SuperBowl

I'm not a huge sports fan, I can bare to watch some, could care less about the ranks and players, but I do enjoy football. I enjoy watching it, only been to one game, but it is so far the only sport that I will actually watch on TV. I don't really know that much about it, but it is still fun never the less.
I'm normally following the Seahawks, I wouldn't say I'm a bandwagon girl, only because I watch them no matter if they are winning or losing, but of course I get way more excited and into it when they are winning.
Well this past season they didn't do too good, I couldn't tell exactly how bad they did, again I don't keep score! Not a surprise we didn't make it to the Superbowl. But of course we all still watch it anyways. Great excuse for a party!
This year we headed over to Hollie and Marty's which is always a treat, Burton loves playing with is puppy parents, we enjoy their friends and family, and I love their company. Today is Hollie's due date, so on Sunday she was ready, belly was hard, baby can barely move and mommy is tired. It was amazing to just hold her belly, you can every once in a while feel his little heel push out and when you push back he sucks it back in. I can't wait to meet him.


Had to capture a picture of the ready to pop momma :)

The other reason I love football? Well, I guess any party in general! I like to bring food!!! Both the dishes I brought I have tried before, but this time was the best!!!!


Taco Ring

The Taco Ring is probably one of the easiest, but filling recipes I can make. My mom makes this for most of her parties, so you know it is good! Here is the recipe:



Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 package (1.25 oz) taco seasoning mix
1 c. (4 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbs water
2 8-oz packages refrigerated crescent rolls
1 medium green bell pepper
1 c. salsa

3 c. lettuce, shredded

1 medium tomato, diced
¼ c. onion, chopped
½ c. pitted ripe olives
sour cream

Directions:
–Preheat oven to 375°. Brown the ground beef, then drain. Add taco seasoning and water and simmer

–Unroll the crescent dough; separate into triangles. Arrange triangles in a circle on a pizza pan (I used a stone one, works great!) with the wide ends toward the center of the pan, overlapping each other. It will look like a large sun with the points hanging half off the pan. There should be a 5 or 6 inch opening in the center.

–Spoon the meat mixture evenly onto widest end of each triangle cover with cheese. Bring points of triangles up over filling and tuck under wide ends of dough. (Filling will not be completely covered).

–Bake 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.

–Shred lettuce, dice tomato, onions, olives, green pepper, and whatever other items you want to put inside. Place them in center of the taco ring and use that as your toppings!

Of course you can see I didn't put all the pretty toppings in the middle otherwise Dennis wouldn't have eaten it. I put all the stuff on the side, and it went just as fast!



Ham sammies

2 packs of Hawiian rolls
1.5 lbs of ham

1.5 lbs of Swiss cheese

Put it all together

(I usually fold one piece of ham and cut the cheese into 4's and put 1 on bottom and 2 on top of ham)

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 mins

For the sauce

3 sticks butter (melted)
4 Tbls brown sugar
2 Tbls yellow mustard
2 Tbls poppy seed
2 Tbls Worcestershire

Stir together, melt again if needed
pour sauce over the sandwiches

bake for another 5 mins

I got a ton of compliments on this recipe, I got this one from my friend Natausha, I found some other versions online, but they had mayo and onions, no thanks, why mess up perfection!!

I can't wait for the next party/event so that I can bring more goodies!!!!



Beauty

Along with our attempt to be more active we are trying to be more conscious of how we spend our money. We are not, not doing things in this effort, just watching what we already do and try and save a little moolah.
Last weekend was the Boat Show (The Boat Show, The Boat Show, the big Seattle Boat Show) hahaha.
Anyways... we love going to this every year, we normally purchase our tickets way in advance online and receive free parking, although this year they didn't have that offer, it actually cost you more money to pre-purchase tickets... and where is the advantage to that? So we decided to park at our marina in Seattle and ride out bikes to the Lake Union Boats A Float, and then take the free shuttle ride to Qwest field for the Boat Show.
Great idea! We had so much fun, the ride from our marina to Daniel's was simple, flat and perfect. After the disappointing Boat Show (nothing really grabbed us this year).

We hopped on our bikes and decided to go for a longer ride. We passed our marina and continued to follow this great trail that followed along the lake, we rode in to Ballard, watched the sunset and just marveled in so many things that we see every day but look so different. Like the way the sun setting lights up the buildings surrounding the lake and makes them look like gold treasure. The way a bare tree looks up against a falling building cover in art. The blare of a sailboats horn to signal the opening of the bridge. The way other bikers ride by you with such ease. The sound of your chains changing gears. Looking over and seeing Dennis' smile. The feel of the wind in your face.

Picture stop, had to get the bikes and space needle in.

I know that I am loving the times that we spend together, we laugh more, connection is growing and every day when Dennis calls me at work he asks where we are going to ride to that night.

