Five on Friday - Snow and Wreaths

ONE:

Mills is straight chillin' in the passenger seat like he owns the car!

TWO:

I made a couple Valentine's Day Wreaths last week and I can make you one too, however you like it!  I can ship it within a couple of days or ordering so you can still get it in time for Valentines Day!  Here's my Etsy store.  If you're in Charlotte, no shipping, I'll bring it to you!

THREE:  

Snow night!

 FOUR:  

Snow day - Mills ran like a crazy man for hours!

FIVE:  

Snow day at our house!

He looks like a deer in this picture.  If Mills could have lived outside on Wednesday, he would have.  

Meal Plan

This week I tried my darndest to figure out what we were having ahead of time.  We only had three nights because I have been on the road (I'm currently finding out how little time I can possibly spend in Houston and fly back). 

Sunday - we had baked potatoes that I had in the veggie bowl for a week or so.  It was time to eat them but potatoes are a special treat in our house.  Kevin wanted some chili to go on top, so to kill two birds with one stone, I made a big pot of chili which he spooned over his baked potato and dinner was done for that night and he had leftovers for his dinners this week when I wasn't home.  

Monday - leftover lasagna soup that I made last week.  Please tell me you all have made this.  It's reasonably healthy and extremely good.  

Tuesday - Crockpot buffalo chicken salad.  So I learned how to use my crockpot on Sunday.  It's been intimidating me.  I knew how to use my old school one but the one we got for our wedding is fancy.  I finally got the confidence to try it and it's going to be a regular.  Anyway, throw frozen chicken in the crockpot, top it with buffalo sauce and let it slow cook all day.  When you get home, shred the chicken and put it over shredded lettuce for a salad with whatever toppings you want.  Yum!  

Helping People

When we were in West Virginia and Kentucky a few weeks ago for work, we were all talking about how sad and depressed the areas are.  I told them about ASP which I volunteered for every summer in high school with our church.  It's such a rewarding experience.  Basically you go to very low income areas and help people to fix things in their living quarters.  One year we built a wheelchair ramp for an older couple...he couldn't lift her out of the house so she hadn't left the house in a very long time.  One year people put a roof on a house (instead of a tarp).  It is unbelievable.

Anyway the reason for this post....all of these mission trips to other countries are wonderful, please don't get me wrong.  But why don't people help those IN OUR COUNTRY?  I'm not sure of the answer.  Let's help our fellow citizens and do nice things for them instead of going elsewhere.  I know there are poverty stricken areas everywhere and we can't do it all but I thought it'd be worth mentioning.

My Three Boyfriends

I have three boyfriends...you know, other than Kevin.

Luke Bryan - like whoa.  No words necessary.  Helloooooooooooo Luke.

Blake Shelton - I think I like him so much because he's hilarious.  If you're not following him on Twitter, you are missing out.  Foul, but HILARIOUS.

Josh Turner....my oldest boyfriend.  I've always liked him.  I drove through his hometown one time on my way back from my brother's house in South Carolina.  His Dad is my brother's insurance agent.  I have hope!  Oh wait, he's married with three children.  And I'm married.  So I guess not. 

Mills Playdate and Dinner Out

We had a big weekend.  Friday night we went to Kabutos with Kevin's fam.  It was so good.  We love that place!

Saturday I got to walk with Elizabeth and her little boy.  It was frigid but so fun!

That afternoon, Mills had his brother Wylie come over.  They had the best time and so did we chatting with McGee and Jared.  They are the sweetest couple and it's crazy how many similarities we have.

Soooo cute.  Please don't look at our backyard.  We are working on coming up with a "master plan" for it.  It used to have a pool but the previous owner filled it in so now we're left with a concrete pad and a japanese maple tree.  

They played and played.  Mills is on the left and Wylie is on the right.  

McGee and I with our boys.  Well, I'm holding Wylie and she has Mills.  

Then we were off to dinner at Beef and Bottle with some of our agent friends.  They're also agents in Charlotte for the same company.  We told the waitress that it was Benjy's birthday.  Always chaos!

The ladiesssssss!  I look like I have a neck problem.  

Literally three of the top agents.  No lie.  All three of them are top 50 in the company...and there are more agencies in the Country than McDonalds.  

After dinner we went over to Villa Antonio for a couple cocktails with Benjy and Sarah.  

