Oh, and by the way...

It's getting crafty up in this hizzle. My friend posted about a wreath that she just did, and I loved it. It's a bean wreath! How cute is that? Well, since it's the summer of awesomeness, I'm going to start making things for our basement/home. On my list so far is this....

• Quilt- easy peasy one, because this is my first time


• Covering lamp shades- I bought the lamps from my friend, and just need to cover them with something that matches our decor


• A bean wreath- it was so freaking cute, I need one of my own


• Staining or painting my coffee table


• Whatever else tickles my fancy

I'm really excited. I have all the fabric for the quilt, and I'll start cutting it soon. I'm going to post pictures of the fabric so you can see the cuteness it radiates, and I'll post some before pictures of the lamps. But, seeing how I'm coming up on my 2 year anniversary, I was thinking that it's time for me to start being able to do things on my own. Being able to make my house look like a home. Not that doing these things are the only way to make a home... I just don't have the money or the room for the things that I want. So, I'm going to improvise and use what I have. Maybe get a few things on the side. But along with the crafty side of growing up, there is the side of cooking, like with a crock pot. Gotta learn some different recipes for that, because Justin and I will get sick of barbecued pork loin pretty quick. We went to the store the other day and stocked up on meat. Steak, pork loin, and hamburger. So, needless to say, I need some ideas. I googled a little bit today, but was really only half-assing it, because I wasn't feeling my A-Game today. Anyway... I still do my e-mealz but Justin and I suck at going to the store, and suck even worse at printing the menus off each week. We've been a member since January, and we have 10 menus printed off. Oops. Just a quick update on those, because I know some of you might care =)

• There are different menus to pick from, like fat-free, gluten free, portion control,vegetarian, low-carb, etc.


• There is a meal for each weeknight, so Monday-Friday. Along with the menu, you get a shopping list.


• You can choose a specific store you'd like to shop at, like WalMart, Kruger, etc.


• Some of the meals we've had are Pasta e Fagioli, White Bean Chili,Creamy Chicken Broccoli Bake, 3 Cheese Manicotti, Baked Spaghetti Pie, Winter Veggie Pasta Toss, Taco Cornbread Bake, Black Bean Soup, Spicy Shrimp, Huevos (hahahahaha huevos...) Rancheros.

We've made most of those things, but not all of them. The ones I listed are from each different menu. Most are really easy, like under 30 minutes. They use basic spices, basic ingredients, and so on. I've really liked making the meals, it's just a matter of staying faithful to them. Which we struggle with.

Golly. I was thinking this would just be a short, easy post... and man, did that turn out differently than what I was expecting. Heh.

Day 5

What have I learned in the past month.

Well, I've learned that I need to let things go. Being pissed off about them isn't a solution. I can either be proactive and try to figure out a solution that is realistic, or I can forget about it. Which I think is the easiest thing, because it's usually just me that feels that there is a problem. It'll make my life a lot nicer for myself and Justin if I just drop it. =)

I've learned that change is good. It's not always expected, but it's sometimes necessary.

I've started cooking. I signed up for e-mealz, and I'll tell you what, I've never cooked so much in all of my life. I am the youngest in my family, so there were a lot of nights that my parents and I would eat cereal for dinner, or mush for dinner... it was simple. Justin on the other hand is pure man. He wants meat. So, THAT'S been an adjustment. We've been following this plan, and it's been SO nice. It plans out the meals for the week, there is a grocery list to follow, which then helps us save money.

I've learned more things, it's just hard to sit down and write it all. Especially because I'm sure there are things I have learned, but just haven't recognized it.

I like to eat eat eat apples and bananas!

I don't know if any of you ever listen to Brian Regan, but he has a joke about spelling banana, and adding too many na's to it... it makes me laugh.

Anyway. I feel a lot has happened in the last few weeks. Grandpa is doing awesome. He was back on the treadmil within 2 weeks of surgery, and he looks great! He showed me the scar on his chest... man alive it's huge. A little scary.

For Valentine's Day, Justin and I went to my parents cabin. We left Friday night, and came back home on Monday. We watched a lot of movies, read, Justin did homework, ate out, and one night Justin made meatloaf! It was a lot of fun. I think even Auggie had fun. I love my dog =)

Saturday afternoon, we had some friends come over and we started planning for our Ghost Towning adventure. I'm really excited. We got a lot planned out, got food figured out, and now it's just up to the people who want to come. Justin is REALLY excited. He's never really been. I have, but the problem is that we went to so many different places that they all kind of blurred together. Either way, I'll remember them now because I'll have my camera!

