, and just caught up - while the boys prepared for their fishing adventure the next day.

McKenzie and I were not too productive Saturday, but we had so much to talk about, we didn't need to be doing anything! The boys caught a lot of fish - and toward the end it sounds like Chad even let Brian in on some of his secrets :) Saturday night, we went to the Owyhee County Rodeo in Homedale, Idaho and had way too much fun. Seriously. From car parties to red beers (they had Clamato in the beer garden - genius) to several major photo shoots, we had a really fun time!

When the rodeo was over, there was a dance - which you know I loved. To get there, you had to walk through the arena, so naturally we put the boys in the chutes and rode them. Pretty sure Chad actually tried to buck me off, but no luck! Boo was our DD for the night (thank goodness) and we are so appreciative of him getting us all home safely!

Sunday was breakfast, ibuprofen, water, Tums, and eventually we got McKenzie and Brian on the road back to Washington. Until next year! 338 days :)

Africa Frame Update

2011-08-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

Kind of blurry, but this is the general idea. Not sure exactly where these are going to go on my walls - and try to avoid the many different colored frames. Just use your imagination people! I am kind of liking the gold though - it is growing on me. However, I am petty sure I am having a spraypaint party at my house this evening!

Chad & Birthdays

2011-08-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I asked Chad what he wanted for his birthday (coming up mid August). He mentioned something about a reel, jeans, hunting and fishing stuff (big surprise there). He didn't really seem like he was dying for anything in particular - unlike last year. Until last week... after I had already bought him his birthday presents.

He started talking about how he wanted to get large images of his Africa trophies framed and up on the walls in the house. I took a deep breath and listened. As he talked, I tried not to laugh as he discussed how he used to have 11x14 posters of his goose hunting adventures on the walls in his fraternity room (seriously... his fraternity room) and how cool it looked. I am pretty sure he then walked up to our framed engagement portrait and said, "something like this, but bigger". Then he started talking about his grandparent's living room which is literally covered in 8x10 photos from various fishing, hunting, and other outdoor adventures. Now, don't get me wrong, I love Nellie and wish Dick were still here to tell his hunting and fishing tales, but I believe in a little white space on the walls - or creamy yellow in my case.

So - we're doing it my way. I have ordered various sizes of his favorite Africa trophy images in black and white and have found some stellar frames during my thrifting adventures. My plan is to paint all the frames black, buy glass to fit each frame (it is surprisingly cheap) and hang them in a collage/group/something like that sort of fashion. Since we're on the topic - did I tell you what Chad bought me for my birthday? Even after I gave him multiple suggestions, I got a gun. I promise you, I didn't even hint that I wanted a gun. The best (or worst) part is - I shoot left handed, and it is a right handed gun. He knows I shoot left handed. You want to know why he bought it for me? It was his Grandpa Dick's gun and he wanted it to stay in the family - and he couldn't find any left handed guns, so he thought this would be the next best thing. Mostly, he bought it for himself - he asked if he could take it to Africa - I said no. And according to him, "our future children will not be left-eye dominant". Roscoe totally is left-eye dominant.

I will tell you this - Chad was really close to getting a ceiling fan for his birthday, because - well, maybe I couldn't find the right picture frames and I thought our future house would look better with a newer ceiling fan. Also thought of getting him a new Coach bag, some jewelry, you know - stuff that I would like! Enough of my rant. You have to admit, it is pretty funny and he totally got roasted by my family when they heard about it.

Anyway, I hope to get the rest of the prints soon - painting of the frames will probably start tomorrow. More pictures to come!

A bit of light reading...

2011-08-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

I love to read. You should know that by now. However, I tend to read in spurts. I read a lot of books all at once and then take a break. I haven't crossed over to the dark digital side of books, but I'm not opposed.

Some recent reads:

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Stieg Larsson
Third book in the "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" series. Love this series - dark, mysterious, evil at times but very fast paced and one I just couldn't put down.

Have a Little Faith - Mitch Albom
I have always loved Mitch Albom's work - especially after reading Tuesdays With Morrie in high school. A true story - crafted around two very different clergymen and their impact on their congregation, their faith, and the author. A must read.

Something Borrowed / Something Blue - Emily Griffin
When I saw Something Borrowed was being turned into a movie, I thought I better pick up the book and when I was done with Something Borrowed, I snatched up Something Blue. Definitely a series for the ladies, Griffin explores love, hate, friendship, following the rules versus following your heart. Pretty sure I laughed out loud, cried, cringed, and simply felt for the characters.

Eating Animals - Jonathan Safran Foer
This is a different one. Recommended by my dear friend Ashly, it is not for everyone, but maybe everyone should read it. Foer weaves together facts, stories - his own and those from others to tell what some call, The Omnivore's Dilemma. It was a bit intimidating at first, because I didn't know what to expect, but it is funny, reflective, informative, scary, and motivating all at the same time. Extremely well written - and has resulted in a few eating habit changes on my part!

The Hearts of Horses - Molly Gloss
I know it is probably a surprise, but I loved this book. Written by an Oregonian, the main character, 19-year old Martha took to training horses during the war while the boys were away at war. While training several horses in a circle, she builds relationships throughout the community - she grows, matures, and changes in a manner that is parallel to her horses.

Beautiful Boy - David Sheff
Discussion and stories of a methamphetamine addict - told from the father's point of view. It is a best-selling memoir of Sheff's son's addition, there were parts I loved, and parts I could have done without. Some of the facts got a little stale, however it was extremely interesting and so sad.

For One More Day - Mitch Albom
Though I enjoyed this book, I had a few questions remaining once completed. With the plot revolving around a troubled, suicidal man and his mother - Albom discusses life, death, and what one might do with the opportunity to spend one more day with a loved one.

Project: Curb Appeal - Phase 4

2011-07-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

Once we saw the transformation made by a little landscaping, we decided to tackle the foundation priming project - also known as Phase 4 of Project: Curb Appeal.
Early Friday morning, I went to the local hardware store and picked up KILZ Exterior Primer. Chad with a roller and me with a brush, we got that thing primed in no time. Saturday evening, I primed the stairs... we just aren't sure what to do with that whole situation - are we required to have a railing? Do we need the railing? It looks better without the railing. We can paint it to match... but I don't really like it all that much.

Anyway, Sunday morning before we went boating, Chad and I put a coat of paint over the primer and it looks so much better. We need to apply a second coat (probably tonight) so I can get my planters back where they belong, but the important thing is - we are making progress!

Project: Learning to Upholster

2011-07-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

Alright crafty, handy, project-y friends and family - anyone know how to upholster furniture? I have been craving a cool old-school chair lately and randomly I found two in one day. I paid a total of $28 for my two new chairs and am hoping to learn to reupholster them myself (mostly because I checked with the upholstery shop in Ontario and about died when I heard the estimate per chair)! While in Ontario the other day - we (Mom, Alisha, Willy, and I) were at JoAnn's looking for fabric for Alisha's classroom and we found a book claiming to be "easy upholstery" or something like that. Naturally, I bought it and am through Part 1.
I have decided this is not a one-woman job so I am thinking an upholstery get together adventure. Anyone know how to upholster? Wait, I already asked that! Ladies, you know who you are - I provide the drinks, you provide the entertainment and we'll figure it out together??
Think about it. Meanwhile, I am thinking about prints... lots of fabric prints. And Chad is thinking, "Why on earth are there two ridiculous chairs in the basement?"

Summer Lovin'

2011-07-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

July has been a fantastic whirlwind of a month. We have been really busy, but together we have still had time to relax and enjoy our summer! Chad got home from Africa at the end of June and the following weekend was the 4th of July so we definitely had to hit up the Vale 4th of July Rodeo! Rachel went with us and we ended up seeing a lot of my friends from high school - mini Class of 2004 reunion! It is always so great to catch up with old friends - Annie is going to school to be a Physician's Assistant, Joy is an RN and engaged to be married early next year (in Hawaii), and Katy just had baby #2 (she looks damn good) and is moving to Thailand. Who would have thought we would all be where we are today?! Per usual, Chad and I didn't make it out of the beer garden... good thing we found a driver to get us home!
The next weekend we took our Friday and went for an impromptu Jeep ride in Red Betty to Twin Springs. Twin Springs is a campground in the Owyhees - basically in the middle of nowhere. It is beautiful though, and they have a natural spring with a pump - and a bathroom! Always a plus! We ended up taking the dutch oven and making a late lunch at the campgrounds. The weather was warm, sunny, and gorgeous.
The next week, we went to dinner with some Adrian friends - Jim & Trina to Stagecoach and they were right, the prawns are amazing. Apparently it is the oldest family owned and operated restaurant in Boise and it definitely has that old west vibe... steaks, whiskey, and prawns! Sorry, no photos - so unlike me!

