We're Moving

To another site, that is...As I described before, I've decided to consolodate a lot of the things that I blog about.  I have moved to One Savory Life.  This blog will give me a chance to blog more about food (my love), married life (my one true love) and every other happening going on in my small town.  Hope you'll join me! There's already a post...and it may or may not have to do with Easy Enchiladas.  Hasta luego!

Change is a Comin'

So in an effort to consolidate my life, i.e. I have too much stuff to do...my personal blog will be no more :(  I have neglected it for awhile now and I feel bad about that.  But fear not, I'm just combining the things in my life that are blog-worthy.  Farm life, being a wife, and my love of food.  So stay tuned for a new link!

A Year Ago Today (Yesterday)

We'll pretend like I posted this yesterday...
One year ago today I married my best friend.  He's the most wonderful man who constantly makes me laugh, and smile.  When I'm feeling blue he knows what the situation calls for.  He either makes me laugh and see the irony of the situation, or he holds me until it's better.  We have both said that we make each other want to be a better person, and that is so true.  I've heard so many people say "I don't want someone that wants to change for me" or "I'll never change for him/her"...truth is, you do change.  You both change, but you definitely change for the better.  We have learned to be biased with our love, and fair with our fighting.  We have fun! And we don't get all caught up in the silly little things that some couples do.  I would say this first year has been nothing but great, and I can't wait to see what year #2 brings us :)

A Year Ago Today...
...I was peeking through the church doors at my groom, and all the friends and family that were there to share it with us.

...I was wearing a gorgeous dress (albeit heavy) on the hottest day of the year.  Seriously, it was freakin hot! The whole summer had been amazing, average of 80-85 degrees each day.  Who picked the only 98 degree day?? We did! We did!

...I was shoving Shakspeares pizza in my face, not really caring if I smudged my makeup

...I didn't cry very much, to my own surprise.  But to make up for my eyes, my nose couldn't control itself! I sniffed so much while saying my vows, it was insane!

...I was having the best time with my groom, giggling while we were standing in front of everyone saying our vows.  "Did you cut yourself shaving this morning???" (major gash on his neck!)...."ummmm yeah" hahahaha!

(see the cut???) :)

...I was climbing into a limo, and melting into the seat.  We were done! That was one of my favorite moments of the day.  Calm and peaceful...and I was so full of love.

...We were walking into a room full of our favorite people, and I can't begin to explain to you how amazing the food was! Of all the things about our wedding, we got the most compliments on the decorations and food at the reception.  Loved it!

...I was dancing with my dad...he's the best

...We were laughing at the beautiful slideshow that my brother put together for us.  Between me having no hair until I was 3 and Timothy's snapping turtle picture, who wouldn't assume we'd have beautiful children??
...We were pouring ourselves back into that limo while the party continued into the night.  What an awesome, relaxing ride to the hotel room.  Such a fun night!
...We were reflecting on the amount of love that surrounded us that day. I thank God every day for how much love is in my life.

Thank you honey for the best first year ever! You are right, if the rest of our marriage is as fun as the first year, I can't wait to see what's next!

Long Time No See

I just realized how long it has been since my last post.  One might think it is sad that I haven't had anything exciting to report, but I'm almost glad.  Life has been good lately, and calm...Compared to last summer, so far this one has been fab.  I've had a chance to get more things done around the house, work on some stationery stuff (launching website soon!), and spend time relaxing.  Don't get me wrong, I do have basketball and that can get a little crazy.  I have games all day today, which stinks for Timothy (pizza tonight) but these girls need some work!  We started the Insanity workout over again this week.  Two months ago I would've never thought that I could do one whole video.  I am still out of breath and dripping with sweat at the end, but I can seriously do the video without dying!  I feel great, my clothes fit better, and I have more energy.  All in all, I would say it is a successful program! I highly recommend it!  Hopefully I'll have more to post about soon, but don't be surprised if they are few and far between.  We have a busy summer planned...
*This weekend, we are headed to OK to visit my bestie and her husband! Can't wait!!! Road Trip!!
*Next weekend, Father's Day
*Last weekend in June, Ashley's wedding
*4th of July + my bday + my bff flying in = hot mess
*July 11th = 1st Anniversary! Yippee!!
*July 17th Cardinals Game
After that, who knows, who cares...Can't wait to see what the rest of this summer brings!!

