Wordless Wednesday

New Look

I am trying to update the blog with a new look. I am working on the title with my wonderful cleaver friend Krystal!!!! What do you think so far?

1 down 359 to go

Today we made our first mortgage payment. Actually the bank just deductions the money out of our account. I had to log on first thing this morning to make sure they deducted their money. They were so gracious to also include another line on our account with our ENTIRE mortgage loan amount. Talk about having a heart attack seeing those numbers. 30 years, 30 years, 30 years...that is what I need to keep reminding myself.

I have to admit a HUGE burden has been lifted knowing we made the first payment!

New Hair Cut!

I decided this week it was time to cut my hair. I loved my hair long, but it was sooo damanged. Plus it was time for a change!

Before

After

This isn't a great icture that I took with my cell phone, but here is the new hair do!

Update to Front Door

I bought the following vinyl from Wonderfully Wordy. Not only is Shelley one of the sweetest bloggers around, but she has the BEST blog House of Smith's. Check out her blogs sometimes. She has GREAT prices and the fastest service on her vinyls. I highly recommend her!

Mailbox

I love our front door with our Welcome!

Flowers

The flower pot use to be an ugly orangish/brown color. I spray painted it celery green. Doesn't it look so much better!

DIY Cheese Dome

I bought this cheese dome for $2 and the candle holder for a $1 at the thrift store. Look what I made. :)

Before

After

Wordless Wednesday!

MEG FOR GOVERNOR!!!!!!!!!!!

The results are in and guess who won...MEG WHITMAN!!!! Woooo hoooooo

I was smiling all the way to work reading the headlines along the way. I knew she was going to beat that Poizner dude.


Now the work really begins! I will have to figure out when I can go volunteer again. This is sooo exciting!

Name Total Number of Votes Percentage

Bill Chambers 25,574 1.5%
Douglas R. Hughes 19,219 1.1%
Ken Miller 25,322 1.4%
Lawrence Naritelli 38,163 2.3%
Robert C. Newman II 27,462 1.6%
Steve Poizner 461,823 26.9%
David Tully-Smith 18,310 1.0%
Meg Whitman 1,101,528 64.2%

Weed Trimmer Give Away

check out Remodelaholic blog for a chance to win a new weed trimmer. this would be PERFECT for the new house. I am very grateful for the trimmer my father in law gave us, but I am also scared I am going to chop the cord. Our trimmer plugs in and does a great job.....but I am nervous I could get fried one day.

Make sure you enter for a chance to win!

"Date Night"

I have officially declared Monday night as "Date Night". There are specific rules around date night.

1. No work around the house
2. Simple Dinner - tonight is pizza
3. Must agree on an activity - We are going to start watch the first season of Lost
4. Spend Time Together Alone
5. Leave Love Notes for Each Other

Why is it when we were dating these things were simple. When we were dating it was all about just "us"....almost like a selfish couple where others weren't allowed to interrupt our time together. Married life can be a different story.

I have been reading some books on love and marriage. Trying to get a little ahead of the game. People seem to run to books, counselors and various other options when their marriage gets rough. I want to keep ours good, so we don't have to fix it.

Book Page Wreath

Book Page Wreath - I followed this Blog tutorial. I have to admit the wreath doesn't look very nice in pictures. I think it looks much cuter in person.

It cost me $1.00 to make this wreath. I had a book someone had given me, paint, wreath (from dollar store) and glue sticks. It took me about 2 hours to complete.

Updated Light Fixture

Remember this "beautiful" light fixture in our main bathroom? I HATED this thing and knew we had to replace. A new light fixture just isn't in the budget right now. I decided to try some spray painting.

I wish I had taken a picture of the first color I sprayed it. I decided to get some silver spray paint. It looked like I had wrapped tin foil around it. It was so funny.

I sprayed it white and bought some new glass. I am not sure what I think about it yet. I think it looks better.

Weekend Full of Projects

Here is some of what I have been working on this weekend! Spray painting like crazy! I can't wait for these items to be done.

Veteran's

Today I read Pioneer Woman's blog called Coming Home. It is dedicated to pictures of military men & women coming home. Such a moving post! The first few pictures made me smile thinking of families who felt such relief their loved ones made it home safely. Then I saw the fifth picture of the wife hugging her husband and the coffin draped in an American flag and I lost it.