When Chad returned from Africa, he gave me a Date Card for a special "I got to go to Africa so I am going to take you to a nice dinner" dinner. I decided we should try out Barbacoa in Boise and I am so glad we did. I swear I gained 10 pounds at dinner - it was so good I couldn't even think about dessert. They made fresh guacamole tableside (which was amazing), our drinks were fantastic (mine came in an ice glass), and our main dishes were to-die-for. My "hot rock" filet was served on a hot lava rock - you can see the sauce sizzling in the photo... the presentation was super fun!

As divine as the food was, the atmosphere was even better. The art and decor is so over-the-top and unique - not to mention, we sat on the patio and had a beautiful view of the sunset over the water. We'll be back! AND - Chad brought me a strand of pearls from South Africa - something I have been wanting for a long time and I love!
It's been hot, right? Pretty sure yesterday was triple digits! We have been staying cool by going to Owyhee Reservoir with friends the last three weekends. There is not much that beats jumping in the water on a hot summer day! Between the Cheatham, Hernandez, and Shartner families, we have been having too much fun! Chance and AJ joined us one afternoon and other friends drop by during the day to boat, tube, ski, and wakeboard. Too much fun and I am even learning to waterski!
August will be here before we know it and with that month comes more responsibility: fair, school, and onion harvest!

Friday Finds: Headboard

2011-07-22T16:42:00.001-07:00

A couple weeks ago, I was driving through Ontario and saw this headboard at one of the local "outdoor yardsale" places. I really liked it, thought it had major potential, but they were closed. I don't remember exactly what was going on that weekend, but I wasn't able to go back the next day to see if they were open - or to see if it was still there... so I sent Chad.

But first, I prepped him with my tried-and-true bargaining tips. I gave him $28 cash and told him if he couldn't get it for that or less, I didn't want it. When bargaining, you have to be able to say no and walk away. I told Chad to make them throw out a price first, then mention some of the faults and come back with something lower, etc. He claimed he knew what he was doing and was off.

So I did whatever it was I was doing that day and never heard from Chad. I assumed he hadn't gotten it... but he did! For $20, apparently he worked them down from $30 and was very proud of himself! :)

It is a kingsize headboard and we do not have any king beds, but it didn't come with a frame. I am thinking about turning it into a daybed - paint it a fantastic color - I am kind of thinking purple or teal but that might just be a phase... we will see. I want to try to glaze it to bring out the details, then build a frame, add a cushion and a bunch of pillows, and put it..... somewhere? Basement maybe? Dream house, where are you?

Project: Curb Appeal

2011-07-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

When we first bought our house, we had these BIG bushes in the front yard. I hated them and so a little over a year ago, Chad's grandfather brought the backhoe over and we ripped those suckers out! You can read about that process here. To give you an idea of the house before saying goodbye to the bushes, I present to you Phase 1 of Project: Curb Appeal.
Phase 2 of Project: Curb Appeal took place this fall (November 2010) when Chad and I planted hundreds of bulbs. This is what the front of the house looked like this spring and I loved it, but all good things must come to an end and bulbs do not last forever.
This is what we were left with once the summer heat hit. A few planters - geraniums, herbs, etc.
My mother saw this the other day when she was in Nyssa for work and motivated me to attack Phase 3 of Project: Curb Appeal. We decided to meet at Andrew's Seed in Ontario after work at 5. I told her I would only do this if she would agree to come help plant. You see, I am a bit challenged when it comes to gardening and that woman has more than a green thumb. We met, we shopped, we talked, and we bought. A tree, three rose bushes, three grass plants, a butterfly bush, and a daisy plant. The roses were 30% off thanks to the Andrew's July Sale!

Mom even gave me her old bench - she has had it for years and it needed a new home. I took everything home, made sure Roscoe couldn't get to it, and waited until the next day for my digging specialist (Chad) to get shoveling and my planting specialist (Mom) to arrive.

You can see them working... I promise I helped.
When Mom showed up she brought three more butterfly bushes with her as a surprise. She's the best!
It only took the three of us about two hours to get everything accomplished. Chad was a huge help and I am pretty sure Mom and I would still be on life support if we had to dig all those holes without his help - especially the hole for the tree. Mom was (obviously) in charge of plant placement and I was at-best a glorified water girl. I watered and fertilized the plants when they were done and I brought water and iced tea to those hard at work. It was a rough job, but someone had to do it.
The bench is a part of a future phase of Project: Curb Appeal. I am going to paint it a great teal color to really make it pop! We also really need to put a fresh coat of paint on the bottom of our house... that has been on the to-do list for a while now.
We are also planning to obtain rocks for a rock path and for landscaping purposes. One step at a time. Chad and I are really excited and proud of our progress. Hopefully this will draw in more potential buyers - and if it doesn't, it is still pretty to look at :)

Master of Business Administration

2011-07-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

Did I tell you I graduated? I finished my thesis this spring on Food Safety, the Produce Traceabilty Initiative and Dry Bulb Onions - thrilling, I know... it is 56 pages of food safety fun! You want to read it? I have an extra copy at the house - there is also one in the EOU library. Check it out - literally, you can check it out.

Unfortunately I was out of town during commencement so I was not able to attend the ceremony, but I got this great little surprise in the mail today! Yay for me!

Painting: FAIL

2011-07-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

The laundry room. It will be the death of me. Supposed to be an easy weekend project... it has turned into a lengthy ordeal. The time frame is almost too embarrassing to share. The room (walls, trim, ceiling, everything) was a horrific green - same green from the master bedroom and I thought red with white trim would be bright, fresh, fun - a couple coats and we would be done!

I thought wrong! I bought the paint with the primer in it thinking red is sometimes a difficult color. Well... four coats later, this is what we have got...
The pictures honestly make it look a lot better than it actually is. Apparently, you are NOT supposed to paint semi-gloss on semi-gloss. Who knew? Not this girl - and if you did, thanks for sharing. So basically, I have been "pushing paint around". On a more positive note, the ceiling and trim look great (other than a few touchups that will be necessary). See how you can see the streaks, the paint just isn't covering!
I guess I will be "deglossing" the walls with some chemical I bought, then priming the walls with a straight-up primer, and then finally painting - and I have to buy another can of paint since I have used most of what I currently have. Basically, starting over and adding a few extra steps in the mix. Maybe I'll go with a satin this time?
I will be so happy when this is complete!

Date Card

2011-07-11T12:18:00.000-07:00

Chad and I are regular Bachelor and Bachelorette watchers. Go ahead and judge us, but you know you love it too. It is our "Monday Night Date Night In" night and if for some reason we are busy Monday, we record it and watch the show later in the week. That works better anyway, because you can get through without all the commercials - love DVR.

Anyway, there are "date cards" involved in the show and I arrived home the other day to this...
A date card! Pretty adorable, right? He had just gotten home from a fishing trip with his little brother, Boo (yes, I know he just got back from Africa - the boy cannot sit still) and apparently thought we needed a date. No complaints here! So, we are going to the restaurant of my choice this weekend - any suggestions?

On another note, he and Boo caught several salmon and Boo was so excited because he caught more fish, bigger fish, the first fish, etc. We put together a fresh dinner that night. Salmon with fresh herbs out of the garden on the BBQ, greens from the garden topped with veggies, and baby red potatoes (from a friends garden). Yum!
And the weather was so gorgeous we ate on the back patio. Roscoe only tried to get a look at my plate once. I just love summer!

"I use antlers in all of my decorating!"

2011-07-06T20:57:00.001-07:00

How do you decorate around horns? I think I have about a year to figure that one out. Chad recently got home from his safari in South Africa and he did well to say the least! In the past couple years, Chad has mounted an elk (European) and antelope (shoulder) in our house. And he currently has a turkey at the taxidermist (I am not thrilled about that one). Basically, our wall space has filled up fast and with low ceilings, we don't have a ton of room for big bad mounts anyway.

I have been searching for inspiration for the "Man Cave" area (of my dream home, of course) lately and have found some great antler, horn, hide, and mount ideas! What are your suggestions for decorating with an outdoorsman in the home? I really don't want it to be too "I use antlers in all my decorating!" per Gaston of Beauty and the Beast (see above). Here is a bit of inspiration...via

via

According to Chad, it takes about six months to a year to get his hides/horns back from Africa and then it will take additional time to get them mounted. We have time to plan! Here are the trophies he managed to take while hunting:

Blue Wildebeast
Gemsbok
Impala
Blesbok
Zebra
Warthog
Kudu
My boss has offered up the conference room at our office for temporary storage of the mounts until we can either find room in our current space, or sell our dang house and build my dream home. Let's hope for the dream home with lots of wall space and super tall ceilings, shall we?

Greg's Home Makeover: Reveal! Part 2

2011-07-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

Ever watch those shows on HGTV when they are counting down the minutes and seconds before time is up? That was us last Thursday. Mom and Rachel were working so it was up to Alisha and I to put everything back together and we thought we would have "plenty of time"... ha! Notsomuch!