I'm A Sucker For Pretty Paper

I love paper.  When I was planning my wedding I obsessed over the paper for my invitations.  I obsessed over the font for my invitations.  I obsessed over how my invitations looked.  I didn't have a lot of money to work with but I was so pleased with how they turned out (helps to have a bf that does design work, thank you Lori!)  I kept thinking at that time that I would love to have a business that dealt with stationery, cards, and invitations.  Then I got married, and didn't want to touch anything remotely resembling weddings for a very long time (you brides out there understand) 

One day I needed a quick card for someone's birthday and I used some of the leftover supplies from the wedding.  I love giving things to people that are handmade.  I also think there's something to be said for writing a good old fashioned letter.  I remember looking at old love letters between my parents and grandparents.  I think it is definitely a lost art.  With text and email (and I admit I'm bad about it too) there really is not much of a need to send someone a letter.  Even though the massive amount of thank you notes from the wedding weren't fun, I really did enjoy sticking them in the mail and knowing that someone would appreciate them.  It really was somewhat therapeudic.  So I'm hoping to bring back this lost art by turning my hobby into gifts for your friends, or even gifts for yourself :) After doing a lot of brainstorming (thanks to Lori & Kristin again) Sugar Snap Stationery was born. It will take me awhile to get started, but I already have a bunch of samples of cards made and look forward to making more each chance I get.  Hopefully very soon I can get a blog started and get some samples up for everyone to look at.  Happy Monday!

Spring Has Officially Sprung!

Signs I Know That Spring Is Here:
7.  My students have checked out.  For some reason they think it's May 20th already...I am giving a practice state test today and a girl asked me (completely serious) "Do I have to do this?"...um yes, you do.  And you must try.  I haven't resorted to begging yet, but I believe that's next.
6.  The skirts are getting shorter.  Enough said
5.  I would sooooo much rather be outside than at my desk.
4.  Farmer's Markets have opened...Yippee!!
3.  My skin has a little color, as opposed to the ghost white sleeves I've been sporting since September
2.  New couples have emerged at school.  It's funny, because around March all the winter couples break up and new couples form just in time for prom.  The freshman girls are salivating right now...

And the #1 reason I know spring is here...
1.  I literally must sweep the house EVERY DAY in order to control the massive amounts of dog hair that has been shed over the past few weeks.  Is there business in wigs for dogs?? If so, I think I've hit a goldmine

An Affair To Remember

I'm having an affair.  Every morning I wake up at 4:45 and sneak quietly out of bed.  I put on the special clothes that I set out the night before, and I quietly leave my house (can't wake the hubby, hello!)  I walk down the road and spend one glorious hour with my man, Shawn T.  He makes me sweat, and moan, and groan... Ok, you may now remove your mind from the gutter :) I march my happy butt down the road, not for pleasure, but for pain.  Serious pain...but I feel AMAZING afterwards!  Shawn T and I have a love/hate relationship.  He makes me workout really hard, and I hate him for that, but I'm hoping to love the results.  I was in pretty good shape before, so I'm not dying, but I need to tone back up like last summer.  And quick!  I definitely do better with the peer pressure of a group, so I'm hoping to stick with this :) I'll let you know how it goes!

Feeling Good and Gettin' It Done!

I decided that no matter what my knees think, I'm just going to run.  I've been running for a few weeks and I feel GREAT!  My legs are a little sore, but that's all part of it!  Don't get me wrong, I really don't enjoy running, but I really love the way I feel right after I'm done.  I have more energy and I find myself looking foward to the feeling afterward. 

