New Year New Us!

Happy New Year!

I know I know I am 26 days late! But its still a new year!

With a new year you always have a new year resolution. Most people also want to loose weight in the new year and go on a diet. yada yada

I want to do those things too but my resolution this year is to eat healthier and not to try every fad diet but change my eating. I want to be healthier. Make healthier choices.

We started late but this past week was our first week eating healthier. We are also doing weight watchers. I feel that in the past I have done the best on it. Weight Watchers allows you to eat the foods you want but in moderation and watching your portions. I have had a harder time this week than Jason because I really like to snack. Most of my snacking is because I'm bored. But I have had to calculate my points for everything so I haven't snacked as much.

I have been writing everything down in my food journal I bought which has helped me see how much i snack so I have snacked as much as I did in the beginning of the week. I like my food journal but its a little too small and its really for someone counting calories. So I might have to buy the weight watchers journal. I don't have any where to check how many fruits and veggies, water, and that sort of thing off to know I am eating the right amount.

I am very serious about getting healthy this year and losing weight. There are some reasons that I am not ready to discuss (nothing serious! I don't have a medical condition or anything like that). I also want to feel more confident about myself.

Anyways Happy Friday!! Hope yall have a wonderful weekend!!

My food journal - blank

Food journal - full pages!

3 Times a Charm

Just wanted to give an update on the house situation. It seems like it is taking forever!

We are now working with our 3rd loan officer. The first two wanted Jason be at his current job for more than six months and they didn't like we had a late house payment or two when Jason was laid off last.

We are hoping 3 times is a charm. This loan officer is a lot more hopeful, but the others were too. But he has found one thing that the other people missed. Which means we had to pay more $ :(. But at least he found it now and we didn't go to closing and it is popped on us. He also requested an extension on the closing and HUD accepted that so that is a good sign.

Another thing we are waiting on is an appraisal on the house, we are now working with Wells Fargo and they require one. If its appraised for more than what we are buying it at that is good for us in the long run and if it appraised for less than what we are buying it for HUD has to give us money. So either way is good.

We are waiting to here for sure we have the loan and about the appraisal. We hope to hear soon. Keep your fingers crossed for good news!

Happy Tuesday!

Happy Everything!

Just wanted to wish all of you a late Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.

We were busy during all these holidays so I did not get to post anything. Hope yall had a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New year! Say that fast 5 times!

We enjoyed being with our families since it was the last time we would see them. We had 2 Thanksgivings and 3 Christmases (one with Jason family, one with mine, and then us).

Before we left to go to Kentucky I also visited a few friends. I had lunch with my friend Melanie who lives in Starkville. And by the grace of God me and my bff Laurie were able to see each other for brunch the Friday before we left. We have the hardest time getting together since she lives in Oxford, MS and we are both always so busy. But you can guarantee around our birthdays which are both in August and around Christmas we will be seeing each other! We have been exchanging gifts since elementary school and we continue to do so!

The holidays this year were a little sad for our families since we were moving away. But We enjoyed being there with them and they enjoyed having us home ,well I at least hope they did :) . We are not sure how will be will be doing holidays now since we are over 8 hours away from home. But we will figure something out I'm sure!

Going to leave you with some pictures! I don't know whats been with me lately but I have not taken hardly any pictures unless I have my cell phone. So I want to say a thanks to my family members who post theirs!

My family at Thanksgiving.

KK, Bella and Me at my family's Thanksgiving

Jason and Me at my family's Thanksgiving


Jason's Family Thanksgiving

KK and Bella at my family's Christmas


This is the only pic of me at my family's Christmas that is decent.
Wish Bella was looking

Recipes Reviews

I have tried a few new recipes lately and just wanted to share what I have cooked and what I have thought about them or what I would change. I got a lot of these recipes off pinterest or have seen something similar on blogs that I read. The recipes are linked up to the blogs they were found on through pinterest.


