Bandwagon... I'm jumpin' on it! (and a funny story)

I caved... I'm going to  post some pins!

  

For the mantel this fall??

Source: bhq.com via Kaylee on Pinterest 



Ohh, buddy... Oreo rice crispy treats!

Source:  buddingbaketress via Kaylee on Pinterest

Next project for the kitchen!

Source:  thespeckleddog.blogspot.com via Kaylee on Pinterest

Anyone want to get rid of a TON of buttons??? I'll take donations!

Source:  tumblr via Kaylee on Pinterest

In the process

Source:  myuncommonsliceofsuburbia via Kaylee on Pinterest

 I can't wait to wear this when it get's a tad cooler out!

Source:  polyvore via Kaylee on Pinterest

There, I did it... And I probably will continue to (Pinterest is just SO MUCH FUN!)

Real quick, funny story...  An old man just walked into our office (Soil/Water Conservation office) and said the following:

OM "Hey Lady, I got a question about a rock in my yard"
Me "Ok, I don't know how much help I'll be, I don't know much about rocks"
OM "Well, this isn't a regular rock, it's a 'meter'ite"
Me "uh huh"
OM "I know it's a 'meter' cuz rocks you find in a field are smooth and this one is rough"
Me "I see"
OM "Can you tell me what 'meter' it come from?"
Me "Jeez sir, I don't think I know, maybe you should check the historical society?"
OM "Let me tell you about my time in WWII, you young kids these days don't know how lucky you got it..."

He moved down the hallway, asking someone else about his 'meter'ite.. Lord help me when I get old and senile.  Hopefully someone will listen to all my crazy stories too.

Have a great day everyone!

Room Quasi-Makeover

So since we have been in our house, I have been longing to have a bedroom that is complete, and pretty (I think it's pretty) and comforting... I think I'm almost there?  It's comfy and I like to be there now, so that is all that matters.  It's more functional for us too, so that's a plus!  And yes, that is dark green carpet (it came with the house).  

To give you an idea: The dresser Jared is using used to be white with moon knobs on it, and we painted it.  Figured we'd wait it out to get a new perfectly matching bedroom suite when we moved out of our "starter home".  For now, it's mismatched pieces that we've attempted to join in tolerable harmony.  That's mainly because my cabinet is so heavy, the only way it's allowed to leave is through the window (according to Jared) or has to be sold with the house when we leave.  So basically, I can't get all new furniture because of that beast :(

a chair I found in a dumpster (yeah I know) recovered by the Amish... and my cabinet, which weighs about 8,000 lbs.

Jared's dresser

snuggly bed, disregard the open hamper and Sophie hair on
"her bench"

 

 

arrangement I made for Jared's dresser, gotta love stuff that can easily be dumped into a hurricane vase :)

Columbus Food Truck and Cart Fest tonight! (and a yummy creation under 200)

Is it lunchtime yet?!

Jared and I are huge (HUGE) supporters of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.  If it's a paycheck deduction or contributing to drives in our offices, we always try to give support to MOF.  We are firm believers in helping others who are less fortunate than us, that's why I am so excited to go to the Columbus Food Cart Fest tonight at the new Columbus Commons with our friends.  Not only will there be tons of awesome street food, but a portion of all vendor proceeds will go towards helping out the MOF. Awesome!  Hopefully I'll post some pictures of whatever sweet creation I indulge myself with tonight, but beware: it will probably just be a plate of vegetables.

Speaking of food... This is a little creation (not really of mine, but from Hungry Girl, with a Kaylee modification)... the FlufferNutter

I love Chocolate (it's a borderline addiction) and I also love peanut butter.  The problem, I can't eat things like Reece's or Butterfingers etc. because "regular" peanut butter makes me sick (literally, I'm allergic to the preservatives in it).  So, I get a more nutritious fix of choc and pb with the FlufferNutter.

Super easy, you just take 2 teaspoons of all natural creamy peanut butter and mix with a tablespoon of marshmallow fluff.  Slice a Deep Chocolate Vitatop in half (carefully) and smear the mixture between like a sandwich.  I like to microwave the Vitatop first for 20 seconds, then toast on light before I cut it.

The whole recipe is about 180 calories, which is not bad at all for a dessert that tastes way more sinful than it actually is!  Vitatops/Vitamuffins are pretty much a staple at our house.  Super convenient and you get 1/2 of all of your daily vitamins in 1 Vitatop!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  Be Safe!

Tuesday Link-Up and GIVEAWAY announcement!

