75

As of today I have lost 75 pounds!!! 

Red Pencil Skirt

I have been wanting a JCrew red pencil skirt, but I don't want to pay $100+.  I have kept my eyes open at different stores to see if I can find something similar. I haven't had any luck. I decided maybe I could make myself one.  I ran to the fabric store on Saturday. They had 40% off fabric and patterns for $1.99.

I was a little nervous to make the skirt because I don't have the best luck with sewing myself things. Usually they turn out too big or too small. I also haven't ever made a skirt with darts. I measured myself to see which size I should sew. Here is another thing with sewing I am 4 sizes larger according to the pattern than what I buy in the store. How does that work?

It took me about an hour to make the skirt from start to finish. The pattern was super simple. I even mastered darts! I am pleased with how great it turned out!  I am going to make myself a couple more skirts with the pattern. I have cream & brown herringbone fabric I want to use next.

The picture above turned out kind of weird! The flash didn't go off and the background was super white!

Menu Monday

One of my weekly routines is to look through food blogs to find recipes for dinner ideas. Sometimes I come across recipes through the week and I email them to myself. Other times right before I am ready to head out the door to grocery shop I am scouring blogs like a maniac.

This week I will be traveling, so I need to cook some things ahead for my darling husband. I like to leave leftovers or easy things for him to heat up. This way he has options for lunches or dinner.

I am traveling for work; however, I get to visit with some great friends Julie & Krystal.

I will be visiting my bestie in LA Krystal. She is the foodie queen and always inspires me to cook delish yumminess!

Pork chops & Quinoa

Spaghetti

Chicken Tacos

Broiled or Grilled Pollo Sabroso

Congratulations Lacey & Cliff!

Exciting news....Lacey & Cliff bought a house!

While we were in ND they took us to tour the house. I didn't take one stinking picture. Ugh! I wish I had taken pictures of the outside at least. It is a really cute house with lots of space.

I am soooo excited for them! I am also so proud of my little sis. She is 22 yrs old and already bought a house. She did an amazing job getting the loan in place, dealing with the Realtor and the bank. So proud of her!

I can't wait to see how you turn your cute house into a cute home!

Congratulations!

Saturday Pinterest

Need some motivation to get started on a healthier you? 

I <3 this idea of putting the marbles from one canister to another. I wish I had done this to see just exactly how much progress I was making each week.

Source: Hot Mess Princess

Moving?

Lacey here is how you should move. Throw everything in your truck and then top it with the mattresses. Don't waste your money on a u-haul!

I happened to be driving behind this insanity near my house last week. What in the world is wrong with these people?

Bart Happening Thursday

Art suggested I start writing one day a week about the crazy things that happen on Bart. I thought I would make Thursday "Bart Happening Thursday's". If I can take pictures of the insanity I will also post them also.  As long as the craziness happens I will start writing about it weekly. Some weeks I don't see that many crazy things, but other weeks there is TONS that happen.

• Last week I learned if you see a hottie across the train yell out to them to see if they are available for a date. Reason #439273 I am soooo happy I am married!

• Almost every morning I see the same people taking the train to work. There is one woman who comes barreling into the parking lot every single day, jumps out of her car and takes off running to the train. This woman drives me a little crazy. Why doesn't she leave a few minutes earlier, so she doesn't have to stress.

• Each morning a guy drops off his girlfriend/wife off at Bart. Recently they have been having some major fights. One morning she jumped out of the car, he screamed, she was crying and then she sped off.
• A month or so ago I went home early in the day from work. As I got on the train I noticed a LARGE rolled of carpet on a dolly.  The guy was sleeping on the train with his large roll of carpet/carpet padding. It was a little random to say the least.

Wordless Wednesday

Favorite Fashion Blogs

I have really been trying to wear different outfits, mixing up colors and just trying to be more stylish. I feel I lost my style in the past 3-4 years. I was in a rut where I wore just what fit and wasn't very concerned with the details. I wasn't walking around in sweats all day, but I wasnt' putting effort into my outfits.

I started reading fashion blogs this year. Here are a few of my favorites.

J's Everyday Fashion is my VERY favorite!!! I just love her style and how adventurous she is with clothes.

Veronika's Blushing is a new blog I started following in the past 2 weeks.  I have read through every.single.post she has written.

The Look 4 Less is a great blog to find designer look alike at a great price.  I can't afford designer clothes. I do love to find something similar to a designer that I can afford!

Style Is As Style Does I love her every day work style! She also dresses adorable on the weekends.

Here is an outfit I tried 2 weeks ago. I decided to wear my boots with a skirt. This was such a comfy outfit, but I also felt cute.  Yes, my hair is in a pony. This was right after I had dyed my hair and the color was washing out. It is a rare thing to see me at work with a ponytail. I had to wear one for almost a week. I finally convinced one of my roommates to dye my hair.

Menu Monday

Ugh making a menu can be a challenge at times. This week I didn't know what to make. I decided to use some favorites corn chowder and Taco Bell Pizza. I also didn't make the light mexican casserole last week, so that is on the menu again.

I have been following Kalyn's Kitchen blog for a couple weeks. I thought the lettuce wraps sound delish and a bonus that they are no carb. I love when I can find a non-carb dinner! I will probably give Art a tortilla to help fill him up.

Corn Chowder

Taco Bell Pizza

Quick Sriracha Beef Lettuce Wraps

Light Mexican Casserole

What is on your menu this week?



Pinterest Saturday

Coupon Queen

Lacey has become the Queen of Coupons! She had a whole box of stuff at her house that she had bought for under $1 with coupons. A lot of stuff she had gotten for free. When we would go into Target, Walmart, or the grocery store she would be a bag with her. This bag held her entire binder FULL of coupons. It was like taking a diaper bag just full of coupons. lol  She bought some Febreeze air fresheners for about $1 at Target. It was a whole event, pulling out the coupons, checking prices, brands, and determining which was the best deal. Finally she found what was the best deal and she bought a couple.

Happy Anniversary

Today my parents are celebrating 33 year of marriage. They will be the first to tell you they have had their ups & downs. One thing they have taught me is if you fall down, get back up & try again! It wasn't just a lesson on marriage, but on life. They also taught me marriage is no fairy tale! There are times you have to put your mud boots on, chase cows as fast as you can before your pies burn in the oven!

Happy Anniversary to the Best Parents!



Ginger Bread House

a few years back Lacey and I started making a ginger bread house. we buy the premade houses with all the decorations at either target or walmart. this year it was on our list of things to buy the day we arrived in north dakota. that evening we all gathered around the table to decorate our ginger bread house. somehow the guys never stick around too long. maybe it is because we are very particular on how we want it decorated and we don't let anyone else put things on the house.  it isn't that we are bossy we are just particular and want our house to look a certain way!!!

Lacey & Cliff getting ready to start decorating

 Fausha just watching us. He closes his eyes to avoid the flash. lol

 Lacey was NOT happy because the fondant was stuck to the rolling pin. this is the first year fondant was included with the kit.

 Mausha getting the icing ready.

 I am not sure what this picture is all about or what exactly I was holding.

 YAY house decorating!

 Lacey & I gave the icing job to the professional cake decorator!

Cliff & Mable hanging out on the couch.

 Art & Mable

 Decorated house....we did allow Cliff to make the chimney

How awful is it that this is the only picture I got of the house! UGH! I should have taken pictures of the house from every direction. It was actually a really good house this year. Until next year.....