Those of you that know me know how much I absolutely love to cook.  I would love to own a restaurant (maybe someday, but right now I'm not willing to deal with all the regulations and money to get that started...) and if I could cook with unlimited ingredients every day I would (again, money is the only obstacle.)  The kitchen is my sanctuary.  To me there's nothing like putting together a really good meal, and thankfully I've only had one disaster.  By the way, it's never a good idea to have an entire bottle of wine and then decide you want to make spaghetti.  Things like oregano and cumin can get confused which can result in an odd Mexican/Italian spaghetti sauce.  And lemme tell ya, it really wasn't very good.  Edible (which is surprising) but really not good.  Someday we'll have a house big enough so that I can entertain, but until then I fill my time coming up with new things to make family and friends.  I have my little notebook, and when I get an idea for a new recipe I just jot it down.  Maybe someday I'll publish a cookbook.  That would be cool...So if you ever get bored and want a new idea for supper, check out my sister site http://www.yuminmytum.com/ .  It has lots of recipes.  And if you are apprehensive about cooking, don't be!  Really anybody can cook, I promise!

I've also been more on top of keeping the house clean lately.  For some reason something just started to click and I realized that if I just do it (even when I don't want to) that will leave more time for me to do what I want...which is mainly cooking, reading, and relaxing. 

Excuse Me Life, Could You Please Slow Down?

Sometimes I am very unaware of the fact that the Mr. and I have been married for almost a whole year.  I can't believe it!  Our life together has seriously been in overdrive since we got married.  I'm not complaining, but we are in serious need of a date night.  I am very thankful though for all the wonderful things that God has given us to do.  We are healthy, happy, and busy as ever.  Right now that's not such a bad thing while we can still handle going 100 mph all the time.  Someday things will slow down and I'll look back and be able to say, "yeah, we at least attempted to live it up before we had kids."  For instance this weekend we had a great dinner party with friends and it was just plain fab!  At one point I looked around the room and just realized that even though life is so crazy, it still blows my mind how lucky we are.  We have the best family and friends, hands down (although I know all of you beg to differ)

Just one more thought....
In this time of job/economic uncertainty I am so thankful to have a husband that keeps me grounded and helps me to not worry.  I do really feel like we compliment each other in that area.  I am a hard-core thinker.  Always have been, always will be.  I'm not sure that will ever change.  I think about things waaaayyyyyyyy too much (yes like the car commercial) and he really helps me not be so much of a worrywart.  I am a firm believer in God's plan for our life so I know that whatever happens, it's only part of that plan.  Timothy reminds me all the time that there are some things that are just out of my hands. So for now, I'm really going to attempt to just sit back, and enjoy the ride...

70 & Sunny

No, this is not the weather forecast here in the midwest, but it is what I would like for it to be.  I had a dream last night that I was wearing flip flops.  That's all it was about, flip flops.  Not sure why, but I didn't care.  The closed-toe shoes were a thing of the past and my little piggies were free! Free as a bird!  I am so sick and tired of it being cold.  Not just cold, but really stinkin' cold...so much for global warming huh?!?  Thanks a lot Al! ;)  I was watching the weather this morning and today it is supposed to be sunny and 35, so that helps...but I'm still left wanting more.  I am realistic, I realize it's only February, but it feels like it's been winter for like 4 months now!  I heard on the radio that we have had snow an average of every three days this winter.  Every. Three. Days. 

I'm officially ready for sun, and the smell of stuff growing!  And my washer and dryer are tired of me having to wash so many darn socks...and sweaters...and pants.  I want it to look and feel like this.  Hey, a girl can dream right??

Baby Boom

It seems as though everybody is having a baby.  Lots of my friends are having babies, celebrities are popping them out left and right, and every commercial I see seems to scream "Have Baby Now!"...However, we are bucking the trend I guess.  Sure, seeing my friends with newborns and even holding them tugs at my heartstrings a bit.  But then I realize how much responsibility that is, and I'm not quite sure we're ready for it.  Although I'm pretty sure my hormones have another idea.  On Friday I happened to watch a Baby Story on TLC.  I haven't seen it in a long time, for good reason.  I should have avoided this again like the plague, but I didn't.  Big. Mistake.  I sat there in my PJ's and bawled my eyes out.  Not like an "awwwww that's so cute cry", we're talking "ugly cry with an awww that's so cute smile on my face" It was one of those moments where my husband would have looked at me in horror.  I can honestly say I have no freakin clue what happened!  Sure if I'm honest, I do want a baby...but if I'm realistic, it's just not the right time.  Darn reality!  So until it is the right time, I'll just live vicariously through my friends, knowing that you can always give them back :)

School's Out!!