1. Terribly Terrific Toffee - These were really good and a saltine cracker will never taste better. Mine did not look as pretty as hers. I messed up my chocolate. The next I make these I will use almond bark for the chocolate. I could not get the chocolate to spread and it ended up lumpy. Also don't leave them in the freezer too long like I did. I couldn't get the tin foil off of some it and had to throw some away.

2. Resurrection Rolls - These were good too. But I would spread some butter on the cresent roll and sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon on it. This would be fun to do with kids at Easter.

3. Pizza Cresent Rolls - I couldn't find my pin on pinterest for these. But so easy! 4 ingredients: cresent rolls, string cheese, pepperoni, and tomato sauce. Unroll the cresent rolls (8) each one gets a little sauce, 3 pepperonis (you can do more if you want), 1/2 a string cheese and then roll it all up and bake them. So easy!

4. Monkey Bread Muffins - From the Pioneer Woman...enough said...you know its going to be good! Love using the

5. Sausage Balls - I have made them several times before over the years. I have seen in blog land where people are adding cream cheese to make them more moist. I did that but did not put as much (4oz) and I used a whole block of cracker barrel cheese as always. I was able to tell a difference they really were more moist.

6. Butterfinger Cake - Sounds good huh! It is! Its so rich its almost hard to eat. But of course we ate it! I love how you pour the caramel mixture on the cake and let it soak in. Note to self use a bigger baking dish. I had the bright idea to use my smaller dish for it. Messy!

Butterfinger Cake!

7. French Toast Casserole (Cinnamon Baked French Toast) - Also another Pioneer Woman recipe...and of course it was delish! I didnt have sour dough bread. I bought a Panettone cake
(an Italian Specialty Cake) and didnt know what i wanted to do with it and I saw this on pinterest and decided to use it for this. On the side of the box it actually says use to make french toast! The cake has a hidden orange flavor note and raisins in it which went really goo with this recipe. This also made it kind of like a bread pudding and could pass as a bread pudding. I did not let mine soak overnight. The french toast casseroles I have made in the past i did not like them too much when I let them soak. I just made it and baked it right away. I also baked mine for 45 mins i wanted it to be like the bread pudding consistency. The blog that i found this recipe through made a glaze with powder sugar and milk and drizzled it on top instead of using syrup. I also did that. And it made it even better! Try adding a teaspoon or two of orange juice! Even better! I don't think syrup would have tasted good. This recipe was so so so good! And I will definitely be making it again. And Jason loved it!

This is the brand of Panettone cake I bought.
I actually have only seen Panettone cakes sold during the Christmas season.
I found mine at TJ MAXX. Cost a little more than sour dough bread but worth it!

Panettone cake cut up into chunks.
French Toast Casserole or Bread Pudding finished and cooling.

Serve it for breakfast with some sausage.

We found a house!

I went to visit Jason last week after Thanksgiving. My main reason to go visit was to find a house. And we found one! I thought it would take longer than it did but we lucked up.

The house we got was not my #1 on the list it was #2 or three. We picked it because it was bigger, closer to Jason's work, in Lexington, and we feel like we can stay in it longer.

My #1 favorite house was a cute older home in Frankfort. But it was the longest drive out of the little towns we looked in. It also had a small side yard and it was on a hill so when and if we have kids we could never have a playset or anything like that for them. Also the laundry was down in the basement. And basements can be eerie. I tried to find pictures but it must have sold. It had been updated and looked so nice!

Our Second favorite house was just too small it was over 1800 square feet but the layout made it seem smaller. It was the cutest little house. It was an older home that had been updated. And I loved it but it had some negatives...no carport/garage, small living room, and it was in Richmond.

It has great curb appeal. and those windows on the front top are amazing!

We loved this kitchen!

The house we picked had everything we wanted except for a basement or being able to put a storage building in the back yard. But we decided after being in the neighborhood a few times to be like the neighbors and park in the driveway instead of the garage and use the garage as my workspace for big things and for storage. The house has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. It has a nice size kitchen and living room and the upstairs has what they call a activity room/living room.

We are so excited about this new adventure and can't wait to get in our house and start doing the things we want to it. I have lots of ideas already and I actually have some of the room colors picked out!

