Hello 2013!!

Hey Peoples!!

I have been thinking about this blog and was going to delete it now that the class I was taking that required this was over.... but I then decided that this could be a way to keep myself accountable for my goals and actions!! Even if you people don't judge me, I will think you do and aim higher!

Soo... What does 2013 have in store for us all?? I am hoping for great changes in 2013!! I will be graduating, and no longer having the status of "student" will be VERY scary as that means I will be a "real" adult... ugh x 100!!

New Years Resolutions???
- I have never really made any resolutions in the past..... but.... this year is differnt! Since I have already accepted the fact that this is a year for change, I will be accepting the fact that there are things that need to change in my life that will take personal actions.

Okay - Here they are  - Here are my "Resolutions/Goals"

1 - Dairy Free
2 - Gluten Free (eventually Grain-Free)
3 - Beer Free (eventually alcohol Free)
4- More Green veggies
5 - More Wager
6 - More Cross-training (Yoga, Zumba, Weights, Running)

There they are, Thoughts? I have a feeling most of these are just wishful thinking, but between the weight and acne issues I have been dealing with I feel these goals are a great start to a new and healthy ME!

Failure!!!!

Hello Everyone!!

Thanksgiving was a COMPLETE fail on my end. Sad day!

I attempted making the pie, that ending up in the garbage!! Then I get some motivation and just made a dairy free pie and leave the crust alone. That at least resembled a edible pie but still didn't taste "right". I have some ideas to try next time, but am just too upset with myself at this point it will have to wait.

The pie issues kinda ruined my whole weekend, but I do have to say both my mom and my boyfriends mom did make some delicious food, I am thankful I have many caring people in my life that know how to lift me back up.

On to DECEMBER!!! I have been making chocolate covered EVERYTHING!!

I bought a huge container of pretzels, and when I say huge,,,, I'm talking 44oz huge!! I also bought some peanuts and like 10 bags of almond bark!! I have almost half of the pretzels done, 3 gallon bags full!! I also just experimented with the peanuts, I have never made peanut clusters before but have always loved them! I tried just plain peanut clusters, I tried mixing in some marshmallows, and I tried adding some peanut butter in with the white almond bark. All turned out very good!! I am also going to make some Oreo truffles, and some haystacks. I was also introduced to those Ritz cracker/peanut butter sandwich things dipped in chocolate... I may have to try those also!! 

Any of you have any great holiday treats you HAVE to make every year??

Day 2 of Thanksgiving!!

Its getting closer!! Oh I can not wait to get to the farm, the smell of pumpkin pie baking in the farmhouse is the most AMAZING smell in the world!! Here is something funny I found at work ;)

I feel hopeless these days, no energy, no motivation.... but hopefully that changes after the long weekend!! I hope that the time at home will give me the break I have been really needing. When I get back to school on Monday, I will only have 3 more weeks of class for the semester and then its Christmas!! YAY!!

Here is what I have been working with for dinner these days - chicken, mushrooms, and zucchini with some shredded cheese :) YUMMM

I was able to roast my sugar pumpkins... so look tomorrow for the recipe -  "dairy free/gluten free pumpkin pie"!!

Day 1 of Thanksgiving Week!!

Hey Everyone!!

I am so excited that Thanksgiving is only 3 days away!! I love the baking, cooking, the smells, and the company. We will have the farmhouse full this year as there will be 20 of us cramed in. Having a big family is great... except when it comes to a holiday meal. We will have enough room though, thankfully there are a bunch of small kids so they don't take up much room!

This year we will be celebrating on Friday afternoon, as most of my brothers go to their in-laws on Thanksgiving day. I will be at my boyfriends house for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. Their family is very health concious and I was asked to bring a gluten-free, dairy-free... and if possible a sugar-free pumpkin pie. This is the main challenge for the week... trying to figure out how to make pumpkin pie with no gluten, no dairy, and no sugar..... CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!! I have some ideas, but will be posting final results later in the week so stay tuned!!

I have been loving the weather, hopefully it stays nice so we can let the kids play outside after Thanksgiving dinner!

Fall Happenings!!

Hello Everyone!!

Hope you all are enjoying the wonderful fall weather!! I love this time of year, the white stuff (snow) can wait to make an appearance for a few weeks yet. I love this weather for cleaning and getting things organized. The house isn't too hot, I can burn candles and the smell of cinnamon is always around! I have been trying to slowly get my parents house ready for the holidays by cleaning and fixing on the weekends... this weekend is busy with craft fairs and shopping for Thanksgiving so I really hope I can get the house cleaned in time for Thanksgiving dinner on Friday!

The past 2 weekends I was deer hunting with my dad and my brothers, this was my 9th year of hunting and as always, I loved every moment in the woods! This is the only time I ever really have one-on-one contact with my brothers or my dad. I usually do all my communicating with the females in the family. Here is a pic of the Buck my boyfriend shot! It was his second year hunting and this is his first deer!!

I have been helping with fixing tractors and washing since harvest got done so early, we have time to get everything put away properly.. for once!! I have been able to learn how to drive almost everything on the farm, but this is my favorite - a little ford tractor!!

 I will be posting as much as possible the next few weeks, I have lots of recipes and workouts that I have finally perfected or figured out to share with you all!!

Halloween Time!!!!

Fall just keeps getting better and better!! Besides the beautiful colors and activities, the holidays that follow fall are the best!!

Halloween is a time for little kids to dress up and for one short night.... their dreams come true when they get to pretend to be their favorite TV person, hero, or animal! I love seeing my nieces and nephews all dressed up fighting eachother for candy. It is a great sight!!

Since Halloween is on Wednesday this year, that means that this weekend was when most people had their traditional Halloween/costume parties. I had the opportunity to take part in two parties this weekend. One on Friday and one on Saturday evening. I also had two separate "costumes" since I am a cheap college student, and don't live by any costume stores, I decided to get creative with the clothes I already had since the two costumes I did have were being borrowed by friends. The first night I was a cowgirl, which was easy since I have boots, jeans, a button-up shirt, and a hat. The next night was a bit more challenging!! I ended up taking my old NAPA auto parts shirts and created a "NAPA girl" outfit.

I thought it was a very successful weekend!!

Fall Fun/Kiddos

Hello Everyone!!

 Hope you have all had time to go to the pumpkin patch or the apple orchard, this is a wonderful time of year!! This weekend I had to babysit my 4 year old niece and my 11 year old nephew. ..Yippy, those kids really know how to drive me crazy!!

We did everything from going out to eat Chinese, going to the movie theater to see Ice Age 4, and carving pumpkins (more on that tomorrow!) My niece is a real girly girl, so there was a lot of nail painting and make up! My nephew is older and “too cool” to do anything fun, ugh!! I miss the days he use to let me paint is nails and make him look pretty too!! Ha

This weekend I did get away from the kids to have a date night with the boyfriend, his grandparents, his cousin and his cousin’s girlfriend. I have known their family much longer then my boyfriend and I have been together, so it was a very fun evening.

 I also happened to get in the cleaning mood…. This really doesn’t happen often on the weekends! I ended up cleaning and vacuuming out my car and trunk, and then made my way to clean my mother’s bathroom and kitchen spotless. I usually only clean for holidays, but I guess this will make my holiday cleaning a bit easier since I am getting a head start.

Back to school/work tomorrow, graduation cannot come soon enough!! T-minus 6 months!!!