Real Quickly... I wanted everyone to know that Lauren over at "Life with Lauren" won my GIVEAWAY!  Congrats!  Thank you to all of the lovely ladies who entered the contest!  Keep an eye out for more GIVEAWAYS in the future!

Now... on to the Link-Up!  Today I am linking up with Cmae for another installment of Tail Wagging Tuesday!

Today's Link-Up features funny photos of our fur babies!  Now, I have a fur baby, Sophie, and many of you have probably seen many pictures of her, I will post one today.  But, many of you may not know of my OTHER fur babies, the buns.  I feel like I don't give them enough exposure on here, so, even though they aren't pups, I'm going to post a funny picture of them too (just so they don't feel left out).



Sophers loves to snuggle and she loves to laugh.  Any type of belly rubs or snuggle-wrestles really get her going.  I like this pictures because it really shows off her goofiness.  There were WAY too many funny pictures of her to pick from, so I had Jared round up one of his faves.

 

 

This is Lolly (L) and Leo (R).  This was taken at Grandma's house.  They were cold.  Lolly is a freckled mini-lop and Leo is a lionhead.  They are litter box trained and live in a condominium together where they munch, snuggle, and thump, and do bunny flops.  We let them out to watch tv and run around like maniacs, often being pestered by Soph.

Hope you all enjoyed the couple pictures of my babies, they make me so happy.  Love from your pet is unconditional, and to them, you are the most important thing in the world.  Make sure to give your pet a little extra love when you get home tonight to show them how much you really care.

Have a great day everyone!


Why can't it be fall already?!

JUST A REMINDER...  If you have not yet entered my GIVEAWAY from last week, do so now!

I will be drawing the name of the winner this evening, so you have till 6p.m. to enter the contest.  Again, the GIVEAWAY is for a complete set of ALMAY Intense i-Color and a travel makeup bag.  Winner will choose which kits they'd like and provide me with their eye color for the perfect match!

Ok, now... the real post for today...

I know it isn't Friday (when everyone else posts their outfit ideas), but I wanted to show you all an outfit I REALLY want to wear!  I cannot wait until it's fall time.  I came across a version of this outfit on pinterest, but wanted to change a few things to fit my style a little better and so that I wouldn't have to go buy all the pieces to make this outfit.  I am not usually one to wear orange, but the navy and orange combo is really sparking my interest this year.  I think that since I tend to lean more toward classic styles, I will incorporate via a scarf or something.  Most of this stuff is already in my closet, I just need to pull the trigger and actually put it all together.  I think with some pearl earrings I'll be good to go?  Thoughts?

kport2 by kport1305

TopShop shirts blouse
$56 - topshop.com

Rag Bone cordoroy jacket
$450 - amrag.com

J Brand creased jeans
$195 - net-a-porter.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors checkered shoes
$98 - zappos.com

Patricia Nash saddle bag
$198 - nordstrom.com

Dorothy Perkins wood jewelry
£10 - dorothyperkins.com

Rag Bone cotton shawl
$90 - rag-bone.com

Forever21 tortoise shell sunglasses
$5.80 - forever21.com

Gone Fishin'

At the Lake!

I'll be away from the computer for the weekend, at Lake Erie... getting my tan on, the jetski on, the fun on!

I hope everyone has an awesome and SAFE weekend!

By the way, check out the previous blog posting about the ALMAY Intense I-Color GIVEAWAY!  Don't forget to enter the contest, it's open until Monday August 22nd!

Product Review and GIVEAWAY!

I LOVE Makeup!

But, I'm also on a budget.  Many women love expensive makeup, Bobbie Brown, MAC, Urban Decay, etc. and that is great (I'd love to be able to buy whatever I wanted from Sephora) but not everyone can or wants to blow their paycheck on stuff you wash off every night.  After experimenting with expensive brands, super cheap brands and everything in between, I found a relatively inexpensive way to get my eyes to POP!

*Cue Kate Hudson with her perfect everything*

 ALMAY Intense I-Color

If you aren't familiar, they enhance your natural eye color and leave little (or none really) room for error.

I have all 3 kits (Smokey, light reflecting, and original) that coordinates with my green eyes.  Depending on time of day, where I am (work, play or home) I will wear the kit that fits.  ALMAY also makes matching eyeliner, and mascara to give you the total look.

From experience, they don't crease, they don't fade, and they stay on all day...really.  The mascara give me full and long lashes (I was blessed with great lashes anyways, but I still love this stuff) and the liner is so smooth.  It is available in a self sharpening pencil and a liquid.

