Liebster Award!

Sweet Carol at Keeping Up with the Kaune's nominated me for the Liebster Award, which is an award for bloggers with under 200 followers and a fun way to get to know more about the blogger.  She gave me these questions to answer, so here it goes! :)  Thanks, Carol!

1. What is your favorite recipe?

I absolutely love to cook and try new recipes.  One of our current faves for dinner is one that has been passed around the blogosphere and Pinterest quite a lot!  It is Kevin and Amanda's Spicy Sausage Pasta and if you have not tried it before, I cannot encourage you enough to pick up the ingredients for dinner!  The ingredients are simple and easy to find and it cooks in one large skillet, so cleanup is easy!!  

Simple Ingredients

Right after all ingredients were combined

Final Deliciousness!

I made it for the Mister on Sunday night and I think he finished up the last of the leftovers for lunch today, so it makes a good amount.  We love leftovers in our house!  Feel free to check out my "Tried and True" Pinterest board for other recipes we really like at our house!

2. What is your favorite hair product?

l to r: root lifting spray, blow dry spray, dry shampoo, & super hold finishing spray

I love Kenra products.  My stylist and good friend Ashley along with Kate from The Small Things Blog definitely praised the benefits of this line and I have had phenomenal success!  In fact, my hair seems to be able to hold style and have volume better than ever before. :)

3. What is the best vacation you have been on?

My favorite vacation has to be our honeymoon to Hawaii!  It was the perfect blend of relaxing on the beach and exploring the island with my very favorite person. :)

4. Tell us your favorite meal?

My favorite meal...such a toughie!!  I think Mexican food wins every time. :)  Homemade flour tortillas, chips, queso, guacamole, and brisket tacos from Mi Cocina. 

5. Dream job?

Creating names for all the nail polishes for Essie or OPI!  One of my favorite things to do when I get a mani/pedi is looking at the different polish names when choosing my color. :)  I also would enjoy hosting a show on the Travel channel and discovering the sights like Samantha Brown does.

6. Christmas or Thanksgiving?

Christmas!

7. Favorite clothes store?

Nordstrom leads the pack for me.  So many great designers and the most amazing shoe department!  I love blogs like Pinterest Told Me To that keep me posted on great sales at my favorite store!!

8. What is your favorite Football team and do you have any traditions on game day?

Hands down the Baylor Bears!!!  I am so proud of how they have played this season, too.  As for game day traditions, I try to always wear my game day gear and Sic 'Em, Bears!

9. Favorite TV SHOW?

I confess that my favorite TV Show is Real Housewives on Bravo.  Any city, every season, I love it all!

10. DIY or buy everything?

I would say I am a blend on this question.  I do love my DIYs time and again, but sometimes I have to go to the pros. :)

Now, I would like to pass this little award on to several "new to me" blogs that I really enjoy reading:

Cait @ Home Sweet Ruby

Ally @ Life as I Know It

Andrea @ Never Say Never

and

Stephanie @ Newlyweds: North

I'll pass along the same questions Carol gave me:

1. What is your favorite recipe?

2. What is your favorite hair product?

3. What is the best vacation you have been on?

4. Tell us your favorite meal?

5. Dream job?

6. Christmas or Thanksgiving?

7. Favorite clothes store?

8. What is your favorite Football team and do you have any traditions on game day?

9. Favorite TV SHOW?

10. DIY or buy everything?

Enjoy!  Happy Wednesday, Everyone!!

Liebster Award!

Sweet Carol at Keeping Up with the Kaune's nominated me for the Liebster Award, which is an award for bloggers with under 200 followers and a fun way to get to know more about the blogger.  She gave me these questions to answer, so here it goes! :)  Thanks, Carol!

1. What is your favorite recipe?

I absolutely love to cook and try new recipes.  One of our current faves for dinner is one that has been passed around the blogosphere and Pinterest quite a lot!  It is Kevin and Amanda's Spicy Sausage Pasta and if you have not tried it before, I cannot encourage you enough to pick up the ingredients for dinner!  The ingredients are simple and easy to find and it cooks in one large skillet, so cleanup is easy!!  

Simple Ingredients

Right after all ingredients were combined

Final Deliciousness!

I made it for the Mister on Sunday night and I think he finished up the last of the leftovers for lunch today, so it makes a good amount.  We love leftovers in our house!  Feel free to check out my "Tried and True" Pinterest board for other recipes we really like at our house!