No, not for the summer...yet.  But I got that fateful text message this morning.  Yes I've joined the 21st century and I get texts now instead of having to call on a phone tree!  I love it!!  So what am I doing at home today you ask?  Relaxing?  Surfing the internet? (well yes I'm typing on my blog, if you call that surfing) Painting my nails?  Stuffing my face?  No. No. No. and No. I'm cleaning!  And believe it or not I'm pretty thankful for this day, because our laundry has gotten out of control.  Is it weird that I'm constantly blogging about feeling like my life is a mess and my laundry is uncontrollable??? Probably, but who cares! Today is the day that I get to catch up, and I think the biggest reason I'm so excited is because I don't have to clean tomorrow since I'll get it all done today! :) I've been at it since about 8:30 a.m. and I'm on load #4.  Yay!  I'm also doing a test drive with the new Bounce dryer bar, so I'll let you know if I love it or hate it...

Busy Bee

Wow February is shaping up to be a super busy month! At least where the weekends are concerned...
This weekend is the Fireman's dance...always a good time and I love seeing people that I haven't seen in awhile.  Plus is just a short walk from our house, which is always a plus!  Sunday is the superbowl, we're still debating whether we're going to have people over or not...Next weekend is Valentine's day, enough said.  The 3rd weekend in Feb is looking like the weekend we get to go visit Lori and Blake in Oklahoma!  I'm super excited to see them and see their new house.  The last weekend in February is a dinner party with friends.  Whew!! We are super busy, but also super thankful to have all our friends to spend time with!!  Now if I could just have time to clean the house.............

Hoops, Hangnails, and Hope

Hoops...because basketball is over!  Not that I didn't have fun, but all you coaches out there understand, those last two weeks are tough.  I'm exhausted, but I had a great group of girls and I think they had a lot of fun.  Hangnails...because I'm on week #4 of not biting my nails.  I'm sporting "brilliant bordeaux" on those babies!  Only bad thing, since my nails were so bad to begin with (you have no idea, we're talking ET fingers here...) I keep getting these massive hangnails.  I must fight the urge to bite them off.  So I carry around my trusty pair of clippers and let them do the work for me.  It's pretty hard, and some days I catch myself almost biting them (almost)...but then reality sets in, and bam! I'm over it!  And lastly, hope...hope that I don't pass out tonight when I work out for the first time in...well let's just say...a very long time.  Time to get back on the bandwagon.  I'm ready!

Oh, and I finished the Friday Night Knitting Club.  Really cute book, very Steel Magnolias and Sex and the City all wrapped up in one book.  I went ahead and checked out the second book, so I'm starting that now...I'll let you know what I think when I'm done!

Blue Skies Ahead

Though it is dreary outside, there are sunny skies in the Howell house. There are some exciting things that are developing, and while I can't devulge all details right now I will say that things are definitely looking up and we are blessed beyond belief. A few reasons:

1. We have been able to start saving so much more money lately.  We have almost everything paid off except the house and are looking to try and save even more money to continue remodeling and save for when we decide to build.  This can sometimes be a struggle considering some of the luxuries we have given up, but I'm proud of us :)
2. I have been working for some time on a side business that I can use to help generate extra income for our family.  I am finally in the planning/developmental stage and am excited to get the ball rolling.  Just waiting to hear back on some of the questions I have on logistics.  Super excited nonetheless.
3. Timothy and I are trying to make plans to get to both Denver and Oklahoma soon to visit friends.  Some days are harder than others without my best girls, but I realize that they are still there...I just have to go to them! :)
4. Basketball is almost over!  Not that I haven't enjoyed this season, but I'm really tired...and I need a little break.  I'm ready to cook, clean, and do other wifey stuff, and have a little stuff for me sprinkled in there! Plus the end of basketball means that spring is right around the corner, and oh how I love spring.

Walkin' Like a Fool With Your Pants on the Ground

If you haven't seen this yet, you should! Possibly the best American Idol audition ever! I think this should be played in every school across the nation :)

What I Hope To Learn...