The whole system will run you about $24 (1 shadow kit, 1 liner, and 1 mascara).  But, with the GIVEAWAY, it's yours for FREE!  What is great is that you can buy different shadow kits  later that still coordinate with the liners and mascaras.

For more product info check out Almay's website

So, to the GIVEAWAY!



I am giving away YOUR CHOICE of Smokey Eye, Light Interplay, or Original eyeshadow kit, the coordinating self sharpening or liquid eyeliner, and the coordinating mascara. 

AND, a travel makeup bag to keep it in!  What do you have to lose?!

The winner will be drawn on Monday August 22nd.  I will post to my blog the lucky winner, then send her an email to get her personal info (including eye color!).

To ENTER:  Leave me a comment, something nice please, along with your email.

Follow me!

For ADDITIONAL Entries:  Blog about the giveaway and let me know where to find it.

Tail Wagging Tuesday!

Today I'm linking up with CMae for Tail Wagging Tuesday!

I love anything that has to do with animals, especially my Sophie

This week, we are just posting some of our favorite pics of our babies.

Halloween!

Red's Game, Bark in the Park... Rally Cap for a win?



How is this even comfortable?!



Sophie (1 year, 1 month)

Red's Game & TREATS!

Saturday was SO MUCH FUN!

Husband and I went to the Red's game with his brother and his wife.

 Jared and I in front of a our main man Joey Votto (*crush*)

This game was one of the coolest I had ever been to, and I've been to my fair share of baseball games.  The Red's played the San Diego Padres and the final score was 13 to 1 Reds.  Every single point scored was a direct result of a home run.  I don't think I have EVER seen that many home runs in a professional baseball game.  There was at least one per inning, amazing.



Also, Sophie got some treats made for her... spoiled rotten little brat, I mean... cutest thing ever :)

She seems to really like them, Tuna Stars.  They're all natural and so easy to make!
Just tuna, flour, oats, an egg, some herbs, EVOO, and cornmeal.

As you can see, they get cut out just like sugar cookies, and bake into little nuggets of nom nom.

Do you enjoy making special treats for your fur baby?

Weekend Update

6 Places, eh?

1)  Hilliard, Ohio... where we live and where we have made our home

2)  Loudonville, Ohio... where we said "I do"

3)  Mansfield, Ohio... where my roots are

4)  Cozumel, Mexico... where we honeymooned (We need to go back, next year's vacation perhaps?)

5)  Hocking, Ohio... one of our favorite places to camp (a big hobby of ours) especially in the fall when all of the colors come out!

6)  Our bedroom... where we get our snuggle on!

FITB and Foodie Friday!

I'm linking up with Magan for a Foodie Friday (Just because I love weddings so much!)

 

 

This is what my our wedding cake looked like.  It was really simple because we were afraid with all of the decor and flowers it needed to be.  If you look at the bottom of my page, you'll see a slideshow of some of our pictures of the big day.  The cake had a bottom layer of chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling, a middle layer of vanilla cake with blackberry filling, and a top layer of carrot cake with cream cheese filling.  Needless to say, there wasn't much left!  I especially loved the topper, flowers with pearl "KJ" on it :)

Who ya gonna call...

The Pizza Man?  Oh, I think not!

Tonight, we decided to bust out our "Pizza" cookbook.  As the name suggests, a cookbook of only pizza recipes.  We opted for the Genoa Pesto pizza.

Super simple recipe, takes almost no time to put together.  If you like salami and you like basil pesto you should really give this one a try.

Genoa Pesto Pizza
1 home-made or store bought pizza crust (I bought mine)
Pesto  (either store bought or home-made, mine was home-made, see recipe below)
 Shredded Mozzarella cheese

Genoa salami sliced thin

Just slather the pizza crust with pesto, sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top, then add salami slices.  Since my pizza crust was store-bought, it only needed to brown up in the over.  425 degrees for 15 minutes.  It came out looking all gooey and browned on the edges (as you can see!)

Pesto recipe
handful of fresh basil leaves
about a 1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
olive oil


In a food processor combine basil (leaves only, no stems), garlic, pine nuts, and cheese.
Add a light drizzle of olive oil and pulse to combine.  Slowly add remaining olive oil until the desired consistency is reached.
That's it!

And, if you make more or have extra, fill an icecube tray with the leftovers and freeze.  Then you are left with little pesto cubes that can be transferred to a ziploc baggie and saved for later :)



GHOST BUSTERS!

Had a big meeting for work last night and we had to clean up when it ended.

Instead of making one lady sweep the whole room, I chipped in to help.

Found this SA-WEEEEET Ghost Buster-esque vacuum in a janitor closet.