With Matthew, Peter, & Willy helping us we did get almost everything done! Mom came by once she was finished at work and ran a few urgent errands and brought milkshakes - a must on a hot day. It was a good thing I didn't have to pick up the guys from the airport because we needed all hands on deck working to get everything ready for the big reveal!

Here you will see Alisha and Peter working hard. At this point, the two walls shown were blue - the main color in the living areas is now a sandstone gray - we painted an accent wall green because the white fireplace blended into the gray too much. Greg's entertainment center was built for a larger big screen - as in the gigantic projector big screens. You can see the television was on the floor in some of the "before" shots. So... Alisha and I (with drill and level in hand) made new holes, lowered a shelf, and improved the entertainment center! To be honest, I was a little concerned with that project, but it worked perfectly!
This is how I felt.
Again, the back wall was blue - and the other walls were white (other than the fireplace wall). New light fixture and pillows courtesy of Mom. Alisha refinished that cute bench for the entryway and Mom and I found that moose print months ago - but didn't buy it. I finally bit the bullet and decided it was necessary for the house and I love it!
New paint, awesome mirror, (old) new to Greg lamp, refinished bookshelf, spraypainted frames, and free recliner! My boss just got new furniture and was looking for a home or donation center to send two greenish La-Z-Boy recliners to. He offered them to me for this project and I gladly accepted. They are perfect and really comfy! Greg's blue recliner just wasn't going to mesh with the new space and colors so it has been moved to his office.
It is amazing what some elbow grease can do! Fresh coat of paint, new curtain (made by Alisha), a lot of cleaning, and a new rug make the kitchen much cozier :)
New curtains, paint, two refinished stools, and just a peek of the dining room set that consumed my life for about ten days!
Another shot of the living room complete with the perfect rug Alisha found, coffee table, coasters (trust us - Greg needed them!), and many other accessories found by Mom, Alisha, and I along the way!
Another shot of the living room/entryway.
Now, I realize this is a terrible shot of the table and chairs, but it is all I have - and I want to share. The table and chairs turned out awesome and Greg seems to really like the green (thank goodness)!
More of the living room - one of the projects that did not get completed in time was the second set of curtains. They are there, we just need to put them up!
Thank you for following us on this adventure! It was a great experience, but I must tell you - I am glad we are done! Until next time :) If you are ever thinking about refinishing furniture, check out All Things Thrifty and Brooke's tutorials on Spraypaint and Painting Furniture. You will be glad you did! This post was featured on All Things Thrifty!

Greg's Home Makeover: Reveal! Part 1

2011-07-01T13:45:00.001-07:00

I am dividing this into two parts - basically because I want to get something up today and then follow up with a more detailed explanation later this weekend. Here goes - Greg had no idea! He was shocked, thrilled, blown away - all of the above.

Alisha took these photos with her new Digital Canon Rebel - I am jealous, but totally excited for her at the same time!

Details to come! Enjoy and have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!
Greg with Peter & Matthew.
Willy is such a cute lil chunk!
This post was featured on All Things Thrifty!

Greg's Home Makeover Part 2

2011-06-30T10:00:00.001-07:00

Today is the big reveal! Is everything ready? Heck no! We better get movin'!

Progress has been made - the bathroom got the final coat of paint yesterday and some of the deep (deep) cleaning was completed. Shout out and thanks to Dan for coming over with Mom and doing some of the "heavy hanging" and electrical work for us last night. We (and I am sure Greg) appreciate it! Today is all about putting on the final touches, cleaning our stuff out, and decorating! Alisha and I are meeting up to take care of business and it should be a fun afternoon!

Since today is the day of "after" photos, I am going to share with you a few "before" photos. Unfortunately we didn't take any before we took the place apart, but these should give you an idea of what we were working with.

Dining Area
Kitchen
Living Room: Alisha and I practically ripped those blinds off the wall. They would not come down! Literally, we were hanging from them...
Entry/Living Room
Hallway
The freezer and stove fit like a glove in their little corner of the kitchen. This was unfortunate for us because it was sooo hard to get them out so we could clean and paint behind! This is a what we believe we looked like while trying to move the huge freezer filled with assorted meats.
Lots of dining room chairs last post and no table? Here you go! This table is h-e-a-v-y! I ended up having to get it out of Greg's house by myself and that was an adventure in itself. I finally got it outside in one piece but I couldn't get it up high enough to put it in the back of my pickup. I waited and thought maybe someone would drive by I could convince to help. No one drove by. Of course. Finally, I wised up and took the leaves off to reduce the awkwardness and remove a bit of weight. I might need to visit the chiropractor after this one though. I still need to put a coat of poly on it so no touching!One of the other refab projects we took on was improving the look of these barstools found at Bob's in Ontario. Alisha saw them when she drove by on day and Peter and I ended up stopping by to bargain, BS, and buy them! They will fit perfectly in his house and the green is such a fun bright pop of color! Yes, I realize they do not match and I am totally okay with it. You should be too.
A few other projects have made their way into my workspace - aka - the shop. Pantry doors, frames, and lots and lots of sanding, priming, and painting. Soon - "After" photos and the whole story about how he takes the transformation! Big surprise - shh! Don't be tellin'!

Linked at Savvy Southern Style.

This post was featured at All Things Thrifty!

Surprise! Greg's Home Makeover Part 1

2011-06-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

As you probably know from my previous post, the guys (Chad, Greg, & Dad) are in South Africa - returning soon! What you don't know is that Mom, Alisha, and I have had a master plan to take over Greg's bachelor pad while he is out of town. The best part... he doesn't know either! We have been planning for months and picking up ideas, paint, fabric, frames, and other "stuff" along the way. We have been hard at work since the day they left and things are coming together nicely and he is going to be shocked! I just hope he likes it!

There is so much to tell and I have way too many pictures so I tried to group them so the post is not so picture heavy. We decided to target his main living areas - dining room, kitchen, hallway, living room, and main bathroom. It has been quite the adventure, taking everything apart, cleaning, moving stuff (I might need a giant sized bottle of pain killer when this is over), painting, priming, sanding, painting, painting, painting, and more painting. Did I mention painting? My hands hate me right now.

Aside from cleaning, painting, reorganizing, and decorating the main living areas, we have been working on refinishing some of his furniture and finding old (new to him) furniture to refinish! Let's dive into some of the projects so far!

You probably remember this coffee table from an earlier post and it is finally done! It is going to look so nice in his living room and I am sure he will be happy to finally have it :)
Greg's dining room set is Grandma Barbara's old set and it is getting a major facelift! I found this great green fabric at JoAnns and it along with the black paint really updates the chairs!Refinishing furniture is a lot of work - especially when you are working on several projects under time constraints. This is where Rachel comes in - she volunteered to help and I have not let her leave my sight because she has been sooooo helpful! Couldn't have done it without her!
This bookshelf was in our game room while we were growing up and has never been finished. I think it has been sitting in Greg's garage for several years and mine for several months since he asked me to paint it for him a while ago. Guess what? It is done and looks so much better!
Loads more to come - I still have to put together photos from the stools and dining room table. Also, I have some great "before" shots of the house with the major blue paint (gone)!

Shout out to Alisha, Mom, & Rachel - Greg is going to "poop little green marbles" (aka - be excited) when he sees the huge transformation that has taken place! By the way... I'll be out of town for a few days later this summer, I'll just leave you my keys and you can tackle my kitchen - sound good?

Linked here.

This post was featured on All Things Thrifty!

Africa Update!

2011-06-27T22:07:00.000-07:00

So the guys have been gone. Chad, Greg (brother), my dad (Mike), and a few of his friends traveled to South Africa for a safari hunt with Shingani Safaris. For those of you who are curious, this is what I know so far... according to Chad, his guide told him his mother-in-law might need to wire him some more money - joking of course! Here goes:

Chad: Zebra, Kudu, Impala, Blesbok, Gemsbok, Blue Wildebeast, & Warthog
Greg: Impala (2), Warthog (2), Kudu, & Gemsbok
Dad: Sable

One of Greg's impalas is probably going to measure in the top 50 in Africa. Pretty awesome! Sounds like the rest of their trophies are pretty great too!

There are other animals that I have heard have been wounded, but I don't know any details so I won't share those until I know for certain. Chad did say that everyone is on track to kill their packages and that he needs to "stay out of the blind" on the last day. His exact words were, "Holy shit, it has been one hell of a trip.....wouldn't change a thing!" Apparently I need to clear some wall space!

Wish I had some photos to share and more details, but I am sure they will be bursting at the seams with stories when they get home! I'll keep you posted.

Conversations From the Backyard

2011-06-25T23:07:00.001-07:00

Roscoe and I talk. You may or may not have conversations with your pets, but I definitely do. I imagine Roscoe's voice to be the goofy, low, wiggly butt type and if you ask, I might even demonstrate it for you. The reason I am telling you this is because of our recent discussion. You see, this morning I went outside to let Roscoe out and he was waiting for me on the back porch. Odd? Yes. It went a little something like this...