Ever get one of those stupid emails that comes right at that time in your life when you don't want to hear any "advice" from anyone?  It's kind of like going to church and feeling like the sermon is completely directed toward you.  Well...got one of those emails today.  Sometimes I get so wrapped up in worrying about all the things that other people do that I forget to stop and think that most of these are things I cannot control.  So here are some of my favorite things that apparently this person has learned but that I only hope to learn.

• I've learned- that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.
• I've learned- that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
• I've learned- that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.
• I've learned- that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
• I've learned- that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
• I've learned- that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
• I've learned- that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings, and standing up for what you believe.
• I've learned- that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Enough with the sappiness...although these are things I aspire to understand and emulate...Sappy is not what I want to be on a hump day!  So I found a funny version of this email.  (Mildly censored of course)

• I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in.
• I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people are just assholes.
• I've learned that you can keep puking long after you think you're finished.
• I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones who do.
  
• I've learned that your family won't always be there for you. Of course, if you win the lottery, the hag, the philanderer, the screw-up, the missing one, the asshole and the horse tooth girl will be and will also claim to be your best friend.
  

Happy Wednesday!

Update on Resolutions

In a previous post I listed some of my resolutions for 2010.  Research says that most resolutions get dumped after the first few weeks, #1 being losing weight.  My problem is that resolution doesn't really get its chance with me until the end of basketball (only 2 more weeks!)  So until then I have been eating healthier...with the exception of the 4 slices of taco pizza I ate last night!  As I was laying on the couch miserable and feeling on the verge of upchucking everything I had just eaten, I told Timothy this was never happening again.  I told him no more large pizzas if he can't eat the whole thing! Only a medium pizza so I can only have 1-2 pieces.  I felt disgusting, and still feel disgusting today.  So that resolution is still a work in progress, but I'm looking forward to January 25th when I can start working out with Timothy's sister.  She's my accountability partner and last year when I was preparing for the wedding she really helped out, so I'm hoping the 2nd time will prove the same.

As for my other resolution, stopping that nasty habit of biting my fingernails.  I am proud to say that it has been 10 days strong!  I have the tiniest bit of white on those puppies.  I was showing them off to Timothy last night and he said, "that's all they've grown?"  That's all?? That's all????  Those poor things were severely damaged so it's going to definitely be a work in progress.  One week at a time is how I'm looking at it!  In a couple of months they'll be much better.  Then I am going to treat myself to a manicure...and I don't care if they look at them and say, "that's all?" They'll be all mine...

Extended Weekend

I really enjoyed my extended weekend, trust me I did!  It was nice to do some laundry.  I also spent time with my husband, my family, and his family.  By the end of Friday though I was definitely having a case of cabin fever.  I had only ventured out to go to the bank and drop of some eggs...but even in a 4-wheel drive truck it was pretty bad.  So by Saturday I was about to lose it.  It reminded me of my first year of teaching, in December of 2006, when it iced so bad that most schools were out for a whole entire week before Christmas.  They very well could have put me in a padded room after that.  When there's nowhere to go, you've done all the cleaning, laundry, and internet browsing there is to do...what's left.  I was starting to feel that way until an idea came to me...I did some research all day Thursday and Friday and I am feeling optimistic.  I've been wanting to have something on the side to make some extra cash for awhile, but was racking my brain on what I wanted to do.  All the while, what I am really good at was right under my nose!  I'll keep you updated when I have more info ;)  Other than that, it's back to the grind this week...I'll probably be exhausted by Friday but oh well.

Vacation...round two

Found out today that I will be getting a little unexpected vacation the next couple of days!  School's cancelled baby.  While I am not super excited about the idea of adding a day at the end of the year and losing a day of spring break, I have to admit this will give me a chance to get some shiz done around the house.  You would think that during my 2 week long Christmas vacation I would have gotten the whole house cleaned...if so, you thought wrong.  I did a great job getting the major rooms really clean but did a pretty bad job at laundry.  So my goal is to get ALL the laundry done during this extended weekend.  Yes I said it...ALL the laundry.  My husband will be happy...I will be happy...the dog, well the dog will be pissed.  He seems to find comfort taking naps on my dirty sweatshirts and sweatpants.  I'm a softy.  Plus it's hard to say no when it's not his fault all the dirty laundry is in a pile on the floor.  So here's to wearing your pjs all day, making chili and hot chocolate, watching trashy daytime tv...and laundry