Happy Wednesday! Leaving you with a lot of pictures from our house! We hope to close next week!

Needs a few more plants to give it some more curb appeal

This is the fireplace in the living room downstairs

Part of the dining room.

Part of the living room. Bigger than it looks.

View of the Kitchen from the dining room.
The kitchen has room to put a little breakfast table

Closer view of the Kitchen.
This neighborhood is built by a company and houses can be "upgraded".
This is the standard kitchen. I have big ideas for it!

Another part of the kitchen.

this is part of the activity area.

Another part of the activity area.
That door leads into one of the extra bedrooms.
That will be my work room.

This is one of the other bedrooms.

The other bedroom.

The Master bedroom.
You can't tell from the picture but it is a big room.
We will be able to have sitting area.

The Master Bath. Just looks like a standard bath.
But we have plans for it too!

Master closet. Its bigger than the bathroom!
This picture only shows half of it.

Going down the stairs. We plan to get rid of the carpet.

Garage

Back yard. We will have to put up a fence for our dogs.
But Its too cold to build one now so that will have to wait until the spring.

Back of the house.
We plan to put something over the concrete so
we can have a patio set and sit out there.

Friday Favorites -House Hunting

Its Friday! Yay! Go ahead do the happy dance! No one is looking I promise!

I skipped last Friday. I was busy packing up to leave for the Tupelo Flea Market and I honestly should be finishing last minute things and packing up for this weekend too.

Today's Friday favorites are about houses. Jason and I are house hunting. Today will be his first day to go look at houses with a realtor. I have to look online and ask him to ask the realtor about them. He is going to take pictures and video the houses so I can feel like I am there. I have a long check list so this realtor has her work cut out. But I have found several houses I have liked. We are looking outside Lexington in little towns called Winchester, Frankfort, and Richmond. He isn't looking at any of these houses today, but We didn't start looking in these areas until after we talked to the realtor.

So for my favorites today I will be posting the houses I like with some of my checklist. I will list them from my favorite to least favorite.

1. 225 Robyn Drive This is my favorite out of all the houses I have looked at. Has everything on my checklist. It needs some updating but nothing major. It has a fenced yard so the babies will be happy. It has a nice size kitchen with a eat in area and it also has a dining room. For some reason I really want a dining room so when Jason and I do have kids we can have Sunday dinners and plus for whenever we have people over.

2. 100 Prewitt DrThis house also needs some updating. But its nice and big. Has a basement where I can work on all my stuff. The only downside is no fence yard. We would have to build one.

3. 115 Linden AveThis one is on the top of our price range. It is so charming. Love the front porch. And I love the fireplace in the living room

4. 112 Lafayette Dr
This house also looks charming from outside. Love the style. I'm a sucker for older homes. I like its deck and I like the fireplace. A fireplace is a must!


5. 629 Grama Dr

You can't tell much about this house from its pictures because there is only one inside picture, but I love the style of it.

Thankful Thursday

November 11, 2o11
Today I am thankful for the men and women who are serving or did serve our country. Without them we would not be free.



November 12, 2011
Today I am thankful for when I worked at Stewart's Florist in Starkville. If I would have not worked there I wouldn't have met Melanie. Even though she was my boss we became friends. I love how we can talk to each other about anything.

November 13, 2011
Today I am thankful for our friends Clint and Angela. Jason has been friends with Clint for years. And I met Angela through that friendship. We are lucky to have yall. I know Jason really enjoys playing xbox with Clint!

November 14, 2011
Today I am thankful for Jason's family. His mom and dad have helped us so much since we have been married. We don't get to see his brother and sister n law and kids very often, but we love when we do. We love you all so much!

November 15, 2011
I am thankful for a comfy bed. Just think some people in other countries sleep on the concrete floor.

November 16, 2011
Today I am thankful that I am somehow a little successful at my little business. It keeps me busy. And I am able to stay at home.

November 17, 2011
Today I am thankful for flowers. Without flowers my sweet hubby wouldn't have been able to send me the beautiful arrangement I got.

Hope yall have a wonderful Thursday!