What are you doing out of your kennel?!
You didn't put me away last night (now you have to remember to imagine this in the goofy dog voice with the wiggly butt, tail hanging out, etc).
Yes, I did. How did you get out?
No, I woke up on the back porch and it was past my bedtime and I waited and waited for you to come put me away.
Hmmm, I am not so sure about this.
Yup, it's true - see even my water pail is on the back porch!
Shit! I did forget to put you away.

Now this is something Chad would never do, but he is off killing things in South Africa and the Roscoe dog and I are fending for ourselves.

You don't get to judge me for being a crazy dog lady, I come by it honestly and I am thinking it is better than being a crazy cat lady... you know who you are!

Work/Play Weekend

2011-06-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, Chad and I had two work-related activities planned. Mine ran Thursday through Sunday, his Monday and Tuesday. Can you say six-day weekend? Thursday we went to McCall, Idaho for the 49th Annual Idaho-Oregon Fruit & Vegetable Association Convention. Filled with fun activities, meetings, and great people - the convention was a success! The Shore Lodge in McCall is absolutely gorgeous and there are plenty of activities around the lodge to keep you busy. From bike rides to canoe rides, dinners, late night drinks, and a big-time competitive softball game between the "Veggies" and "Fruits" (which we won - obviously) - Chad and I had a fantastic weekend! And yes... the winning team gets to drink a bottle of champagne from the trophy "cup"!Some places in McCall you don't want to miss (other than Shore Lodge):
-FoggLifter: I had lunch there Thursday and it was a-ma-zing. Turkey bacon avocado on a toasted bagel with all the goodness that goes along with it. Too yummy!
-Lardos Grill & Saloon: Another great spot for any meal - we went there Friday for lunch and it is right across the street from Shore Lodge.
-Steamers: A delicious dinner at Steamers Friday night - filet mignon served with port-cranberry demi-glace and topped with blue cheese crumbles along with creme brulee left me feeling as though I gained 10 pounds. Totally worth it though.

We got home Sunday just in time for me to change clothes and head to town for a bridal shower (seriously, I had to do my makeup in the car). Once I got home for good, we unpacked, did laundry, and repacked for a two-dayer in Baker City, Oregon. Chad was attending the Baker Workshop and I was planning a one person tour of the town!

What did I do while in Baker? Glad you asked!
Early Monday morning the workshop started and I immediately headed downtown and found myself sipping hot chocolate and gossiping with the local coffee crowd at Charlie's Ice Cream Parlor. Once the town woke up, I began strolling through the Historic District (downtown) and came across an art gallery with this (and more) jewelry for sale along with beautiful paintings, sculptures, and more. Wish I remembered the name of the gallery!
As I continued my Baker journey, I made a stop at Betty's Books and purchased two books: Beautiful Boy and The Hearts of Horses. After that, I made sure to swing by US Bank to check out the gold display. I wandered into Bella Main Street Market and immediately fell in love. I could have spent hours in there looking through the home good, local wine, and yummy food! Wish we had something like that nearby. While there, I asked where I should have lunch and the gal at the counter recommended Earth & Vine Art & Wine Gallery and I am glad she did! I had a yummy Greek salad with a glass of wine and enjoyed the sunshine while reading my new books! Sounds pretty rough for a Monday, right?

I continued on my journey and went on a guided tour of the Leo Adler Museum and if you enjoy history - this is a wonderful experience! More about Leo Adler and his legacy here. Trust me, it is worth reading! If you don't read it, just know this - the upstairs of his house still doesn't have running water or electricity and it has the original wallpaper (over 100 years old). He was a huge community supporter and created programs to assist those in need even after his passing.

Monday night, the members of the Baker Workshop got together for a "Stick Horse Rodeo" and BBQ. To say the least, it was hilarious - I just wish I would have brought shoes other than sandals so I could have shown those boys how it is done! Here are Les and Chad in the "Wild Cow Milking"!
Tuesday morning, I grabbed a muffin for breakfast and headed to the Baker Heritage Museum for a few hours. It is really big and I am sure I could go through several times and still not see everything. Two fun exhibits right now are showing the history of the Airstream - created by Wally Byam; and the Cavin Sisters Rock Collection. It is pretty impressive!

After the museum, I grabbed a Baker City Cafe favorite - spinach salad and I only wish I could have stayed longer the atmosphere was great, but I had to go pick up the boys at the workshop!

What did I do when I got home from six days away from home?
Took care of the plants, the dog, and the laundry - of course! I also made this - recipe courtesy of The Pioneer Woman: Pasta with Pesto Cream Sauce. I love basil and most herbs for that matter - but homemade pesto is pretty darn hard to beat! If you don't have basil, I would recommend planting some... I have a container on my front porch with basil, cilantro, sage, and rosemary to keep me company during the summer. Fresh herbs are the best! BUT, if you don't have any or don't have the time - my cousin Karen made the same thing with a few substitutions and it looks like it turned out just as yummy! Make it now - it is wonderful.

Johnny & June: The Birds

2011-06-20T00:14:00.001-07:00

After my last post, my mom called me laughing and told me she thought the punchline of that post was going to be something like... "and Roscoe ate our baby birds!" Lucky for us (and probably his stomach) he has not, but today I spent a lot of time outside watering, fertilizing, trimming, and just taking care of the plants. While I was working on the geraniums, Johnny and June (the parents) were getting awfully annoyed with me. The downside to this is they totally gave away the location of their nest to the big bad Roscoe dog.

We have lots of baby birds and originally we thought there were only two eggs, but as you can see from the picture there are more than two babies. One is named Carter and another Cash but we weren't prepared to name this many - any ideas?

Maybe Roscoe will take care of that for us... today as I walked by the window I saw him JUMP up and try to get at their nest. Since I caught him in the act, I could yell at him and he is usually a quick learner. But I don't have much hope for our baby birds when they start trying to fly out of the nest. We can always hope! And I hope they get cuter because this picture is just kind of ugly. And yes... that is bird poop.

Birdies and Tales of a Bad Dog

2011-06-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

So that nest I was telling you about? We have been keeping a watchful eye over it and before we left for our long weekend, I saw we had eggs! The angle is difficult because I don't want to disturb them too much, but here is a shot of the nest. Chad tells me they are red-breasted finches and I have no reason not to believe him since the parents look like this:Now that we are back, we have little fluffy baby birds and I will need to get a shot of them. They are still happily residing on the side of one of my geranium hanging baskets. The parents get pretty fed up with me when I am watering/fertilizing the plants though!

Moving on... we have this dog, puppy, rascal, Roscoe. He's great, lovable, and for some reason when he sees me dig..... he thinks he needs to dig - terrible. Luckily the garden is out of his reach (courtesy of a hog panel boundary), but the remainder of the backyard is "fair game" in his opinion. I provide you with the following evidence:

I have a bed of alyssum in the backyard and apparently Roscoe thinks that is a great place to sleep. Apparently it is a cool and shady spot. So I have a nice big bed of flowers with a bare spot - perfect size for one chocolate lab.
I think he's peeing on my clematis and that just irritates me.
You saw the way he treated my tulips this spring!
Learning from previous "I dig, he digs" experiences, I have started putting him in his kennel if I am working on something that might tempt him. Two weeks ago, I bought four "vigorous" flowering plants to place in an empty area for the summer. We were heading to a retirement party and after planting all my pots, I didn't have time to put these last four in the ground. I let him out and ran inside to shower. As I was getting in the pickup, Chad asked me how many of those plants I had purchases. Tentatively, I responded "four". I knew exactly why he was asking, and I was right, his dog had gotten ahold of one - he chewed the plastic off all four sides and scattered it across the entire back yard. Apparently that shiny plastic was just too much temptation! I could have hurt him... but I didn't. The next morning, I woke up and put those plants in the ground, spread the bark, and said a prayer that Chad's dog wouldn't think it was his new play-place. I let Roscoe out and went inside to get some breakfast and get ready to leave for the Juntura Horse Sale. Upon return to the back yard, I could see his paw prints around each and every plant and his poop on one! He pooped on one of them - I mean who does that? Chad suggested that he was just being helpful with extra fertilizer, but I was not pleased.

What do you do? I have come to the conclusion that it is not my backyard, it is Roscoe's. And if I want to do any landscaping, I should just do it in containers (that are not plastic)!

Pineapple & Apricot Crisp

2011-06-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

We have started purchasing a Bountiful Basket every other week and our most recent basket was great - lots of fruits and veggies we love! There were a handful of apricots in the basket and I wasn't really sure what I should do with them... especially since my only real experience with apricots was with the tree we had in our backyard growing up. After all the fruit fell from the tree, Alisha, Greg, and I would grab Mom's pots and pans (to use as shields) and we would have rotten apricot fights!