Back to the Grind

I am back! Back at work and surprisingly cheery.  For about a week and a half I have been dreading this day, but thanks to my awesome coworkers today isn't so bad.  A short meeting this morning and we have the rest of the day to ourselves.  I am planning my butt off!  I have all of 3rd quarter planned (can't go too far...snow days are looking probable this year) and I feel really good about 2nd semester.  I know the kids will only feel the same way for about 2 weeks, but hey...they're teenagers.  What do I expect??  I only have 3 more weeks of basketball and after that I can really work harder on me.  In my earlier post I mentioned one of my resolutions of being healthier.  This started today (well mainly tomorrow because we are all going out to eat for lunch...darn) and I already feel more energetic...or maybe it's just optimism.  Here's to a good week.  The Mr. and I are going on a date this weekend.  He asked me last night, which I gotta admit was pretty cute.  And for all of you that are doing the "shove my finger down my throat" act...oh well.  Loving the hubs right now!!  First couple days of 2010 are looking bright and cheery.  If only it wasn't -25 outside...but on the bright side, we did find out in our meeting this morning that it is a good possibility that we will have a late start part of this week! Heck yeah!! One more hour for me to do a load of laundry...

Ringing in the New Year

We had such a good time last night with friends and family, we literally didn't even notice as midnight came and went.  2009 was such a great year for us.  Here are some of the highlights:

• Getting married...this one was a no-brainer!  I am so lucky to have such a wonderful and loving husband who just plain gets me.  I love him more every day and it makes it even more sweet that he has gotten closer to my family and friends lately.  I love this life we have together!
• Moving in together.  I know it's a stretch, a lot of people do this before they get married (and trust me I'm not against it, it just wasn't for me...to each their own :)  It's pretty fun learning new things about each other.  Being married definitely requires a team effort...and I think we make a good team
• Getting our puppy!  Champ has been awesome and is always a ball full of energy.  Seriously, this dog is crazy.  Crazy and smart, which is cool with me.
• Our first married Thanksgiving and Christmas with family.  It was really special for us, and I am so thankful to have family on both sides that are flexible.  They make it so easy for us. 
• God blessing me with a new job.  This has taken a load off our shoulders because I don't have to drive as far and I love what I am teaching now.  Let's just cross our fingers that the economy will hold out and I'll be stuck there next year too :)
• Having such great friends!  Our friends are the best.  Hands down!  We have friends that travel the freakin country to see us and friends that would drive 1 block to see us.  We don't deserve all that we have, and we know it.  To have such great friends that are always there is such a blessing and I am so thankful for that.  I love the time we have spent with friends lately.  Even something as simple as playing board games with other couples has come to be one of my new favorite things. 

Sometimes I find myself having a pity party (we all do it!...nobody can judge.)  It's times like these where I get a chance to sit and reflect on all that God has given us.  As I sit here in my warm house (when it is 2 degrees outside) watching my tv, while my husband sleeps peacefully, I know that today is a gift.  In the spirit of resolutions...here are mine:

1. Stop biting these darn fingernails!  2010 is the year!!
2. Spend more down time with Timothy and friends
3. Make it to Oklahoma...finally :)
4. Go to church more
5. Let the people in my life know that I love them and appreciate them...often.
6. Keep a positive attitude, even when it is hard.
7. Accept the things I cannot change.  There are some things in life that happen because of other's choices...these are things that I definitely do not need to worry about...and I feel like I wasted too much of 2009 worrying.
8. And the usual...be healthy.  This is unlike last year in which I had the wedding as motivation and a goal to work towards.  This year I am not concerned with weight.  I am more concerned with being healthier and feeling better about myself.  Time to break out that giant water bottle again. 
9. See my family more often...they only live 25 miles away for cryin' out loud!  My mom will appreciate this for sure...
10. Save more $, give more love...We are saving to build a new house, and we are finally in a position where we can save save save...and I'm excited about that.  We might not have a ton of money to give, but I do have time and energy that I could be putting to better use.  And I am going to work hard in 2010 to make sure that people know we love them!! 

Here's to a great 2009 and an even better 2010.  We love you all and are so blessed.