Yep, never afraid of a dirty job :)

Eating Better for ME (or you)

There's a GIVEAWAY going on over at Katie's site

for LARABARS (Yum!) that I am totally into at the moment!

My weight has always been a struggle for me, ever since I was young.  Terrible portion control, always feeling hungry, etc. all lead to me not being the best me.  In September 2010 I was dianosed with severe IBS (gross, I know) which isn't really a big deal, just inconvenient.  The Dr's. decided that maybe it was "strange" things I was eating because I couldn't pin-point one food item that triggered my attacks.  I began to change the way I eat and cut out most all of the mono-this and tri-thats.  If I couldn't pronounce it on the nutrition label, or knew it was a preservative or artifical color/flavor, I wouldn't buy it.  Although I occassionaly eat these items (either out to dinner, or if someone else cooks), my IBS went from attacking 3 times a week to almost never.

In January of 2011, I began adding exercise into my already healthy eating regime.  In these last 8 months I have lost over 20lbs, to achieve a weight that is right where Dr's. want me to be.  With the help of LARABARs, Lunabars, ZonePerfect bars, VitaMuffins, tons of complete proteins, whole grains and lots of fruits of and veggies, I am always full but my waistline is shrinking.  We leave a bowl full of nutrition bars on the counter in our kitchen.  They are always there in case there isn't time for a full cooked meal.  Paired with a fruit or vegetable, it's a meal in a pinch.

As someone who is now in the best shape of her life, I can 100% say that the old adage of "You Are What You Eat" is so true.  Fill your body with GOOD, HEALTHY, and WHOLESOME food and that is how you will feel.

Check out Katie's site for more information on the LARABAR giveaway and how you can enter.  She has teamed up with LARABAR to give away a 4 pack (that's right, read it, a 4 pack, not just 1) of a new or favorite flavor of these super nutritions and clean bars.  Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!

7 wants...

1)  I want a family (babies really, I already have a family with Jared, Soph and the Buns)

2)  I want a good career

3)  I want to go back to school (I have many ideas for what I would go back for)

4)  I want to make a meaningful difference in someone's life

5)  I want to be comfortable with me

6)  I want to earn enough money so that my family and parents need not worry about a thing

7)  I want some chocolate, the stash in my desk drawer has been depleted :(

Whoops... (so I skipped a few days)!

8 fears huh? hmmm...

1)  I am afraid of snakes, that's an easy one.

2)  I am afraid of being alone.

3)  Sometimes I am afraid to be myself (I'm very self-conscious, it's lame I know)

4)  I am afraid to lose my family members

5)  I am afraid when my husband is gone over night.  For example, he was away last fall for a lot of campaign for (he's in the political field) and every noise I heard in the house woke me up and made me nervous.  I think I checked the locks a dozen times those nights.

6)  I am afraid that I won't be a good mommy.  Being one scares the ba-jeebus about of me, but I wan't a babe real bad.

7)  I am afraid of messing up at work.

8)  I am afraid of bugs.  Not really if I can see it and observe it at my own leisure, but when it attacks me or lands on me or crawls on me uninvited... not cool.

Do you have any silly, justified, or irrational fears?

Hope you have a "scarefree" day!

FITBF!

It's Fill in the Blank Friday over at Lauren's site!

My go to outfit for a dress-up occasion like a wedding is... I'm not sure. I would probably go buy something new. I don't like to re-wear outfits to weddings or other major events for fear that somone will be at multiple events and see me wearing the same thing. OMG does that sound shallow or what?!

This week has been... Soooo Looooonnnnnggggg :(

When it's dinnertime and I'm feeling lazy I'll usually eat... cereal or nothing

My favorite pair of shoes is... my Sperry's... they are all worn out and the most comfortable slip-ons ever. They're pretty ratty looking, so that is something else to add to my "to get" list.

A random item that I own that is completely unnecessary, but that I could never part with is ... I don't know that I have an item that is both unnecessary and that I couldn't part with. I either have necessary items, or items that with enough persuasion, I could part with.

My favorite person is... Jared, the world's greatest husband/friend/funny person/snuggler (could go on, but I won't bore you)

If I were going to write my own blank it would say... (_________________________).

Forgive the formatting if it looks terribly spaced... my browser is all jacked up right now! Sorry! :)

10 Day Challenge, Day Neuf

9 Loves!

1)  I love my Husband, he's just the best :)

2)  Sophie, mah dawg, and Leo and Lolly (those are the rabbits that live in our basement... they have their own condominium down there complete with a litter box, a nest, and toys!  They like to watch TV with us, spread out on the floor, as well as to chew whatever they can get their little nibblers on)

3)  Family time.  Being with my family is the best feeling in the world. 

