Self Control...

Self control... Or lack there of in my case! If I get something in mind you can bet the farm I'm not dropping it until I have gotten whatever, done whatever, or gone wherever. When I was a little girl my mom would say "Oh great Nat's on a mission!" Well I'm honestly always on a mission for one thing or another... My mind just turns and turns with ideas, things to accomplish, make, do or buy.
One of the things I'm on a mission for these days is tile and new carpet! I just can't stop thinking about it, researching people in the area to do the flooring, and trying to get Jeff on board. His argument... The dogs still wet the carpet at night while we're asleep. One solution, don't let them sleep in bed with us... YAH RIGHT! My solution is get new carpet, stop being lazy and making excuses not to take them out right before bed. I'm thinking hoping that getting new carpet will help them bc they won't already smell their scent on it and think its a giant potty pad... And help us to be better about taking them out at night instead of just putting potty pads out.
Getting new carpet and tile is no small expense so I've also been thinking of other things I would gladly cut out if we could get it. First thing was getting my nails done every two weeks. Yesterday I went to Sally's to buy some nail strengthener and a cuticle stick... Here comes the lack of self control! I see the words SALE and just can't help myself!
I left there with these must-have items...

Now Tate and I have beautifully shellacked nails done by yours truly!
Other current missions are...
Becoming more organized around the house
AND
Finishing the photo books I'm behind on
Wish me luck!

A Pinterest post...

Sorry for all the food post lately but with Pinterest and a full weekend at home it's whats on my mind and I just can't stop myself!

Saw this recipe for jalapeno, cream cheese, and bacon crescents on Pinterest... had  most of or similar ingredients at the house and just had to whip it up for an afternoon snack for Tate, Jeff and I! 

I used canned jalapeno slices instead of whole fresh jalapenos and turkey bacon instead of regular bacon slices because again that's what we had at the house and I must say they turned out great! We will be making these again and passing the recipe along for sure!

Mine did not turn out as pretty as hers but they tasted great!

mine...

hers...

Go on try them... you know you want to!

A weekend of nothing...

(Warning: Post contains multiple pictures of food!haha)

This weekend I stayed in CS and had nothing that needed had to be done and it was AMAZING! Friday we went to Happy Hour with Heath, Jessica, and Andrew... then carried the party over to Carney's where Kristen, Bailey and Keith joined us! We stayed there well into the night and it was a blast! So glad we all got together.

Saturday I spent the day recovering, it's tough being 25 ha, I needed to rehydrate and relax. I made these little numbers for breakfast and WE LOVED THEM! Def having them again soon!

Jessica came over so we could make tshirts for a Chili cookoff that was Saturday afternoon but after about 3 hours of trying to get my Silhouette blade to cooperate we gave up! I have since ordered a new blade and am anxiously waiting for its arrival! That afternoon I went to see Rach try on her wedding dress for the first time and.... O.M.G. she looked stunning! AH! Can't wait for the wedding an everyone to see her! After that Jeff and I had a late lunch at Panda Express and then watched TV, played with the circus, watched The Ides of March and cooked HOBO dinners. Click here for recipe. I don't follow it exactly... there's room to experiment. I don't use carrots, also add a dash of  worcestershire sauce before baking and then I top mine with sliced cheese after removing from the oven. Super easy and even easier clean up which Jeff loved... I cook it... he cleans it ha.

Sunday Vicki's friends hosted a bridal shower for Rachel. Her mom, sister and aunt were able to come in town and attend and it turned out beautifully! These ladies have a system down when it comes to throwing showers and it was without a doubt perfectly done!

After the shower I went home to finally take down my Christmas tree (I know I know its a month after Christmas but I've been running the roads) and do a little laundry. I made baked sweet potato fries, a vegetable bake, and some steaks for Jeff, Tate and I.

For the fries I washed, peeled, and cut up 3 Large Sweet potatoes just like you would for French Fries. Then tossed them with 1 tsp salt, 1 1/2 tbsp of chili powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 1/2 tsp of cumin , 1 tsp cinnamon,  2 1/2 Tablespoons of Vegetable oil (any oil will work). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread the potatoes in a single layer on the pan. Bake at 425 for 20-25 mins. I've found they don't get very crunchy in the oven but they are DELICIOUS none the less!



before baking...