Last night we took the bikes out again to do more training with Burton to run along side us. After coming to some very close calls with the cars, he finally started to get the hang of it. I think a trail ride is much better than the urban stroll!

We will be back at it tonight :)

Training

I have been serving on the Data Team at Eastlake Community Church for almost 3 years now. I love, love it. We are the behind the scenes team that sorts, scans and enters the blue Connection Cards after every service, we also enter membership applications, 201s, growth group attendees, growth group leaders, and any special events. Last year when we expanded to 2 new campuses, I was able to be "promoted" to scheduler, along with my other duties. Basically when someone was to join our team, I get assigned to schedule them for training. Which sounds super easy, even as I write this I'm like wow that sounds easy!
But it is a little complicated, and sometimes you get a ton all at the same time. But I still really enjoy it. More recently I have been able to add to my list of responsibilities. So for the last 2 training sessions I have been trainer in training :) The amazing and fantastic, she can do anything, Becca is in charge of the training and does so much, way too much for the Data Team. She has been my leader and the top trainer. I will be the 3rd trainer now, frees up the other ladies since training is every Thursday and we are all volunteer.
Last night was my first training session all on my own! I was a little nervous, I kept reading my notes and when I rushed out the door, I forgot them!!!! Ahhh how can I train with none of my notes? I get to the room at church and open our Data Team cabinet and what do I find?

I loved my motivational note from Becca. She is such an amazing person, always knows what to say, when to say it, and is so faithful, she tells me all the time she is praying for me, and when things are really bad and she doesn't even know it, she asks me about it.

Anyways, along with this little pick me up post it, is all the training materials, notes, even the key to our fill ins (yes true Eastlake style!).

I was fully prepared to rock it! As soon as my ladies showed (I only had to train two last night) I started feeling very comfortable, and Becca showed up to support me and do Data work in the corner of the office (she said she wasn't listening but I hope she was :) )

The only thing that was a little nerve wracking? One of my trainees was a wife of one of our Pastors! I knew that before, but I will admit I was a little intimidated! She was so sweet, very pretty and very encouraging.

Afterwards I felt great, I hope I did a good job, but I know that I love it, I love helping others and am very passionate about the Data Team.

At first I was wondering what I got myself in to, I hate training at work, I have no patience for it. I get way out of my comfort zone when I have new employees, it isn't cause I don't know what I'm doing, unfortunately I know the collision business inside and out, I can do and know most positions with in my office, but I don't have a passion for it. Knowledge doesn't equal happiness. I know this. I love what I do (I work with numbers and solving problems all day!) but at the end of the day it is just my job.

That is why I'm so happy that I have the Data Team to put my passion in to and Scentsy Wickless Candles that I can thrive in. Scentsy has been doing amazing for me, I have 9 team members, great customers and super fun hostesses. I can already tell that this year is challenging my comfort zone and God is leading me to my purpose.

Active

I never thought I would be the one complaining about getting older and not being fit. But I feel like one day I woke up and was like "When did I stop trying?" That must have been the day my muffin top appeared and my skin started sagging in places I didn't think could sag!
Back when I used to do promos and "modeling" I was in shape, fit and feeling good, but the one thing that I didn't like was, when I was out running, at the gym, or doing hot yoga, I may have been with friends, but I was not spending time with my husband. I decided I would rather be with him and connect than think me being fit was more important than our relationship.
So in turn I now find myself sitting on my growing ass watching way too much t.v., eating all the horrible things he can get away with and not feeling too good about myself, but I'm with my hubby :)
After much trying to get him to motivate us (in his defense, my job maybe mentally exhausting, but his has been physically trying, so he hasn't needed to work out), he finally decided to feel better together!!!
We decided that when I get home from work the T.V. is off, if he wants to watch it all day that is fine. We need another hobby then right?
Last night we headed to walmart and after destroying their bike department, I can't believe not one employee came to yell at us, as we proceeded to take every single bike down from the racks and ride their flat tires around. We actually had a blast trying, testing and playing with the bikes. Every bike I loved I couldn't touch the floor on. Dennis even said to me, after this I finally realize how short you are! hahah thanks honey!
I really wanted the classic Schwinn look, the long sleek body, with the large tires and raised handle bars. Sort of like this:

Every style that I just loved didn't come with gears, which Dennis insisted I needed. (and after attempting to climb a hill I'm thankful for!) So after some frustration I finally found the bike I wanted. Dennis was easy, he tried three and was good to go!
So we drove home (we had to take the cars home!), tested Burton out on a short ride around the complex to see if could even follow along side us. He didn't do too bad, but he needs more practice.
Once I got home though I realized that Walmart forgot to give me my bike bell (had to have one of those!) and our bike lock. So we hopped on our bikes and rode to Walmart, than to Taco Bell (You may think we are defeating the purpose, but we would have went there anyways, atleast now we worked for it!)
Once we got home (after burning thighs and realizing that I need more work on getting up hills) we remembered we had no where to store these pretty new bikes.
This is where they ended up:

Yup that is the dining room again! On the right is all my Scentsy boxes (I have lots of stock and business supplies), on the left is my craft table aka the dining room table! I guess it works for now.
Can't wait to see where these bikes will take us, and hopefully we can motivate each other to not let them collect dust.
As we were riding along, Dennis yelled out, this is better than watching T.V.! Wahoo!!!! Can't wait to be active together and feel good!