Anyway, I didn't think Chad and I were going to get into any apricot fights, so I started perusing recipes online. I found this recipe from Giada and adapted it to my pantry. I was a bit hesitant, but it turned out great - so good, I have made it twice!

Ingredients:
Filling:
1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice, drained and 1/2 cup juice reserved
1 cup (6 ounces) chopped fresh apricots
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch

Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup quick-cook oats
1 stick unsalted butter, chilled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup chopped pecans

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray small casserole dish with vegetable oil cooking spray and set aside.

For the filling: In a medium bowl, mix together the pineapple chunks, apricots, cinnamon, cornstarch, and reserved pineapple juice. Divide the mixture equally between the ramekins. I have made this twice and the second time I used fresh pineapple - even better!

For the topping: In a food processor, combine the flour, oats, butter, sugar, pecans, and salt. Pulse together until the butter is the size of peas.

Spoon the topping over the filling mixture. Place the ramekins on a small baking sheet and bake until golden and the filling is bubbling, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool and serve with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream!

Rice Wedding: The BOYS!

2011-05-26T11:39:00.001-07:00

"Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man!"
The boys had to get ready too! Luckily the photographer was able to snag some great shots of the boys getting ready. Jordan was accompanied by his two brothers (Joe & James) and father (Jim) - along with the bride's brother (Dan) and father (Dick) to make sure everything went just as it should!

Funny story from the reception: my brother Greg was in the restroom and Jordan's father came in and said to him, "I'll pay you $50 to switch me clothes." Greg took one quick look at his suit and declined. Apparently Jim isn't too much on dressing up!

Rice Wedding: At the Salon

2011-05-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

Long overdue are photos of Karen & Jordan's recent wedding. Needless to say, everything was beautiful, the bride was stunning, and the whole thing went off without a hitch!

More photos to come, but we started the day at the salon - getting our hair and makeup done. Aunt Vickie brought a wonderful array of yummy drinks and treats for all of us to snack on and I must say, she makes a fantastic Bloody Mary! Bridget was the makeup extraordinaire, helping everyone put their best face forward on the big day! Overall, it was a fun and relaxing start to the wedding day :)

A Tale of Two Nests

2011-05-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

One of these things is not like the other...
One of these things just doesn't belong!
Can you tell me which thing is not like the other?
Can you tell me which does not belong?

While trimming my geranium hanging baskets yesterday, I found two nests - one made me smile and one made me scream. Which do you think is still hanging around?

Ramblings...

2011-05-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

Can you guess where Roscoe likes to run? These tulips have been at our house since we moved in and without fail - each year, that dog tears them apart. That is why all the new bulbs were planted in the front of the house!
Since the Nyssa FFA Flower sale started this morning, I had to get my flowers out of the greenhouse - as to ensure Chad's customers didn't turn green with envy. Hahaha, what a play on words :) Anyway, the flower sale is always a huge success and plenty of petunias and geraniums will soon line houses all around Nyssa. My geraniums are old and even though they sometimes get ignored in the greenhouses during the winter, they are hardy. These two plants are a couple years old and were definitely outgrowing their hanging basket lifestyle so I transferred them to these pots over the weekend and I think they look pretty great!
You can kind of see them in this picture - along with my pretty daffodils and tulips :)
Do these things work? I planted one in a pot so we shall see!
I have been obsessed lately (okay I have made two) with what I like to call Leftover Pizza Braids. Chad will eat pretty much anything, but he really digs this - and I have to say, depending on what lurks in the fridge, it can be pretty good! Basically, take a pre-made pizza dough and lay it on a baking sheet - not a cutting board like I did in this picture. Transferring becomes VERY difficult at this point. I repeat, roll out your dough on a baking sheet. From there I just pile on whatever I can find from onions, peppers, olives, and lettuce to meat,and always lots and lots of cheese! I cook the meat before baking so I know it will be cooked all the way through and I usually use some sort of marinade, BBQ sauce, etc. to add extra flavor and gooeyness. That is probably not a word, but I'm going to go with it anyway.
Once you pile on all the goodies, layer on more cheese and slice the edges so you can crisscross them over the top. I usually bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and top is golden brown!

We have branded and moved cows a couple times this spring and I haven't been as diligent as taking pictures as I should, but I do have a few great shots of Matthew & Peter and their trusty steeds from earlier this spring. Matthew is riding Paco (back) and Peter is riding Angel (front). Just think, in a couple years, Willy will be right beside them!
Speaking of branding, Toby (brother-in-law) had a big branding over Easter weekend while some of our Texas relatives were in town. I wasn't able to get many pictures, but Jodi (step-sister) has a fabulous camera and has been working on a really fun 30-in-30 challenge and used some of the photos she took from the branding in her posts. Check out her blog and her branding-related posts here, here, here, and here - phew! Seriously though, great photos -an especially cute one of Willy!

You probably won't hear from me for a few days because we have a big wedding coming up! Karen & Jordan are getting married this weekend - get excited! I know I am! :)

Leftover Bountiful Basket Veggie Soup!

2011-04-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

Veggies piling up? Mine were - we spent some weekends away from home and with just the two of us, we really need to work to ensure our Bountiful Basket produce doesn't go bad. Since it is still cold in these parts, I have taken to making soups and pairing them with a hot sandwich. We have had a few nice days here and there, but I heard it might snow this weekend... seriously?

I took all the odds and ends out of the fridge and made a veggie soup - it was perfect for a Friday during Lent dinner!

I used the following ingredients, but surely they can be interchanged with other vegetables! My measurements are approximates, but they are pretty close!

1 cup onion - chopped
1 cup celery - chopped
1-2 cups carrots - peeled and chopped
2 sweet potatoes - peeled and chopped
1 cup zucchini - chopped
1 pepper - chopped
1 cup chopped tomatoes - used canned if you don't have fresh
2 T EVOO
6 cups vegetable (or other) stock
2 cups pasta
Salt & Pepper
Start chopping up those vegetables - it can take some time! I try to peel and cut up some of the fruits and vegetables over the weekend after I pick up our basket so they are ready to use during the week. Unfortunately, that wasn't really the case here - lots of chopping!
Keep the tomatoes, onions, and celery separated from the other vegetables.
In a large heavy pot, heat olive oil - add celery and onion until tender. I started seasoning at this point with salt and pepper.
Stir in remaining vegetables (other than tomatoes).
Turn vegetables to coat in olive oil and seasoning.
Now come the tomatoes!
Add the vegetable stock and bring to a boil - reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes to allow the potatoes and carrots to tenderize.
While you are waiting, boil some water and cook your pasta! Once the two are ready, stir the pasta in, simmer for about five minutes, and enjoy!
I wish I had a better camera/was a better operator!

Karen's Bachelorette Bash!

2011-04-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

The wedding countdown is on and Karen & Jordan will have their happily ever after in nine short days! Two weekends ago family and friends joined forces for a fantastic, fun, and surprising bachelorette party for Karen! Special thanks to Aunt Vickie and Bridget for putting the party together - I know I had a great time drinking fabulous martinis from Aunt Vickie's bar - which I really needed when the "entertainment" arrived; riding around on the Cowgirls bus singing songs, enjoying Jell-O shots; and finally dancing the night away at Cowgirls Saloon with the rest of the ladies. Shout-out to Annie (Jordan's sister) for joining me for a late night dinner at the taco truck - it was totally worth it! For the full lowdown of the party, check out Karen's blog!

Do you know your ABC's? How about mine?

2011-04-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

Age: 25

Bed size: Queen

Chore you hate: Washing the dishes! That happens when you don't have a dishwasher!!!

Dogs: i Roscoe P. Coltrane Cruickshank - the best chocolate Lab you could ask for, except when he is bad, then he is Chad's dog.

Essential start to your day: Water, vitamins, a good washing of the face and brushing of the teeth.

Favorite color: Multicolor, can't I just pick all of them?

Gold or silver: Both

Height: 5'7"

Instruments: I played the piano briefly as a child but eventually stopped taking lessons.

Job title: Transportation Manager & Sales/Marketing @ Snake River Produce.

Kids: 3 beautiful nephews and a gorgeous niece!

Live: Nyssa, Oregon

Moms name: Donna Anne
Nickname: Tiff, T-Schaff, T, Doo Ball

Overnight hospital stays: Broken leg in three places in the 8th grade got me a few nights in the hospital. I still don't like riding on the back of a four-wheeler.

Pet peeve: When people use "ain't" as a word - and typos dealing with their, there, they're, too, two, to, etc.

Quote from a movie: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." - Clark Gable in Gone With the Wind - I watched this for the umpteenth time the other day and I was going to go with something from Silence of the Lambs "It rubs the lotion on its skin. It does this whenever its told." but I thought it might be a bit over the top, but looks like I did it anyway!

Right or left handed: Right

Siblings: Youngest of three. My sister is the oldest and my brother is in the middle.