For the squash and zucchini I cut the vegetables up, put them in a foil pan, tossed them with 1tbsp vegetable oil, added 3 cloves of garlic (peeled and chopped), salt, pepper, onion powder, season salt to taste... then put 1/4 cup of water in the pan, covered and baked at 350 for 45 minutes (or until vegetables are tender). 

before



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after



Ta-DA!!!

Sorry for the terrible iPhone pictures!

Happy Monday All!!!

GW Crafters...

This past weekend I packed up all my sewing stuff, my computer and my silhouette and went to Mendy's for a weekend of crafting! Mel and Ali met us there and it was perfect! I have so many things to prepare for these days and these girls were a major help in getting me where I need to be!



Whats a Girls Weekend of Crafting without matching T's!



Friday night Mendy, Ashley, Lindsay and I made moss monograms, much like the one Rach and I made for my wedding not too long ago but smaller! Click Here to read more about our moss letters! This was my first time using the Silhouette and let me just say... I. Loved. It!

Saturday we dyed tshirts for two different bachelorette parties I am throwing in the next 3 weeks, printed invitations and inserts, then addressed them all, made water bottle labels for both parties, screen printed 25 shirts, put together a lil something for the rest of our GWGs (Girls Weekend Girls), made the cutest frame for a friend of Mel's that is having a baby boy very soon, and sewed together tshirt blankets that I have been working on forever and ever bc my machine has been messed up! I am so glad to finally get the blankets to Jennifer and cannot thank her enough for her patience! I am so impressed with all we actually accomplished I must say! We ate spaghetti, enjoyed some adult beverages, chex mix and chatting! I can't wait to do it again soon... Maybe here in CS this time ;D

Here are a few pictures from the weekend... The rest you will have to see once the parties take place...

Thank you so much Meh for hosting such a fun weekend! Miss you girls already!

Happy Birthday Vicki...

Today is my mother in laws birthday! We celebrated with her in New Orleans on Sunday before we left to come back to CS. About a month ago when trying to decide what we would get her or how we would celebrate her special day I decided we just had to make her "A party in a box"! I thought that this would be perfect so we could make sure to recognize her special day even in the middle of the National Championship chaos! Over New Years Erica and I went to this little boutique in SA and found her a necklace from all of us. I must admit that I LOVE it and really want one for myself! It is a Waxing Poetic necklace, I had never heard of it before but it is apparently very popular! We chose three charms for her necklace (symbolic of the 3 families that were giving it), one was an S for Stevens, the other her birthstone, and the last one says "Love Conquers All". There were hundreds to choose from but I am very happy with our selection and she just loved it!

The party in the box was so fun to make and was a big hit... I see many more box parties in the future!

First I made some tissue paper bunting

Then lined the box with party paper

found all the necessary party supplies

bought a little cake

Put the cake in a purple school supplies box with a purple bow and stuffed everything in the box

added a bow to and gift tag to the outside and waited to unleash the party ;D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICKI!

HOPE YOUR DAY IS AS FABULOUS AS YOU ARE!

WE LOVE YOU!

Playing Catch Up...

Like I said in my previous post we went to visit the Listi's in San Antonio for a few days! So glad we did! We got to play with the kids, do some crafting/baking/sewing, and spend time with them before they move next weekend even farther away! Erica and I found several things we wanted to do or make on blogs and pinterest but life gets in the way and so does wine... however I am very impressed with us... we actually started and completed several things!
We saw these wine and champagne jello shots on pinterest and just had to make them for NYE... They turned out great and I will be making them again!

While looking on pinterest we also found these and thought they would be perfect for the kids... (I think we ate most of them but whos counting)

We had some people over to watch the bowl games and decided to make this Jalapeno Popper Dip that I had made once before thanks to Allison. Again it did not disappoint!

Erica and I both have the book One-Yard Wonders and have been wanting to make something out of it but never really took the time to pick something out or go buy the supplies... Well we went to a boutique in SA to look for Vicki a Birthday gift and stumbled upon some cute oil cloth that was on sale and we knew we just had to make some bean bag booster seats for the kids! Again we had first seen the idea from one of my favorite blogs! We didn't have the foam or the buck wheat hulls since we hadn't actually gone to a craft store and it was New Years Eve so we couldn't complete the seats that day :( Since then we have and they are so cute! I made one for Laney (Nuggs) and Erica made one for Georgia and Hayes-man!  (picture to come)

This past week I have spent most of my time unpacking, washing clothes, cleaning the house, making tshirt blankets and packing again bc this weekend we went to New Orleans to celebrate Bama's trip to the BCS Championship game! Mike and Rach made a lil stop at the JP on their way to NOLA and tied the knot! Woo Hoo! Congrats Mike and Rachel STEVENS! We love you both!

