For the love of Peeps!!

I have been seeing lots of REALLY cute projects that people have made using the outline of a bunny Peep. I thought that it would make a super cute t-shirt. I apparently was not alone in that thought, because I stumbled across several cute Peeps t-shirts since I had that thought. So, while my little t-shirt wasn't the first, it is, in my opinion, just as cute!

I need dinner STAT!

This past week was REALLY busy at work. Dr. D was on vacation for the week and so I ended up working every day this week to try to alleviate some of the added stress that her absence caused on the other providers. It was a REALLY busy week our schedules were filling days in advance and we were having to try to work walk ins in when possible....it was exhausting. Anyway, I needed something fast for dinner. So, after work one day, I pulled out a cookbook (I usually have one with me) and looked for something quick that I could make. I had some kielbasa at home and so when I saw this little skillet meal, I thought that it would be perfect. So, I swung by the grocery store and picked up the other ingredients and headed home to make a quick skillet dinner. It was pretty good as far as skillet meals go and it beat having cereal or having to grab fast food another night.

A diaper bag for Beth

A couple of months ago, my friend Beth asked me to make a diaper bag for her to give to a family member as a gift. I FINALLY finished it this past week and I am planning to get it into the mail to her on Monday. It took a while to find just the right fabrics...and the time to make it, but I think that it turned out pretty cute. Hopefully Beth and the girl receiving this little bag will love it!

A little something for Easter....

The other day while at work, my co workers and I were discussing the lack of decorations on our doors for Easter. So, I got the thinking about what we could put up by each door. I went to Micheal's this weekend and found some floral pics and grape vine wreaths, paired them with some ribbon that I had at home and this is what I came up with. I made 8 of these. One for each room in our pod. They have either blue, white or pink bunnies.

Thursday night dinner.

I tried another new recipe tonight. After such hot chili, I thought something a little less spicy would be a good change! I made savory stuffed pork chops. The pork chops turned out to be pretty tasty. We paired them with baked potatoes and salad.

Rootin Tootin Fire in a bowl!

Last night after work I made dinner for Zack and I. I had found a recipe for a Cincinnati Chili and it has been so cold that I thought that chili would hit the spot. So, I got it on the stove while I waited for Zack to get home. It smelled really good and I was looking forward to the comforting warmth of a bowl of chili. The recipe called for chipolte peppers in adobe sauce and I have used these in other recipes for some added kick....Zack and I sat down for dinner and when I took my first bite I thought that my lips had just spontaneously combusted. That chili was SO HOT! It had really good flavor until your mouth was assaulted with searing pain as the after burn started! I went and grabbed some sour cream which I mixed in with my chili to mellow the heat a little. the chili was good, but I don't think that I would make this exact recipe again!!

Weekend Warriors: Battle Cookeville

This past weekend Zack's Ultimate Frisbee team played in a tournament in Cookeville, TN. So, after work on Friday we all caravan-ed our way up to the tournament. I had made some snacks for the road and gave each car a bag of White chocolate party mix. We stopped in Chattanooga for dinner at Sticky Fingers and then headed off to Cookeville.

white chocolate party mix

Sticky Fingers

It was Eric's birthday on Friday so Anna Lauren, his sweet wife, had planned a surprise birthday party for him. When we got to our hotel, two of the couples decorated their room with balloons and streamers. Everyone gathered in that room with noisemakers poised and ready to go and when Eric came walking into the room everyone yelled surprise and made as much noise as possible...likely to the chagrin of our surrounding hotel neighbors as it was around 11 oclock.
Eric was thrilled and Anna Lauren had made him his favorite German Chocolate Cake. Shortly after our birthday celebration, we all headed to bed since we had a full day ahead of us.

The birthday boy

The wives/ girlfriends watching from the sidelines

Saturday morning, the guys got up early to head off for battle. They had their first game at about 9 oclock. The girls slept in a little later and got prepared in our multiple layers to try combat the cold and rain (great combination). We headed out to watch our men play and to cheer them on despite the inclement weather. The guys won their first two games.



During the third game of the day, the rain and wind picked up. The girls decided that with the weather like it was it was probably a good time to head off for some lunch. We went to Great Harvest Grain Company for some soup and sandwiches. Then, after lunch, we stopped by a really cute little coffee shop in down town Cookeville to get some coffee.



We headed back to the field of battle and watched our guys from the warmth of the car as they won their last game. Yay!! Our boys were victorious at 4-0 for the day.










We headed back to the hotel where the guys took showers and then headed out for dinner as a group at the fazoli's down the street. I don't know if here were prepared for the amount of breadsticks that 16 hungry boys and their wives/ girlfriends could consume.

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel and just relaxed for a while before heading to sleep. Sunday morning, the guys had their first game at 10:45 am. So, we all checked out of the hotel at 10 oclock that morning and the guys headed over to the fields while the girls went to Starbucks for coffee and to hang out before the games started.

The weather Sunday was worse than Saturday. It was colder and there was a constant misting rain. The guys were FREEZING. We got to the fields near the end of their first game. They won 13-3. A good start for the day.