2. What is your favorite hair product?

l to r: root lifting spray, blow dry spray, dry shampoo, & super hold finishing spray

I love Kenra products.  My stylist and good friend Ashley along with Kate from The Small Things Blog definitely praised the benefits of this line and I have had phenomenal success!  In fact, my hair seems to be able to hold style and have volume better than ever before. :)

3. What is the best vacation you have been on?

My favorite vacation has to be our honeymoon to Hawaii!  It was the perfect blend of relaxing on the beach and exploring the island with my very favorite person. :)

4. Tell us your favorite meal?

My favorite meal...such a toughie!!  I think Mexican food wins every time. :)  Homemade flour tortillas, chips, queso, guacamole, and brisket tacos from Mi Cocina. 

5. Dream job?

Creating names for all the nail polishes for Essie or OPI!  One of my favorite things to do when I get a mani/pedi is looking at the different polish names when choosing my color. :)  I also would enjoy hosting a show on the Travel channel and discovering the sights like Samantha Brown does.

6. Christmas or Thanksgiving?

Christmas!

7. Favorite clothes store?

Nordstrom leads the pack for me.  So many great designers and the most amazing shoe department!  I love blogs like Pinterest Told Me To that keep me posted on great sales at my favorite store!!

8. What is your favorite Football team and do you have any traditions on game day?

Hands down the Baylor Bears!!!  I am so proud of how they have played this season, too.  As for game day traditions, I try to always wear my game day gear and Sic 'Em, Bears!

9. Favorite TV SHOW?

I confess that my favorite TV Show is Real Housewives on Bravo.  Any city, every season, I love it all!

10. DIY or buy everything?

I would say I am a blend on this question.  I do love my DIYs time and again, but sometimes I have to go to the pros. :)

Now, I would like to pass this little award on to several "new to me" blogs that I really enjoy reading:

Cait @ Home Sweet Ruby

Ally @ Life as I Know It

Andrea @ Never Say Never

and

Stephanie @ Newlyweds: North

I'll pass along the same questions Carol gave me:

1. What is your favorite recipe?

2. What is your favorite hair product?

3. What is the best vacation you have been on?

4. Tell us your favorite meal?

5. Dream job?

6. Christmas or Thanksgiving?

7. Favorite clothes store?

8. What is your favorite Football team and do you have any traditions on game day?

9. Favorite TV SHOW?

10. DIY or buy everything?

Enjoy!  Happy Wednesday, Everyone!!

Five for Friday

Yay!  It's Friday again and I'm so happy to join in this very fun linkup with Natasha, Darci, April, and Christina.

{1} Giveaway Win!!

I was so excited to win Nina's giveaway from Onli beverages!  They make all of these fun sparkling soft drink flavors and I can't wait to entertain friends next weekend with my fun treats!!  I received a lot of great goodies to use for a party, too, so I can't wait to unpack it all!  It was also my first giveaway to win, which was a little bit fun, too. :)  

{2} Lunch

So this morning when I walked into the kitchen, I saw my lunch kit out on the counter and filled with the lunch items I enjoy taking to work.  It was such a sweet help that the hubs thought to put my lunch together for me and as I sat in my office eating my carrots and string cheese, I thought of it all over again.  It definitely made me want to think of things I can do for him and others around me that may seem minor at the time, but make a big difference.

{3} The Skimm

Y'all, I read about this on April's "5 for Friday" post last week and I had to check it out.  It is a daily current events email that gives you the full scoop on what is happening in the world, but all the details are written like your friend wrote them (i.e. easy for me to understand).  I have to admit reading the news and keeping up with current events is not a regular habit with me, but this email keeps me posted on what is going on in the world around me.  If you would like a daily digest of the news, I hgihgly recommend The Skimm!

{4} Crockpot Yumminess!!

So I've had this recipe on one of my boards for forever and have been wanting to make it for a while.  I mean, any combination of chicken, corn, cheese, and rice sounds like a winner in my book.  The recipe is from Southern Plate and you can find the recipe here.  We enjoyed three meals from the recipe, which was one more than we'd planned on!  I forgot to take pictures because it didn't last too long on our plates, but tomorrow I am trying this Crispy Ritz chicken recipe, so I'll try to document a little more. :)

{5} Breakfast of Champions!