It WAS A BLAST! We went out to some of our favorite bars and did a little gambling at Harrah's! Spending time with my in laws is always a good time and NOLA is one of our favorite places to visit. The atmosphere was great... Mardi Gras, Saints playoff game, LSU v Alabama... The streets were filled with our kind of people... FOOTBALL FANS! I dont know what my deal is lately but I just have been awful about actually taking my camera places... Here are some pics from the iPhone...

Mike sustained an injury while unloading Rach's suitcase...He swears it was at least 80lbs

At Bourbon Cowboy

Even Sid and Vicki came to the bar with us!

Rach got us all buttons...

Erica made us Wine Bottle Bags...

and Aunt Jennie hooked us up with some Skinny Girl Sangria...

Jeff and I were supposed to stay and go to the game with the rest of the family but once again Med School got in the way :( It was so hard leaving Sunday when everyone else was heading to the Bama Block party! Turns out we came back for no reason because this morning he found out his thing was moved to Jan 30th! An email yesterday before we left NO would have been nice!!!

WHAT LUCK!

Tonights the night...

Roll Tide Roll!

Christmas...

(I realized that Christmas came before New Years and I in fact typed this post before New Years but just added the pictures so here it is...)
Like years past, Christmas was pretty grand! It started on the 23rd with the Stevens/Listi clan, complete with a dinner of favorites and a family photo! The girls and Hayes are so much fun to watch and such a joy to be around! Oh to be little again! 

Christmas eve Jeff and I headed to Dallas to meet my parents, Tate, B and Cale, along with Cale's family at Cowboys Stadium. Despite Romo getting hurt and the boys losing to the Eagles it was a great time! Christmas eve is Caleb's birthday and it was nice to be able to celebrate with him. After the game our family was off to catch a flight to Utah!!!

We got to Park  City late that night, got checked in and hit the sack! The next morning was Christmas, our first married Christmas to be exact! We ordered room service breakfast, then met up with Tate and my dad and hit the slopes! Jeff doesn't ski due to previous torn ACL injuries but he is such a trooper each year as Tate and I take to the slopes with dad... This is this only semi athletic hobby I take part in and truly love doing and he is so great about it! He took a snowboarding lesson and found a pretty fun bar. Mom doesn't ski either because of her rods in her back and with her broken foot she didn't make it up to the mountain this year to hangout either so once the slopes were closing we went back to the hotel to see mom and open stockings. Santa was too gracious as always! That night we went to Main Street and had a wonderful dinner! Ham, steak, grouper, stuffing, squash, and tempura veggies! Delish! We spent the next day doing much of the same things, skiing, eating and drinking. Tuesday Jeff and I went to breakfast and then met up with the fam to walk around the shops on Main... I convinced Jeffrey that I NEEDED to go in the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory... For the record I loved every last bite of all my purchases there ha.

That afternoon we went snowmobiling... This was great! It was something everyone could participate in and I loved being able to do something mom could be a part of! Tate rode with dad, Jeff had his own ski doo and I drove mom. We had a blast! Mom and I don't like to go fast or be daring so we kept to toward the back of the pack... Jeff and dad not so much! They were the first two behind the guide every time ha.

We went for Mexican food and margaritas after, watched football and basketball that night and packed for the trip home. It was an amazing trip and so nice to go with both of my parents on Christmas! Wish I would have actually gotten my camera out and taken pictures but here are a few from the good ol iPhone...

Tate got a leg cramp after we were tricked by dad into going down one heck of a run which he considered a warm up!

Park City we will be back!

  We got back to CS on the 28th and left the morning of the 29th to go to San Antonio to visit the Listi's and watch Baylor play in the Alamo bowl with the Allen's!

Who doesn't love a good tailgate party!

After the win!!!

Way to go Baylor! Sic Em Bears!