Grandma's birthday party was Saturday night. Our family got together, including Connie (who is serving a mission with her husband in Bolivia as temple president) and then uncle Steven from Kansas. It was kind of fun to see them all together and hear them laughing and what not. Then, once dinner was over, my grandma sat in a chair right in the front of everyone, and we all asked questions. It was a lot of fun.

We've done a few more meals since I last posted. There was a yucky gumbo, meatloaf (it was a little crumbly, but good), delicious and hard to stuff manicotti, and... I know there was more... I just can't remember. So I'll post again when I get home.

And just a little side note. The heater in the room at the school I work at... yeah, it's broken. I'm fuh-fuh-fuh-fuhreeeeezing.

And the meals continue

So we had a few days off of the meals because we fasted for grandpa, we had the Peterson family birthday dinner, and we don't cook on the weekends =)

But here are some of the meals that we've done thus far, and my personal ratings on each (since I don't know how to do stars, I'll do asterisks. 1-Bad 5-Amazing)

Pepperoni Loaf * * *

Apple Baked French Toast* * * * *

BBQ Chicken Baked Potatoes* * * *

Baked Ziti* * * * *

White Bean Chili* * * * *

The pepperoni loaf, like I said, it was a-spicey! I liked it, but when we make it next time, we'll try some different spices. Maybe that will help. And maybe not pepperoni... we'll try canadian bacon.

Apple Baked French Toast-- Oh my goodness! I love breakfast for dinner, and this was almost like a dessert it was so good. Instead of dipping the bread like normal french toast, you soak it in eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt overnight! You don't cook the apples either, so they're not gross and squishy. I loved this one.

BBQ Chicken Baked Potatoes - These were good, I definitely liked them, but I wanted more toppings. Instead of using sour cream we use Greek plain yogurt... it's a change that's for sure.

Baked Ziti. Aside from the fact that I forgot the meat in the microwave, then had to pour everything back out and mix the meat in.... it was really good. It was originally supposed to be layered and pretty........ oh well.

White Bean Chili- I looooooved this one. It was SO good. I normally don't dig stuff like that... but this one was fantastic! I didn't add ALL of the ingredients... like zucchini.... but it was awesome still. I also left the onions in HUGE chunks so I could pick them out later. (I'm a picky eater.)

The rest of the week we have Sliced BBQ Pork Roast, Baked Tacos, Smokey BBQ Sandwiches. I'm exciiiited!

And so the healthiness begins.

Last night was the opening ceremony for our e-mealz plan. I was actually tutoring at the time, so Justin made the dinner. Come to find out, the meal we had originally planned for Monday needed to be prepped the night before. So, we did our Tuesday dinner on Monday, no big deal. The dinner consisted of a salad, we were supposed to have oranges, but didn't, and the main course was a pizza roll. We bought a Pillsbury pizza crust that came in the scary can that you twist open, and we had turkey peperoni's, mozzarella cheese, and then some spices. Like I said, I didn't make it, so I can't remember the specifics. But you spread egg whites on the dough, then add everything, then roll it up, and spread egg whites on the top as well. It was a little spicy, but it was delicious!

Meal #1 - Success.

Tonight we're going to have Wednesday's dinner because, alas, we didn't have time to prep last night for Monday's original dinner. The dinner consists of apple french toast of some sort. It isn't the normal kind because you cut the bread into little squares, and cover it with cinnamon and sugar, and then you let that sit overnight, and then bake it in the oven. Something of that sort. I'll update about that when I actually get to that point.

The Dating Divas are GENIUS!

There are so many useful things on their website. Not just about dates, but about being a wife, and making life easier. For yourself, which consequently makes it easier for your loved ones. The post that they had today was about e-mealz.com which is the greatest idea ever. Justin and I once sat down, planned some meals, and what we should eat that week... and it lasted that long too. A week. It was nice having the list and everything already planned... but alas. My time is precious, and I have yet to plan again. So... needless to say, I've already signed up for the e-mealz, and I can hardly wait to use it!

Really, if you want great ideas on pretty much anything, www.thedatingdivas.com are right there!