Time you wake up: Around 6:30 on weekdays. Weekends - you never know, sometimes earlier and sometimes later... a lot later.
Underwear: Victoria and I are friends.
Vegetables you dislike: For the most part, I don't discriminate against veggies. Squash are not my favorite - and I don't really like peppers raw.
What makes you run late: The snooze button. I do love my sleep.
X-Rays you have had done: Left foot, right leg/ankle/foot, right arm, chest, and that is it I think.
Yummy food you make: Isn't everything I make yummy? Chad surely thinks so! But, I think my chocolate chip cookies are pretty darn difficult to beat. I am going to make some today for the baseball team.
Zoo animal: I'm going with a horse. Not sure if they really have them in the zoo, but I am still a horse-crazy girl!

Karen's Bridal Shower!

2011-04-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

In less than a month - one of my bests is getting married! My mom, sister, Rhonda, and I threw a (ifIdosaysomyself) fabulous shower for Karen this past weekend. How can you go wrong with great women, friends, food, drinks, and fun?!
Karen (the beautiful BRIDE), me (cousin of the bride/MOH), Alisha, (cousin of the bride), Donna (aunt/Godmother of the bride), Bev (mother of the bride), and Vickie (aunt of the bride).
Karen with her mother, Bev - and soon to be mother-in-law, Tina.
My mother put together some gorgeous red rose floral arrangements for the shower and to give Karen a sneak peek of some of the arrangements for the wedding!
For an afternoon shower, we went with drinks and desserts - complete with a dessert bar with plenty of cupcakes, candies, chocolates, and more! The bar bar had raspberry lemonade and iced tea along with (for those of us who wanted to kick it up a notch) cosmopolitan martinis and white wine sangria. I let the sangria marinate for several hours before the party and the fruit made for a great lunch - unfortunately I wasn't able to drive home for several hours after the party though! More fun to come - bachelorette party this weekend!

Only a year or so behind...

2011-04-06T08:52:00.001-07:00

A little over a year ago, I spotted this beauty at one of the local thrift stores and thought to myself... Greg (brother) needs a coffee table! Immediately I decided the table needed to come home with me as it has a pretty solid structure and I was certain I could make it much more beautiful - er... manly. I told Greg about it and said I would get it to him in a couple weeks... months... year and some months? Oops - it did make an awfully nice saddle rack in the garage though. Friday was gorgeous and once I got out of the office I got to work.

This is the coffee table before - Roscoe says hi - by the way.
After sanding all the sliver-givers and rough edges.
A couple coats of primer later...
By the way, I have started using KILZ primer in a spray can and it is a life and time-saver. Can you fall in love with a primer? I think I may have! And don't judge me for spray painting in the yard - Chad mowed it and the white is gone. It was easier than digging around for all my drop cloths and other painting supplies. Now for a bit more sanding and COLOR! Greg thinks black, what do you think?
And these are my award-winning daffodils - best on the block. Award winning, you say? Yes, they are the only daffodils on the block so they win by default. Don't mind the chipping red paint in the background, Chad and I are all over that curb appeal project as soon as we have some consistent decent weather. I've done some scraping and cleaning, but we need to prime and paint! Come on sunshine! It might snow tomorrow so I am not holding my breath.
Linked at Perfectly Imperfect.

P is for Party

2011-03-30T10:21:00.000-07:00

And 'A' is for Alright! Alright! 'R' is for Ready and 'T' is for Tonight! Tonight! 'Y' is for You and you know what to do so PARTY! That awesome little chant was brought to you by Beta Omega Kappa Kappa Gamma Recruitment Work Week circa 2005.

Recently we got together to celebrate my brother (Greg) and his birthday. Mom whipped up several of his favorite dishes - as is tradition, including the chocolate cake with white icing. We ate, drank, played games, and I might have gotten little camera happy for a few minutes. Lucky for me I have three handsome nephews who are more than willing to pose for the camera!
Upon arrival, Peter helped me wrap Greg's presents and I can tell you that the tape dispenser will never be the same. In other news, Greg seemed to love his gifts which will all help him in his trip this summer to Africa with Chad, Toby, and my dad - they should have fun!

Keeping in tune with the KKG traditions, I am going to introduce to you the "High/Low" game where I tell you about the highs and lows of the night. Ready? Ok.

Highs:
After finishing our meal, we ended up on the topic of blood pressure (more on that some other time) and we busted out a blood pressure monitor and everyone around the table had theirs taken. It was pretty entertaining to be quite honest and I totally won - mine was the highest. Wait, what? That isn't the way it is supposed to work? Matthew ran a few laps around the house before taking his and it was still like half of mine. Gotta love that family history of heart problems.

Lows:
Chad wasn't feeling that great - turns out he had strep throat. Yuck. He couldn't go to the doctor on Saturday because he had a double-header baseball game to coach but we went in first thing Sunday. The doctor wanted to write me a prescription too - I scoffed, as if I was going to be sick. I might have high blood pressure but I was not going to get sick. Knock on wood - I still haven't and he is on the road to recovery.

In other news...
I planted approximately 300 bulbs last fall in the front of our house and they are all coming up. I Have three daffodils in bloom right now and I love them. Thank goodness they came up or I would just have a bunch of dirt piles where they were supposed to be.

The people who came and looked at our house must have just wanted some fabulous decorating tips - like how to work around a pink bathroom, etc. because they bought a house down the street ... I think. Either way, they didn't make an offer on our house so we are still on this red hot market. Better get your offer in quick, it is going fast! Maybe? No.

The sun is shining and I am dying to get out of the office. It is supposed to rain again starting tomorrow and all I want to do is go play in the sunnnnnnnnnnnnn. Is that so much to ask? If everything goes smoothly, I'll be out of here in no time. But while I am here, I am watching this - and you should too. Before you "waste your time clicking on some *this* that could be anything" - it is a live cam on a bald eagle nest where three chicks are supposed to hatch anytime. Super cool and the birds are just gorgeous. Right now I am just one of over 108,000 viewers waiting for these babies to hatch. Check it out!

No Posts!

2011-03-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

A month and a day... I've been experiencing some blockage in the writing department. Maybe it is because we are trying to wrap up the season (next week), but I am going to blame it on the weather. It has been raining for the past month with brief spots of sunshine in between. The good news is that all my bulbs are coming up beautifully, but that bad news is that constant rain can be a bit gloomy. Especially when I have been really antsy to get some projects going! I have some great furniture I would like to be working on refinishing but I don't like to paint with all that moisture in the air. Hopefully the March showers bring April flowers and SUNSHINE and then I will bring projects to life!

Two more things:
1. Thesis = DONE
2. Someone is looking at our house RIGHT NOW - probably as I type they are falling in love with our pink bathroom. Cross your fingers. And your toes.

Plug(s)

2011-02-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

Two things for you to check out:

1. Help the children of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Matthew & Peter (my two oldest nephews) are both working toward goals of $125 to raise money to help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital find new treatments for cancer and other catastrophic diseases. You too can help St. Jude continue its life-saving work against pediatric diseases with your donation. So I stole that last part from their website, but you can donate here for Matthew and here for Peter. Come on, look at those smiles - how can you say no? 2. Support "Ski Bumps. Fight Lumps." One of my sorority sisters and a few of her friends from Colorado have put together this non-profit to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research and education, in partnership with the Colorado Breast Cancer Coalition.To do so, they are challenging themselves to ski all 27 Colorado ski resorts in just 8 days. They are hitting the road and the slopes to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer and prevention education in Colorado while promoting healthy, active and holistic living. 27 Mountains. 8 Days. 1 Cause. You can find out more on their website, on facebook, and even in an article in Women's Health magazine! Good luck Page & the rest of the Ski Bumps. Fight Lumps crew!

Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup

2011-02-23T09:40:00.000-08:00

We've been having a bit of cold weather and there is nothing better than curling up on the couch with a hot bowl of soup - that means I needed to make soup!

Ingredients:
3 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash (I used about 2 1/2 squash)
2 cups peeled and cubed carrots
3/4 cup diced yellow onion
1 T butter
28 oz (about 4 cups) chicken stock
1/4 cup milk, cream, half & half, whatever you have on-hand
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Instructions:
Melt butter in medium/large saucepan over medium heat. Add squash, carrots, and onions.
Let that cook for about eight to ten minutes, covered. The vegetables should be breaking down a bit at this point.
Add chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, boil covered about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Now the fun part - pour about a third of the mixture into the blender/food processor and puree. Pour the remainder of the mixture into the blender and puree.
Return to pot and bring to boil, add milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Heat through.
And enjoy! It was delish and I plan to have it with a grilled cheese for lunch today!
*If I would have been thinking, I would have added some of the celery I have leftover from a couple weeks ago. Next time!