Gretchen, Allison, Anna Lauren and I sat in Anna Lauren's car watching while the guys played. We would honk the horn when they would score.

After the first game, we had to head to a different field. So, Anna Lauren started to move her car only because of the rain the place that we had parked had turned into a muc pit. Her car got stuck in the mud. Allison and I got out and helped Zack push the car from the front as Anna Lauren hit the gas to get the car out of the mud.

This isn't Anna Lauren's car, but I thought that it showed a little bit better the conditions of the day.

Once we got settled in a new viewing spot, Anna Lauren had her car's auxiliary power running so that we could listen to the radio and use the windshield wipers. Near the end of the second game of the day, we decided that we wanted to turn on the heat so Anna Lauren tried to start her car....nothing...she tried again....nothing. After the game was over. Gretchen pulled her car over and we jumped Anna Lauren's car off.







I didn't take too many pictures on Sunday due to the weather...and Zack sprained his ankle during the last game so I was a little preoccupied with taking care of him once that happened to take pictures.

I saw Zack take the fateful step and then fall writhing to the ground. I opened the car door and started toward him. As I headed toward the field I heard someone say "straighten it" ...then I started running fearing that Zack had broken his ankle...it was a moment of sheer terror...until I got close enough to him to see that the ankle still looked like it was attached correctly. Zack was carried off of the field and then I was able to assess him on the sideline. He was able to bear weight, so that made me feel better, but he had some strange swelling already starting a little bit above him ankle.

Zack took some Ibuprofen and then we headed to the car to get clothes for him to change into since he was soaking wet and it was COLD! Once he was changed, we headed to get some ice and an ace wrap to treat his ankle. I got to drive home with Zack sitting in the back seat of the car with his ankle propped on the arm rest in front of him....I must really love him to chauffeur him around like that!! :)

All in all, despite the injury, Zack and I had a good time and enjoyed getting to build relationships with the other people (and wives) on Zack's frisbee team.

Finished project

Thursday night I finally finished my sewing projects for my cousin's little girls. I already showed you these cute little shirts.

But, I also made some little girly twirl skirts with monogrammed T-shirts for the girls. The little bags in the picture are some cute lunch boxes that I found on sale at a boutique here in town around Christmas.


I thought that everything turned out pretty cute. Hopefully Naomi and her girls will like them too! I got the package in the mail Friday and it was supposed to get there on Monday...so, they should have gotten it in time to wear their pinch proof shirts for St. Patrick's Day today.

Craft time at the puddle

I know that ya'll are wondering why I haven't been posting any sewing projects recently. The sad truth is that I just haven't had time to really do any. Today I made myself sit down and work on a couple of projects.

First, I have been wanting to send my cousin some little outfits for her daughters since before Christmas, but I hadn't had time to finish anything. I made them some girly twirl skirts, but I haven't gotten the coordinating shirts done. I was planning on working on them today, but my embroidery software was not working. So, I decided to work on some other little shirts to send them. I saw this idea while perusing the internet a week or so ago and I just thought that it was too cute an idea to pass up. So, today I worked on these "pinch proof" t-shirts to send my cousin for her girls. They will be really cute paired with jeans and either worn alone or with a long sleeved pink t-shirt under them. I made matching hair bows to go with them. Hopefully Gnome will like them. I am hoping to get those other t-shirts done tomorrow night so that I can get everything in the mail for them by Friday. Gnome, I'm not sure if you read my blog or not, but if you do, SURPRISE!!! and keep your eyes open because a package should be heading your way soon!!


The second project that I am working on is a diaper bag that my friend Beth asked me to make for her to give as a gift. I have been stressing over what fabrics to use. I don't know the girl that she is planning to give it to and Beth and I were afraid to do anything too bold. So, I FINALLY decided on some cute fabrics today and got the pieces cut out ready to sew. I am hoping to get this done and in the mail to Beth in the next week. Beth, I hope that you like these fabrics. Let me know if you don't.


I have a few other projects in mind, it's just finding the time to get anything done. We have been REALLY busy at work and I have been having some LOOOONG work days. So when I get home it is all that I can do to figure out what to feed Zack before I fall into bed to recover from the demands of the day only to have it to do it all over again the next morning. Thank goodness for off days and hopefully my schedule will be a little better soon!!

Paula vs. Yeast: battle yeast rolls.

I love yeast breads, but I am terrified of yeast. It seems like almost every time that I am brave enough to try a recipe that has yeast in it something goes terribly wrong.

About a month aog I had my first success with a recipe that called for yeast and it gave me a tiny bit of confidence. So, tonight I decided to make yeast rolls. I have had the recipe earmarked for several months now and I just hadn't been brave enough to try it.

The recipe actually went together pretty quickly and in about an hour my yeast rolls were in the oven...and the house started smelling A-mazing (I love the smell of baking bread). Zack got home just after I had pulled the rolls from the oven. So, we both got to try them fresh out of the oven. They were really good. Zack LOVED them. He couldn't stop eating them. They have a garlic honey butter that you brush over the top of them that gives them just a hint of sweetness.

Yea! another small baking victory!!