Sunday we were all tired.  Including our lil buddy.

Breakfast at Brigs Restaurant helped.  This was our first time here and we really liked it.  It's on 521 near the Earthfare in Ballantyne for you Charlotte girls.  We'll be back!

The rest of Sunday was spent recovering and doing chores.  Wasn't the Bachelor wedding the sweetest?  

Five on Friday

Keeping things simple this week.

1.  A few of you asked about the FlyBarre class I went to last week - two words - serious biz.  I feel like I can run a few miles anytime but this made me feel like I was completely out of shape.  I was the worst person in the class, by far.  And I did not have nice words to say the entire 45 minutes.  But despite my all weekend soreness, I'm back in a class as this post posts.  Thank you Tara for making me go.  

2.  We tried to get back on the meal planning bus this past week.  We had taco salads, lasagna soup and I had high intentions of something with shrimp but that didn't happen.  We had leftovers from our supper club instead.  

3.  You all may remember how obsessed I am with The Bachelor/Bachelorette.  It's basically the only TV show I watch (well, other than American Idol when I have time).  Who is watching Sean and Catherine's wedding this Sunday?  What do you all think of Juan Pablo?  Sadly, I've already read Reality Steve so I know who wins.

4.  Little Mills has a puppy date with his brother tomorrow.  He's excited! ;)

5.  We are getting together with a couple other agent friends of Kevin's in Charlotte this weekend for dinner. We're looking forward to that.  I love how even though all the local agents are competitors, that we still are good friends with them all.  We have traveled to exotic locations with them all and when you travel with people, you immediately become closer.  Anyone else feel the same way?

Cheers!

Hand-Written Notes

The beauty of a hand-written thank you note has been lost and I think that is so sad.

Please tell me you all write notes.  Mama always taught me that it was essential and she is right!

Let me tell you, if I can write 300 thank you notes for our wedding festivities, you can write 5-10 for gifts you got for your birthday or Christmas.  Or you can write one for someone having you over for dinner.  Or you can write one to someone who had a birth or death in the family.  Or you can write a note to someone, just because.  Or you can write them to business associates who gave you something at Christmas.

Do it!  No excuse.

My favorite go-to place for stationery (yes StationEry has an E in it!), is American Stationery.  These are my favorite cards to get because you can completely personalize them anyway you want.  For our wedding, I got an emerald/teal monogram to match our colors.  I recently just got some pink and peach ones.  You can choose white or cream paper, any color monogram and any size.

I also use enclosure cards to give with gifts - shower gifts, baby gifts, hostess gifts and housewarming gifts.  You don't have to spend $3 on a card for every occasion.  Just stick a little personalized enclosure card in.  

My most exciting stationery these days is my formal "correspondent of the household" stationery.  It's for more formal recipients or when I'm writing a note from Kevin and I both.  I won't share a picture of it but it's a fold over ivory card with my formal name on the front in a perfect black script "Mrs. Kevin middlename lastname"  And remember, never sign your husband/boyfriend/fiance's name...instead write something in the body of the note like, "Kevin and I enjoyed being at your home..." and only sign your name.  Afterall, you're the one writing the note.  

I could go on and on about thank you note writing.  Just follow etiquette and write them correctly.  Mom always got on me to take my time.  And I now at 31 years old agree with her.  You can tell when people don't spend time on them.  And I'm guilty of this too.  I'm not a perfect thank you note writer and I know it.  But I do always try.  

So write your thank you notes ladies!!!

Feeling Pressured

How many of you constantly feel pressured?

Pressured to hang with certain people.

Pressured to have children.

Pressured to go to church.

Pressured to wear certain things.

Pressured to go certain places.

Pressured to make a lot of money.

Pressured to always look perfect.

Pressured to have a Pinterest worthy home.

Pressured to exercise constantly.

Pressured to have the perfect job.

Pressured to lose weight.

Pressured to be someone you aren't.

Pressure, pressure, pressure.  Kevin and I just want to be who we are and do what we want to do.  I'm trying really hard to start doing this and not what everyone else wants us to do.....key word: trying. 