My husband has taught me what a huge sacrifice veterans make for our country. Coming home from war can be a soldiers biggest struggle. Panic, nightmares, post traumatic stress disorder, friends they left behind, a war that still needs them, along with many other issues that follow these soldiers home.

When we first started dating my husband made it very clear there could be a chance he would have to go back to Iraq. I was scared for 2 years that he would have go to back to Iraq. He was lucky to make it out of there once alive and my biggest fear is would he come home safe again. The day he retired was a HUGE relief!

I feel so proud to have such a dedicated and wonderful veteran I call my husband!

WW Southern Oven “Fried” Chicken

Another GOOD chicken recipe. We are having this for dinner tomorrow night. I made it tonight and had a little taste. Very yummy!!!!

1/2 cup fat free buttermilk (I used 1 teaspoon vinegar and 1/2 cup fat free milk instead)
1/2 cup cornflakes, crushed
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper (or to taste)
2 pounds chicken parts, skinned (I used the chicken breast tender meat and its cheaper at Publix. It also cooks faster!)
4 teaspoons Canola oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees, spray a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

Pour the buttermilk (or vinegar/milk mixture) into a large shallow bowl. On a sheet of wax paper combine the cornflake crumbs, flour, salt, and pepper. Dip the chicken in the buttermilk, then dredge in the cornflake mixture, coating completely.

Place the chicken on the baking sheet; drizzle with the canola oil.

If you are using chicken breasts cook for 30 minutes, then turn chicken over and bake until cooked through; 15-20 minutes.

If you are using chicken tenders (which I recommend) cook for 15 minutes, then turn chicken over and bake until cooked through; 10-15 minutes.

Weight watchers recipe and only 5 points (229 calories)!

Baked Almond Chicken

This recipe is sooooo yummy!!!! I made it tonight for our lunches. I had a taste...YUMO!

Baked Almond Chicken

ingredients
1/4 c flour
2 x 2 Tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp celery salt
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp pepper
2 chicken breast halves
3/4 c heavy whipping cream
1/4 c breadcrumbs
1/4 c almond slivers/slices, toasted

instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Place flour in a bowl. Put 2 Tbsp of butter, and celery salt, paprika, salt, pepper, curry, and oregano in another bowl.

3. Dip chicken in flour, then in butter/spices.

Then, place in a baking dish.

4. Pour cream around chicken. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes.

5. Combine breadcrumbs and 2 Tbsp butter, sprinkle over chicken. Top with almonds.

6. Bake another 5-8 minutes (until golden and bubbly).

7. Serve over pasta

Work, Work and More Work

This weekend we worked in our yard, finished painting the master bathroom, and cleaned up our bedroom. Below is a picture of a room we dug out of the front yard. I decided it had to come out and started digging, Art help and I finished pulling it out. The front yard looks great. We will finish putting in the garden over the next week. The back yard is starting to look good too.

Picture below is the spare bedroom. We have the bed up...that it's for the spare room so far. Guests only need a bed to sleep in right. :)

I took these pics with my phone, so they aren't very clear.

Sad Montana Bear Story!

This is a very sad story about a bear. Everybody should heed the warning to not feed wildlife because they become dependent and cannot forage for themselves anymore.

This is such a tragedy to see what they have done to our country's wildlife!

The photo below captures a disturbing trend that is beginning to affect US wildlife . .

Animals that were formerly self-sufficient are now showing signs of belonging to the Democrat Party, as they have apparently learned to just sit and wait for the government to step in and provide for their care and sustenance. This photo is of a Democrat black bear in Montana nicknamed Bearack Obearma.

Meg 2010

Today I joined as one of Meg Whitman's supports. I have requested a sign to put in our front yard and bumper stickers. California needs a change and I think Meg Whitman is the WOMAN for the job! I also contacted them about volunteering at a local campaign office. I already received an email back stating the local rep would be contacting me. How exciting!!!!

Nothing like causing a ruckus in the neighborhood already with our sign! I am taking a stand in our nieghboorhood right away! I think Art has done a great job of that already. He has an American flag that is out all day and has put up PROUD TO BE A VETERAN!

I can't wait to get our sign and bumper stickers! I am hoping to be attending a celebration party in November with a new WOMAN governor.