All you need is the right tools

Dennis came home after my craft day to find me exhausted and barely any projects finished. After I whined that we don't have enough room for my sewing machine, he told me I could take over the dining room table now (Scentsy already overflows in the dining room, but I try and leave the table empty.. not anymore!). He is such a good husband :)
Sunday after a fun day with my dad planning an up coming road trip (more on that next time!), and a fierce game of dominoes, we stopped by my mom to grab her extra sewing machine. Luckily for me, my mom always wants the newest and best machines (she has 4+ sewing/embroidery machines). I was able to snag the last one she wasn't using.
Even better? Oh ya, since mom works at JoAnn fabrics she is always buying stuff on sale and never really having a need for it, until her baby girl comes and raids her stuff. I was able to snag up an awesome pink rotary cutter! Check out my new tools:

This bad boy can even do embroidery! I can't wait to get the attachments (once they are found).

I also stopped by mom's work yesterday and picked up the rest of the felt I needed to finish my scarf. Here the glorious finished project!

I was really hard to take a picture of it, I hope you can see the detail, it is super fun. I already have 2 other colors of felt, so I can make more!

Feeling a little crafty

After spending endless hours on pinterest I figured it was time to have something to show for it. Today I dedicated it as crafty day. I went to the craft store twice yesterday; my mom is a manager at JoAnn Fabrics so I always stop there first, but they didn't have lavender essential oils so I had to stop at Hobby Lobby, which is extremely dangerous, you better walk in there with a game plan in mind or full pockets of money! (One cool thing is if you are buying something not on sale, pull up their website and show them the coupon on your phone and get 40% off!!).
Woke up early to tackle my projects and remembered my mom yelling at us when we were kids to not use "her" scissors on anything by fabric, now I realize why! After attempting to cut my calicos with dull lame scissors, Dennis and I had to head out to breakfast and to the craft store again!!!

Okay back at home and focusing on my projects I go. Another reason I can't wait for a house? My craft room/office. Currently we don't have enough space for me to fully spread out, I have already taken over the dining room, storage room, and the only closet in the house, which still is not enough. I can't pull my sewing machine out of our large storage room, so I figured I could do all my projects by hand stitching them. Brilliant idea, until I'm half way through my first project Baby Belly Bags (BBB). My stitch is taking way too long, and I had to do it twice. Even though I got enough materials to make 15 little baggies, I only finished one. :( If I had that glorious sewing machine this project would take less than 15 minutes, in my current circumstance it took me over an hour!

So here is what I got so far.....



Filling the baggy



Materials for my BBB's

The finished project (well, one of them!)



I decided to take on this cute little pin because, I have lots of preggo friends and I read alot about these, they are supposed to soothe the babies, relieves gas and comfort them. After the onesies, I really wanted to do more homemade gifts.

Okay next project, again another one I can't finish!

This one is a felt flower scarf, super duper cute,  I knew I wanted to tackle this one.
I cut out the scarf and than the circles, but I ran out of felt!!! I almost cut all of the circles needed, scalloped them and put one flower together. My hand is sore from holding my new scissors and honestly I'm a little mentally beat!
But guess what? I'm going to head to the craft store.. again! This time before I leave the house I will shower and actually get ready for the day.
Here is my scarf so far...

Very little tools needed for this project, just have to make sure you have enough felt, I think I made my circles a little big!
Here is the awesome tutorial I am following Felt Flower Scarf

Messy

I'm more than totally obsessed with Pinterest, I'm pretty sure I spent hours last night just looking and totally random pins. Which on its own is alot of fun, but when you are doing it on your tab, the mobile Pinterest isn't really the best, it isn't an app, just a mobile version of their website. So when I try and pin something sometimes it errors and sometimes I get just what I want :)
I have pinned tons, but only actually tried one crafty thing, these adorable little baby boy onesies with a fabric tie on the front. I loved making them, can't wait for more boys so that I can make more of them, I made a few for Hollie's soon to be baby boy (which should be coming any day now!!!!)
The other day I attempted a hair style that I found (here is my pin for it ). It turned out cute, but not really as messy as I wanted it, so I tried it again this morning, but threw in my "bump" to mix it up too. Messier the better right? hahah I like it, but I have more perfecting to do!

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I have a few more plans for my next project. I love, love making jewelry, but now I'm enjoying making baby gifts for all the little ones my friends are having. Tonight is a great night to master a few of those :)