This week, I have been enjoying an everything bagel thin for breakfast with a little fat free cream cheese.  The bagel is only 3 or 4 weight watcher points and a tablespoon of cream cheese is 0!!  This option has been a great way for me to get my everything bagel fix with fewer calories. :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for stopping by. :)

Five for Friday

Yay!  It's Friday again and I'm so happy to join in this very fun linkup with Natasha, Darci, April, and Christina.

{1} Giveaway Win!!

I was so excited to win Nina's giveaway from Onli beverages!  They make all of these fun sparkling soft drink flavors and I can't wait to entertain friends next weekend with my fun treats!!  I received a lot of great goodies to use for a party, too, so I can't wait to unpack it all!  It was also my first giveaway to win, which was a little bit fun, too. :)  

{2} Lunch

So this morning when I walked into the kitchen, I saw my lunch kit out on the counter and filled with the lunch items I enjoy taking to work.  It was such a sweet help that the hubs thought to put my lunch together for me and as I sat in my office eating my carrots and string cheese, I thought of it all over again.  It definitely made me want to think of things I can do for him and others around me that may seem minor at the time, but make a big difference.

{3} The Skimm

Y'all, I read about this on April's "5 for Friday" post last week and I had to check it out.  It is a daily current events email that gives you the full scoop on what is happening in the world, but all the details are written like your friend wrote them (i.e. easy for me to understand).  I have to admit reading the news and keeping up with current events is not a regular habit with me, but this email keeps me posted on what is going on in the world around me.  If you would like a daily digest of the news, I hgihgly recommend The Skimm!

{4} Crockpot Yumminess!!

So I've had this recipe on one of my boards for forever and have been wanting to make it for a while.  I mean, any combination of chicken, corn, cheese, and rice sounds like a winner in my book.  The recipe is from Southern Plate and you can find the recipe here.  We enjoyed three meals from the recipe, which was one more than we'd planned on!  I forgot to take pictures because it didn't last too long on our plates, but tomorrow I am trying this Crispy Ritz chicken recipe, so I'll try to document a little more. :)

{5} Breakfast of Champions!

This week, I have been enjoying an everything bagel thin for breakfast with a little fat free cream cheese.  The bagel is only 3 or 4 weight watcher points and a tablespoon of cream cheese is 0!!  This option has been a great way for me to get my everything bagel fix with fewer calories. :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for stopping by. :)

Labor-less Labor Day Weekend

So I know there are lots of people out there who always like to have a project or be accomplishing a task, but I have determined that I am not one of those people. :)  I love those people!  They are so wonderful and accomplish so much, but I'm afraid I am such a sedentary creature!!  The mister and I did lace up our sneakers and take a walk around the neighborhood Monday night, so maybe I did fit in a little activity this weekend.  :)


We had a great Labor Day weekend.  Mr. G had just gotten back from a business trip to Chicago, so I decided to surprise him by cleaning the entire house before he got home.  Now, I know this may not thrill some men to the depths of their souls, but Mr. G is one of those people I was speaking of at the beginning of the post.  He loves keeping a spic and span home.  We took the 5 Love Languages assessment in our premarital counseling sessions and his favorite love language is acts of service, so I knew a clean house would speak to his heart.  The other thing I was excited about was that I managed to stay motivated about my cleaning project all day at work and jumped in when I got home.  Something I am learning about myself is that if I have tasks to do, I like to get them done, so I can enjoy the rest of my time.  I knew if I cleaned first, then we wouldn't have to do many chores the rest of the weekend.  I also know that since I am not one of those motivated folks I mentioned earlier, if I take a seat on the couch when I get home, I won't get my tasks accomplished, but definitely have a tendency to put things off with excuse after excuse.  Is this just me??

Image courtesy of Suat Eman at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So after my marathon cleaning session on Friday night, I definitely relaxed and enjoyed catching up on reading and some of my favorite shows.  In between relaxing, I did run some errands and also was able to check off a few things on my "to-do" list like put a huge stack of photos I had printed of Mr. G and my first year of dating and also put our Boston trip photos in my "smash book".  I'm loving the idea of a smash book because it is like a scrapbook where you put in pictures and write little captions, but without the pressure of perfection.  Sometimes scrapbooking stresses me out -- hence the blog love!  I tend to get overwhelmed by all the possibilities and this makes me freeze sometimes.  Anyway, I'm just using a little journal I've had and I love being able to write down all the little extra remembrances, too, to make the photos more special.  I've seen some cute ideas where you cut out photos from magazines and modge podge the cover, so maybe that will be the next project I'll tackle.

my smashbook :)

Another fun thing we did was watch Baylor's season opener against Wofford College.  I just have to say what an amazing job Art Briles, his incredible coaching staff and our Baylor players have done.  I was so impressed with the heart our guys showed and can't wait for our next game on Saturday.  We got to spend some quality time with the in-laws, too, which is always a treat.  I am so thankful to God for the gift they are!