I'm so excited...

A few weeks ago Zack and I went to visit Ben and Rachel along with Zack's parent's and brother Matt. While the guys were slaving away on home improvement projects, Mama Sandy, Rach and I went to paint pottery. Well, Matt brought my finished plate up to me this weekend. I LURVE it! It turned out really cute! So, I thought that I would share it with you! I cannot wait to have a reason to use it!

Weekend fun and food.

This past Thursday I made Zack and I dinner. I had a pork tenderloin left over from a previous meal and it needed to be used. So, I found a recipe for cherry glazed pork tenderloin. This recipe actually called for 2 pork tenderloins so I halved it. I paired the pork tenderloin with salad and sweet potatoes. The meat was really nicely flavored and pretty easy to prepare. Zack and I both really liked this recipe.

This past weekend Zack's youngest brother Matt came for a visit. Matt was supposed to be getting to our house on Saturday morning at about 8:30. Zack and I got up at about 8 and started to make some breakfast. We had cinnamon rolls, bacon, and fresh fruit. Matt arrived at our house just as we were finishing up breakfast preparations. After breakfast, Zack and Matt played the Wii for a while until we decided to go play frisbee golf.



Matt has become pretty good at frisbee golf. He plays pretty frequently with his friends at school. Zack and I have not had quite as much experience. Zack has played several times with his brothers and fathers...and I have played one other time. I was REALLY bad at this game, but we had a good time playing it together. I, of course, came in last, but it was fun getting to spend the time with Zack and Matt.


After frisbee, we went back to the house to grab some lunch. We made portabello roast beef sandwiches. Zack and I have had these a couple times and I knew that Matt would probably like them (He went back for seconds, so I think that they I can call that a success!).

After Lunch, Zack and Matt went and threw an ultimate frisbee and hit some softballs. I stayed home and dd some things around the house and to get dinner ready. I had given Matt an option of having chicken burritos (a family favorite) or trying a new recipe for chicken tacos. Matt opted for us trying the new recipe. So, I made Presto Chicken Tacos. They were pretty good, but Zack and I agreed that they were not as good as our normal chicken burritos.



After dinner one of Zack's coworkers came over to play board games with us. We played games for a couple of hours during which time we discovered that Matt has not seen a TON of really good movies. So, after finishing our board game we watched The Patriot.


Sunday Morning I got up and made breakfast before church. We made French Toast, bacon and fresh fruit. This is the first time that I ever made french toast and I looked online to find a basic French Toast recipe. I then added some cinnamon and vanilla to the recipe. It turned out pretty good.


After breakfast we headed off to church.

After church Zack and Matt were supposed to be going to play ultimate frisbee. So they ate light lunches and then headed out to play. They played for a couple of hours while I tried to get some things done around the house.

Sunday night for dinner I made Apple Glazed Pork Chops, corn, hash brown casserole, and salad. Zack and Matt both seemed to really like the pork chops.

Sunday night after dinner, our friends Jaclyn and Kevin came over to play a game of Settler's of Catan. The game was pretty close for everyone but me...I must have really poorly placed my settlements, because I was REALLY behind. Matt ended up winning the game in the end...much to Zack's chagrin.

This month our small group is meeting at our house. I had intended on making whiskey sirloin steak as one of the meals while Matt was in town, but I had not carefully enough read the recipe and it ended up needing to marinate over night. So, on Monday night when I got home from work I pulled the marinated steaks out of the refrigerator to cook for dinner. I got home late and thankfully the steaks were not supposed to take too long to cook. I threw them in the oven and tried to get our house straightened up a little before everyone got here. Unfortunately, the meat was supposed to be broiled and the cooking spray on the pan started to burn causing smoke to come pouring out of the oven and into our house. It was hazy in the kitchen and living room. So, I opened some windows and started some fans to try to push all of the smoke out of the house before everyone got here. That didn't really work, and Zack and I were just sitting down to dinner when people started to show up. The meal itself turned out really well and Zack really liked the flavor of the steak. I didn't have any whiskey sitting around so I substituted apple juice and it still gave it a nice flavor. We had some leftover sides to pair with the meat and ended up having a pretty nice dinner last night.

Small group was really good last night despite the low attendance. It has been pretty difficult for everyone to be at small group with different people being out for either sickness or work related reasons. the winter months can get a little crazy. Hopefully attendance will improve as we start into spring.

We have been doing a study on Song of Solomon that has been really good. Each week we watch a video about a different topic and then have discussion. Last night's lesson was on romance. Anna Lauren and Eric led the discussion last night and as always they had a lot of insight to bring to the discussion. We talked about the importance of speaking life into your marriage. They had us go around the room and each spouse would take a moment to tell everyone something that they really love/appreciated about their spouse. The men led and then the wives responded with something that they loved about there husbands. It was really a neat experience. It was meaningful to both hear what your spouse had to say in your praise and to hear what everyone else valued in their own husband/wife.

I am really thankful for the wonderful couples that God has placed in our lives and I am blessed each time we get together whether it is just a time of fellowship or a deeper time of Bible study and worship.