4)  I love to SNUGGLE!  I'm a serial snuggler, so watch out, I may just curl up next to you!

5)  I love to sleep in, which hardly EVER happens.  The few days a month I have where I can sleep till 9am and cuddle with the Hubs and the Soph in bed are the greatest.

6)  A clean house.  I have a thing for keeping things neat and tidy.  A weekly (at least) deep clean is pretty much necessary at mi casa.  Everything has it's own little home, and when everything gets put away in it's right spot, the world is good again.

Also, take your shoes off when you come to my house.  I can't stand it when everyone else has no shoes on and people feel the need to not take theirs off.  I mean, how do you make it more clear aside from making a sign?  Who does that?  If the hostess is in their stockin' feet, you should be too!  Sorry, had to vent about that.  It's pretty much one of my biggest peeves.

Back to the Challenge...

7)  I love to hate sea bass.  It just grosses me out.  I've never eaten it, and I love fish, but for some reason Chilean Sea Bass just sounds like it would be nasty.

8)  I love makeup!  I try just about every drug store level product that comes out, just to find that perfect eye liner or shade of lipstick.

9)  I love being outside.  The feeling of being so small against something so big just amazes me every time.  The smells, the sounds, the textures, everything. 

Always Up for a Challenge

A friend of mine told me about this challenge.  I figured it would be a good way to get my blogger juices flowing, since starting out has made me realize how "un-creative" my mind can be at times.

10 secrets! Eeep!

1)  I dream daily about babies... I can't wait to start a family.

2)  When I was little, I found my Grandpa's stash of Playboys.  Now, don't freak out, I love the men, BUT... I was so fascinated with all of the beautiful women.  They all looked so glamorous.

3)  Sometimes I pretend I can't do things or that I don't understand something so that I don't have to do it.  I have also been known to flirt with my professors in college to get them to allow us open note/book exams. (or no test at all in one class!)

4)  I keep a bag of Hershey Dark Chocolate kisses in my desk drawer.  It is my afternoon solace.

5)  I have eaten an entire bag (is that what oreos are packaged in? or container maybe?) of Oreos in one sitting... and maybe more than once.

6)  I rap in the car where no one will judge me.

7)  I have a strange love for office supplies.  Back to school supply shopping was one of my favorite parts of August.

8)  I've been known to eat most all of a bowl of brownie batter before it even makes it to the pan to cook.  Wow, the more I spill these secrets, the more gross I seem.

9)  I broke up with a boy once because he smelled like udder.  I say udder because he worked on a dairy farm and I can't stand the smell of iodine (which is what udder disinfectant smells like during milking).

10)  I'm not good at keeping secrets.  I also don't like surprises.  Christmas is never a good time for me as there are always secrets (gifts that I know of) and surprises (I want to know what you got me and I want to know right now!).  I've been known to throw a hissy fit so my husband will let me open a gift early because I'm always dying to know what I got.

Something Fresh for Dinner?

It's summertime and it's hot.  No one wants to eat anything big and heavy.  A weekly (well, close to weekly) staple at our house is Squash Pasta.  It doesn't sound too good, but it tastes amazing.  It's really just pasta with zucchini and yellow squash on top.


First, start by adding Garlic Expressions to a medium skillet on medium heat.  Garlic Expressions can be found at Giant Eagle and/or Kroger in Ohio.  You can also order it online here: Garlic Expressions This stuff is great as a saute aide, a marinade, or even a salad dressing.  All Natural and made in Ohio.

Next, slice 1 zucchini and 1 yellow squash in 1/4 inch rounds.  Place the squashes in the skillet with the GE and allow them to cook.  Sometimes, if I am in a hurry, I will put a lid on skillet and sweat the squashes and force them to cook faster.  They will be a little softer if you do them this way.  Or, you can cook them until they start to caramelize.

 While the squashes are sauteing, start a pot of boiling water and add 1 cup of your favorite kind of pasta.  We use either a whole wheat penne, rigatoni, or a vegetable pasta.  Once the pasta and the squashes are cooked to your liking, make up a plate by either first putting down the pasta and topping with squash or, put the squash on the side.

Since we had a ripe tomato in the garden, we chopped it up and added it to the squash at the last minute.  You can skip this step or add more, whatever tickles your fancy.  This dish is also good with sprinkle or shaved Parmesan cheese.  The whole meal takes about 15 minutes to cook, and depending on the pasta you use, is only about 300 calories.  Serves 2.  Enjoy!