It was so nice to have 3 days in a row of relaxation!  God also used this time to speak to my heart.  I have a devotional blog, too, that I write in from time to time, so feel free to hop over there if you would like. :)  Here is the link: Hope and Holiness.  Maybe this weekend I will YouTube how to make a cute blog button!

Here's to a great week!

Labor-less Labor Day Weekend

So I know there are lots of people out there who always like to have a project or be accomplishing a task, but I have determined that I am not one of those people. :)  I love those people!  They are so wonderful and accomplish so much, but I'm afraid I am such a sedentary creature!!  The mister and I did lace up our sneakers and take a walk around the neighborhood Monday night, so maybe I did fit in a little activity this weekend.  :)


We had a great Labor Day weekend.  Mr. G had just gotten back from a business trip to Chicago, so I decided to surprise him by cleaning the entire house before he got home.  Now, I know this may not thrill some men to the depths of their souls, but Mr. G is one of those people I was speaking of at the beginning of the post.  He loves keeping a spic and span home.  We took the 5 Love Languages assessment in our premarital counseling sessions and his favorite love language is acts of service, so I knew a clean house would speak to his heart.  The other thing I was excited about was that I managed to stay motivated about my cleaning project all day at work and jumped in when I got home.  Something I am learning about myself is that if I have tasks to do, I like to get them done, so I can enjoy the rest of my time.  I knew if I cleaned first, then we wouldn't have to do many chores the rest of the weekend.  I also know that since I am not one of those motivated folks I mentioned earlier, if I take a seat on the couch when I get home, I won't get my tasks accomplished, but definitely have a tendency to put things off with excuse after excuse.  Is this just me??

Image courtesy of Suat Eman at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So after my marathon cleaning session on Friday night, I definitely relaxed and enjoyed catching up on reading and some of my favorite shows.  In between relaxing, I did run some errands and also was able to check off a few things on my "to-do" list like put a huge stack of photos I had printed of Mr. G and my first year of dating and also put our Boston trip photos in my "smash book".  I'm loving the idea of a smash book because it is like a scrapbook where you put in pictures and write little captions, but without the pressure of perfection.  Sometimes scrapbooking stresses me out -- hence the blog love!  I tend to get overwhelmed by all the possibilities and this makes me freeze sometimes.  Anyway, I'm just using a little journal I've had and I love being able to write down all the little extra remembrances, too, to make the photos more special.  I've seen some cute ideas where you cut out photos from magazines and modge podge the cover, so maybe that will be the next project I'll tackle.

my smashbook :)

Another fun thing we did was watch Baylor's season opener against Wofford College.  I just have to say what an amazing job Art Briles, his incredible coaching staff and our Baylor players have done.  I was so impressed with the heart our guys showed and can't wait for our next game on Saturday.  We got to spend some quality time with the in-laws, too, which is always a treat.  I am so thankful to God for the gift they are!

It was so nice to have 3 days in a row of relaxation!  God also used this time to speak to my heart.  I have a devotional blog, too, that I write in from time to time, so feel free to hop over there if you would like. :)  Here is the link: Hope and Holiness.  Maybe this weekend I will YouTube how to make a cute blog button!

Here's to a great week!

Never Ever Ever Linkup!

I'm so happy to be linking up today with Stephanie, Neely and Shelley for their Never Ever Ever linkup detailing things that we would never ever ever do.



{1} 

Image courtesy of num_skyman at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I will never ever ever be sad to welcome Fall.  I'm always so excited for the crisp autumn breezes and until they arrive all the festive fall decor and sweet treats (hello pumpkin spiced latte!!) help usher us into the season in Texas!  I've even been burning an Apple Cider candle from Bath and Body Works and can't wait to whip up my first batch of pumpkin bread. :)

{2} 

I will never ever ever get tired of eating Mexican food!  Seriously, chips, salsa and guacamole have become a frequent almost daily occurrence and I could not be happier!! :)

{3}

photo courtesy Kelly Hosch Photography

I will never ever ever be able to thank God enough for bringing this man into my life.  Marriage is certainly an adventure, but I cannot image living life with anyone else!! :)

Hope you are having a great week!