BB Week 3

2011-02-20T19:03:00.000-08:00

Saturday was the third week we picked up a Bountiful Basket and above is my bountiful bounty. Strawberries, cantaloupe, pears, bananas, apples, mangoes, squash, peppers, carrots, spinach, Jerusalem artichokes, and sweet potatoes. I think sweet potatoes are the ugly and disgusting relative to other potatoes, so I gave them to my sister - but one managed to stay in my bag (she, however, made a sweet potato pie and said it was wonderful - I'll believe it when I taste it).

For dinner I wanted to use a lot of the veggies so I marinated elk back straps in soy, vegetable oil, salt, pepper, onions, lemon juice, and sliced lemons for a few hours to get a start on a elk and vegetable stir fry.Since we have had so many veggies and fruits in the house I have been trying to cut them up and store them in the fridge for easy use. For this stir fry I used peppers, onions, Jerusalem artichokes (came in the basket - ginger looking thing in the picture below), carrots, and broccoli.
In a large pan I brought a splash of EVOO and a bit of butter to medium heat and started the vegetables.
I love water chestnuts in my stir fry and thought I could use the Jerusalem artichokes in the same way - I peeled and sliced them and just threw them in! I even tried some raw - not too shabby! Salt and pepper to taste and cook vegetables until tender.
I put the vegetables aside and browned the elk meat.
Once the meat was cooked through, I added the vegetables and mixed in teriyaki sauce - stir while cooking over medium for a few minutes. I meant to take pictures of the final product, but all I ended up with were pictures of the leftovers!
Add some rice and you are in business.
On a side note - the Jerusalem artichokes (not from Jerusalem and not from the artichoke family) were really tasty in the stir fry! I never would have tried them, but I am glad we got them in our basket this week. I have also heard they are good mashed... like potatoes - I'll keep you posted.

As Promised...

2011-02-20T11:23:00.000-08:00

Scapbook Update: Wedding

2011-02-18T10:16:00.000-08:00

Last month in my attempts to avoid writing my thesis, I worked very diligently on our wedding scrapbook. Maybe, just maybe I will have our album done before our three-year wedding anniversary. I have completed several other pages but my pictures turned out blurry - more to come soon!

Bountiful Baskets

2011-02-14T13:52:00.000-08:00

Recently, my sister told me about a project called "Bountiful Baskets" - basically, it is a volunteer-based group providing fresh fruits and vegetables (and sometimes other items like cookies, bread, etc.) at a discounted price. From their website:

Sally Stevens and Tanya Jolly started Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op in May of 2006. It was a winning combination from the beginning. Tanya and Sally both had experience running their own small food co-ops that were not web based. As their small co-ops grew it challenged them to think of a way to keep up as more families were wanting to save money on healthy food. Adding a little bit of e-commerce technology to the mix was just the trick. Since May of 2006 BBFC has grown from 2 sites and an average of 120 families a cycle participating, to over hundreds of sites in seven states and around 70,000 participating families! In June of 2008 BBFC started to offer 100% organic baskets every other week.

The Co-op offers a conventional produce basket every week which is generally ½ fruit and ½ veggies. The monetary contribution is $15.00 and is generally worth $50.00 retail. Organic baskets require a contribution of $25 and are usually about the same amount of produce as the conventional baskets. To participate visit http://www.BountifulBaskets.org and check the schedule to see when your state is available to make your monetary contribution using a debit or credit card. Then, pick up your basket on Saturday morning at the time and place you chose when you contributed!

Last week was my first experience with Bountiful Baskets and I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical, but boy was I surprised. First of all, it was like the whole county showed up to pick up baskets, I felt like I needed another set of hands for all the produce I was getting, and I was excited to see so much product!

I was picking up two baskets - one for myself and one for my sister and we had both ordered "extras" - I ordered 9-grain bread and she ordered a guacamole mixer (basically all the ingredients for guacamole). Everything looked great and in our baskets we received the following: a box of strawberries, a bag of pears, a bag of clementines, apples, bananas, a cantaloupe, a head of broccoli, a head of cauliflower, celery, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, and maybe some other stuff that I am forgetting about. Talk about a bargain - and it is definitely a way to make sure you eat healthier.

My husband and I had nibbled on the fruit, taking some with us as snacks, but I eventually cut everything up and made a huge (and yummy) fruit salad - sans a few pears as I made a galette (below). We have eaten the spinach and tomatoes in salads, I baked the cauliflower with EVOO, salt, and pepper for about 20 minutes at 350 on a cookie sheet (yum), steamed the broccoli and served it with a cheese sauce, I have cut up the celery and taken some of it to work for an afternoon snack, and that leaves the peppers - which Chad ate as a snack.

I ordered basket to pick up this last Saturday and I was not disappointed! Instead of telling you what I got in my basket - I am going to show you! Fuji apples, oranges, lemons, bananas, strawberries, and a cantaloupe in the fruit basket (there are more bananas hidden underneath).Lettuce, spinach, broccoli, peppers, carrots, and mushrooms in the veggie basket.

*Pear Galette Recipe
Not sure what to do with all the pears in your Bountiful Basket from two weeks ago? Peel, core, and slice about four cups, mix in 1/4 cup sugar, 4 T flour, 1/4 tsp. ginger, dash cinnamon, 2 T lemon juice, and a sprinkling of brown sugar. On a cookie sheet, unroll a pre-made pie crust and pour pear mixture on top. Fold up sides as shown in picture, brush top and sides lightly with milk and sprinkle with additional sugar. Bake 35 minutes at 375 degrees - or - until top is browned. It's delicious!

Papa Pete

2011-02-11T15:25:00.000-08:00

14 years... missing you today and always.

Spick & Span

2011-02-08T10:20:00.001-08:00

That is what our house is right now - spick and span! Someone is (finally) coming to see the house. It has been a while since any buyers have come by, but yesterday on my way home from Ontario, our real estate agent called and (wahoo) someone is coming by to see the house! Chad and I cleaned, staged, and organized our home for about five hours in a major team effort last night - so keep your fingers crossed! Want to check out our home? Go here. MLS# 98434172

Your Dog

2011-02-03T08:42:00.001-08:00

That's what Roscoe becomes when he is misbehaving... for example, "Do you know what your dog did today?" Chad always knows he is in for a story when those words come out of my mouth because usually he is my puppy - yes, I realize he is two and a half years old, but he is still my puppy and probably always will be.

Anyway, Roscoe is on a pretty consistent schedule. Chad lets him out in the morning before he goes to play basketball, I put him away when I go to work - making sure he has fresh water and food. The first one home lets him out and generally I harass him when I let him out because he is a bundle of energy.

The weather around here has been a bit wacky and almost all the snow we had on the ground has melted off, but it is still freezing at night, cold during the day, sometimes it thaws and we get to deal with the mud, other days it is foggy, you get the picture. Well, the other day after I got home from work, I let him out and he was making his laps around the yard and everything was a bit "mushy" so I was making an attempt to stay on the railroad ties.

I was standing between the yard and the patio on the railroad ties when I turned around and Roscoe was hanging out on the back steps waiting for me. Chad claims that dogs like to be on the same level as you and that is why Roscoe loves to stand on the back steps when he's getting attention. I don't know if there is any truth to that, but he does love it.
So I see him wagging his tail on the back porch and I call him over to me so he can run a few more laps and maybe even play fetch for a few minutes. I turned back around before he came flying off the steps and he hit me on my right calf and I hit the grass like a ton of bricks. I was not expecting to take a hit - hands in the pockets, still in my work clothes. It was great, I was soaked from the thigh to the shoulder on my right side, my boots were covered in muddy grass, and I was pissed. Needless to say, we did not play fetch and Roscoe quickly went from "my puppy" to "your dog".

BCS National Championship 2011: Trip to AZ

2011-01-14T19:38:00.000-08:00

My five key takeaways from the BCS National Championship Experience. To read more about the trip, visit You Throw Like a Girl: Your Game Guide to the BCS National Championship.
1. I have never been so "nervously excited" in my life - as I explained to people at least a week prior to the game to anyone who would listen. Other than the heart-wrenching "jump out of your seat" (as if I was sitting) moments in the game, one of the most exciting moments for me was when I actually walked into the stadium and realized I actually had a ticket... and I was in. I was there.

2. Oregon fans are great, wonderful, welcoming people. As I walked into the sports bar in Las Vegas for my layover on my way to Phoenix Saturday afternoon I noticed an empty chair at a table full of Ducks. Naturally, I waltzed up, introduced myself, sat down, and proceeded to have a pre-flight drink with three Duck fans with whom I would find out I had connections. The first, a former defensive football player for Oregon, who played for my uncle Joe Schaffeld during his time at the University of Oregon. We had a touching conversation about Uncle Joe and like everyone who knows Joe, he had nothing but positive things to say. The other two at the table were a father and son duo - the son went to the University of Idaho at the same time as my husband and is now attending the UO Law School. Small world? I think so! My entire trip was reminiscent of this experience and I am in love with my Ducks even more so because of it.