Recipes from Supper Club - Appetizers and Side Dishes

Here are some great recipes that we really enjoyed this past weekend:

Texas Caviar:

2 (15 oz) cans black eyed peas

1 (15 oz) can hominy

1 (15 oz) can of petite diced tomatoes

1 small can of black olives

4 green onions chopped

1 green pepper chopped

2 teaspoons garlic minced

2 tablespoons fresh parsley

1 small can of corn (optional, I did not use)

1/2 bottle Italian dressing (I use Zesty Italian)

Mix all ingredients together and drain.  I usually drain all the cans before I dump them in then pour the Italian dressing over it and I don't drain that.  Serve with fritos.

French Onion Soup Stuffed Mushrooms - this may be the only Pioneer Woman recipe that I didn't LOVE.  

Restaurant Style Salsa - always a hit!

Sausage Balls

1 pound sausage

1 cup bisquick

3 cups sharp cheddar cheese

Mix all together in a large mixing bowl.  Keep mixing until it's all mixed together (this takes some time).  Roll into quarter size balls and place about 1" apart on a pan with sides (don't want a grease fire).  Cook for 5 minutes at 425 then take out and flip each one.  Put back in the oven for 6-7 more minutes until browned.  Remove and let cool for a moment then place on several paper towels to drain.  

I also made mac and cheese and baked beans to go with bbq, slaw and hush puppies for dinner.  The slaw and hush puppies were from 521 BBQ which you Charlotte girls must try.  The bbq was from a guy Kevin's Dad knows.  

Weekend - Supper Club

We had a nice little weekend and I hope you all did too!

Friday, Tara came down to the house and we went to a neighborhood girls party.  Twas fun!

Saturday morning lil Mills had a spa appointment.  He was not pleased.  I had to pick him up to take him in the place because he refused to go in.  Mind you, he had never even been there before.

He made out fine and he looked a lot better when he was finished!  They cut his hocks off on the backs of his back legs and I was not pleased.  Hair grows back...

Saturday night we got together with one of Kevin's cousins who I had never met.  They've lived in town since 2011 and we had never gotten together.  We had the best time with Ron and Cristy.  First they came to our house for drinks and appetizers and then we tried a new place for dinner called Stone Mountain Grill in Ballantyne and it was really good!

Sunday morning, Kevin and I decided to try Elevation church out and Steve Smith was getting interviewed.  For the out of towners, he plays for the Panthers.  It was a wonderful interview.  The church experience was definitely interesting and not what we are used to but we both said we would go back.  Anyone else been to Elevation?

Brunch at Cantina was next on the agenda.  WHOA it was good.  Poached egg in each side of the avocado, topped with melted cheese.  

We went home and got ready for supper club with my work people.  We hosted an afternoon get together instead of our usual Thursday night.  We watched the games and hung out.  I'm going to share the recipes tomorrow!

Mills had a friend come over.  Bowser joined him and they had a big time together!

Mills loves some beer.

Tell me about your weekend!

Five on Friday

ONE: 

Hey buddy!

TWO:
I'm trying my first FlyBarre class as we speak!  I'm totally uncoordinated but my friend Tara told me I should do this with her....so I am.  It'll be good.  I need to branch out from only running.

THREE:

This week has been so busy with buying the new car, Kevin not having a car so me taking him around, getting new phones, dealing with our condo etc.  I'm ready to CHILL this weekend.  

FOUR:

Why do people drive in the fast lane when they aren't passing anyone?  Drives me CRAZY!  It's going to be my mission in life to teach people not to do it....starting with my dear husband.  

FIVE:

It's the weekend and this was a really boring post! 

New Car

Kevin got a new car last night!  We had high intentions of getting a 2014 Yukon but decided to wait until we really NEED it (aka not just for Mills).   Kevin had negotied and was getting an amazing deal but timing didn't seem right yet. 

So he got his 3rd Honda Accord since we've dated.  It's pretty!  The new car smell is the best and the fact that it had 6 miles on it when we picked it up was a sign (favorite number)!  

Overall it was a good financial decision and right for us.  But we both can't wait until the Yukon or Tahoe happens! ;)

We feel fortunate to have been able to buy it.  Here's to many miles and memories with this Honda!

Cantina

On Monday night I got to have dinner at Cantina with Sarah and Emma.  Emma's grandlittle sister in sorority at High Point is Sarah's real little sister.  Does that make sense?  Small world!

Please ignore my rough appearance.  I had seen better days at this point.

We had a big time chatting it up and I even learned what Netflix is!