3. Oregon Linebacker #55 Casey Matthews with his flowing hair and bone crushing hits has cemented a place in my heart as one of my favorite Oregon defensive players... ever. With his fancy football pedigree (brothers, fathers, uncles etc in the NFL), he definitely has the bloodlines to be a success, but his aggressive play is what has really grabbed my attention this season. His game-changing play in the fourth quarter of this game was just one of many throughout his Oregon career. Good luck at the next level Casey (and the rest of the Oregon Ducks going in the draft)... I'll be watching.

4. I did not come across one Auburn fan I did not like .... though I am still curious about the whole War Eagle v. Tiger thing and their game attire. I mean maybe Under Armor doesn't make awesome game day gear for men and women like Nike, but come on, khakis to a football game? And croakies all day long? They are maybe appropriate for fishing and even that is up for debate.

5. My family history runs deep with green and yellow and last year I regretted not going to the 2010 Rose Bowl. Immediately following this year's Civil War game I was on the ticket and travel companion hunt. Luckily, I did not have to look far to find a partner in crime when Jessica sent me a message mentioning she was thinking of going. I remember as a child watching the 1995 Rose Bowl game where Oregon played (and unfortunately lost to) Penn State and I was devastated when they lost. I knew this was a game I needed to attend because I would have definitely regretted not going. I have had so many people in the past few days as me if I am over the loss, if I am upset Oregon didn't kick field goals, if I am still crying, and so on... but you know what? I am proud of my Ducks, they played well, they played hard, they played their game and ultimately, though we did not win, we deserved to be there and again: there is always next year!

Holiday Projects, Recipes, and Crafts

2010-12-28T16:13:00.001-08:00

This post is showing some Little Birdie Secrets love because I got all sorts of domestic during the holidays and worked on several fun projects. Ready? Let's go.

1. Christmas Card Hanger
I love getting holiday cards. I love getting mail, packages, cards, letters, not so much on the whole bills thing, but I take what I can get. Anyway, we have a big bulletin board in our house that is overloaded with cards of all kinds - I can be a bit of a packrat when it comes to things like that. Additionally, we have a small magnet board that has several photos and cards. As December rolled on and the holiday cards stacked up, I was wondering what to do with them! I saw this tutorial on Little Birdie Secrets and decided to try it out - great excuse to bust out the craft supplies.

You can go to the link for the real tutorial (includes paint and mod podge), but this is what I did.

Materials:
-Ribbon
-Clothespins
-Decorative paper
-Scissors or paper cutter
-Glue - I used Elmer's Spray glue - it was easy-peasy
-Other embellishments: buttons, glitter, anything that suits your fancy
-Glue Gun - if you need to glue on buttons, etc.
-Friends to send you cards :)

Instructions:
Cut paper in sizes to cover clothespins. Spray glue on clothespin (I placed the clothespin on an old magazine before spraying) and carefully place paper on the clothespin. Press to ensure a firm hold. Repeat process with all clothespins. Spray with glitter, glue on buttons, flowers, and any other embellishment your heart desires. Cut and hang your ribbon according to the length and location desired. From there, clip your Christmas cards to the ribbon using the clothespins and enjoy!

2 & 3. Pumpkin Spice Dip & Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Sounds good, doesn't it? According to 12/12 family members, it is! Ok, maybe I made that up - but this is a "keeper" of a recipe!

Pumpkin Dip
-16 oz. light Cool Whip, thawed out
-1 (5-ounce) packet of vanilla pudding (instant)
-1 small can of Libby's pumpkin - (15 oz.)
-1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix together pudding, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla. Gently stir in Cool Whip.This takes about 5 minutes to get the mixture smooth. Refrigerate before serving. I made this several days in advance and it kept extremely well!

Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips
-Flour tortillas (I used 10 large tortillas) and holiday cookie cutters
-1 Tbsp. cinnamon or cinnamon spice mix
-1/2 c. sugar
-Butter flavored Pam cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl. Use metal cookie cutters and a cutting board to cut your tortillas into desired shapes (I used holly leaves, snowmen, bells, and angels). For all you expert dippers out there, some chip shapes work better than others. Place them on parchment or foil-lined baking sheets.

Spray all of the tortilla cut-outs with butter flavored cooking spray on the top side that is facing you. Sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar mixture. I used a small spoon - but if you have an empty spice bottle, load the mixture in there and sprinkle it on - saving your leftovers for next time! Bake for 9-10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Place the chips on racks to cool off. I also made these a few days in advance and kept them in a resealable bag - they were perfect. Serve with Pumpkin Dip. The chips go so fast, I will double the chip recipe next time.

4. Holiday Pretzel Kisses
Wait, what? Mine don't look like the picture on the tutorial? Right... that's because mine was a failure... kind of.

I saw this recipe and thought to myself, "oh that will be so easy and yummy - I can give some to my coworkers, have some when Chad's family comes over, etc." Wrong. Here's the recipe with my mistakes so you can learn from them. Good news though, my failure tasted awesome.

Holiday Pretzel Kiss Candy
-Small, waffle-shaped pretzels
-Hershey's Kisses (I used the vanilla and chocolate swirl, but chocolate or peppermint are yummy too)
-M&M's
-Cookie sheet and parchment paper

Directions:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or wax paper). Spread out pretzels. Here is my first (and really only) mistake. I bought the wrong kind of pretzels. I could not find any "waffle" shaped pretzels - so I bought the normal shaped pretzels. Not a good idea.

Put a Hershey's Kiss or Hug in the center of each pretzel. Heat oven to 170°. Place baking sheet in oven for 6 minutes. Kisses will just begin to melt and look shiny, but will not lose their shape. Gently top each Kiss with an M&M, with the "m" side down. It should immediately push the Kiss' point down, but if you have to press it into the Kiss, you may need to heat them a little longer.

Place in the freezer until the Kiss is hard again (i put my whole cookie sheet in my big freezer, but you could wait for them to cool and put them on a smaller plate if you don't have that much room in your freezer). Package them in a cello bag, add a bow and a tag, and you're good to go!

***If you are like me and bought the wrong kind of pretzels - when you check on your Kiss-topped pretzels in the oven, you will find that many Kisses have fallen, melted through the holes in the pretzels, etc. Awesome. I quickly grabbed a bowl and a spatula dumped the entire mess in, gave it a few quick swirls and poured it on a piece of parchment paper. Voila - chocolate covered pretzels! They were really yummy, but if I ever see "waffle" shaped pretzels, I am buying them and trying this again.

Oh, and if you are wondering what happened to the unused M&M's - we ate them... duh :)

Linked at Laugh, Love, & Craft.

10 Things...

2010-12-28T12:01:00.000-08:00

I sneeze when I eat chocolate and if I sneeze once, I will almost always sneeze twice.
I am really good at lists. To keep my life organized, I use an Uncalendar and I am obsessed with it. Sometimes I write a list of lists I need to write, or put things on my list that I have already accomplished just so I can check them off!
I am the best orange-peeler I know. Seriously, try me. I can almost always get the entire peel off in one piece.
My nickname when I was a child was Doo-Ball. I returned the favor by nicknaming my father Dirt Bag.
I can type fast - like really fast, and accurate. So can my sister. I think it is probably from our piano-playing days and working at law firms.
I don't buy carnations. No exceptions. However, I do not discriminate against flowers purchased for me - just in case you were wondering.
I cannot paint my fingernails or toenails - seriously, I am terrible with the tiny paint brush. I think I own one bottle of polish and no polish remover.
I believe Vick's VapoRub and Advil Cold & Sinus can pretty much cure anything. Too bad I can't get Advil Cold & Sinus without a prescription in Oregon any longer. Thank you, Idaho.
Everyone in my family loves iced tea (more than is probably healthy) and I cannot stand it. Lemonade, on the other hand, is oh-so refreshing.
My elbows are really weird.

Winter Wonderland

2010-12-22T10:47:00.000-08:00

So it's been snowing here. We've gotten a few big snow storms in the area and Chad and I were able to take advantage of the snow this weekend! We went about 80 miles with a group of friends on our sleds and had so much fun. The other night we even drove them up and down the block before the snow plows came through!

While on our first sledding adventure of the year, we cut down a Christmas tree - which is good because I have found today that they are a bit hard to come by! We brought the tree inside and decorated it on Monday - I just love the fresh scent of a Christmas tree.Happy Holidays!

Call Me a Duck

2010-12-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

As if I needed any more reasons to love the University of Oregon...

On The Rocks performing "Call Me a Duck" - recorded exclusively for the University of Oregon.

P.S. Did you watch On the Rocks perform on NBC's The Sing Off? They were fun to watch - wish they would have made it to the finals, but they still did a great job!

We Goin' To The Natty...

2010-12-13T14:53:00.000-08:00

For clarification:

Natty: Bowl Championship Series Tostitos National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona - January 10, 2011 Oregon Ducks v. Auburn Tigers.

We: Me, Jessica, Megan, and a ton of other Oregon Duck fans!
Get excited and GO DUCKS!