JOB!

I got one! A real, full-time, big-girl, graphic design job! 

I'll be working for the Human Environmental Sciences Extension on the University of Missouri campus. And I am so excited! 

I start on the 22nd - I'll be sure to give you a run-down of my new office! 

cjd

Meal Planning: Week 2

The view from my office...

I wish I could stay inside and watch movies with hot chocolate and a blanket, it's nasty out there! 

This week's meals: 

turkey meatloaf w/ mashed potatoes

chicken & rice casserole w/ salad

leftovers

Out to dinner for Valentine's Day

Steven out of town

No new recipes this week. I only had 2 slots this week since Steven is going to Alabama for a softball tournament from Friday morning to Sunday night (for work), so we are moving up our Valentine's dinner to Thursday. So I will have leftovers all weekend probably. :)

This schedule worked well for us last week, we did move Friday's meal to Saturday because we decided to switch our 'meal-out' night. And Sunday is my shopping and Subway day. I do all the week's grocery shopping on Sunday, and the two stores I shop in either have a Subway right inside, or just next door. So I get one of their fresh fit meals and call it a night. 

I am going to try to come up with 4 new meals for as many weeks as I can. I had 2 more meals planned, and even bought the stuff for them before I realized we already had plans. So I put those things in the freezer to pull out next Sunday. 

cjd

Wish I Were Quilting

I really want to get back to sewing! And now that I don't have school and homework to worry about, I think I should. I am close to 1/3 of the way done with a quilt I started about 3 years ago, so I should really finish that up!

The fabric for quilt #1.

One of the main reasons I want to finish that up, is that I have another quilt in mind. When I get a bigger bed, which will probably be some time in the near future (thanks to Dad & Mom!), I decided I am going to make my own duvet cover with white top sheets, and then make a colorful quilt to go along with it. I'll even make matching pillow shams.

I came across a quilt to be my inspiration recently. I found it over at The Mac's, who have just welcomed a new baby boy, Levi. Levi's older sister Cora passed away about a year ago from cancer. To raise money to pay for Cora's medical bills, they opened up a store named after the little girl. Her mom and grandma make dresses and shirts and blankets and things to sell. Cora and Levi's grandma used scraps from the Cora dresses to make Levi this quilt.

I love the colors and the vintage look. Plus it's all squares, so it will be easy to sew! So now I just need to start collecting fabrics. I have some old pajama pants that no longer fit, but I still love the fabrics, so I am thinking about working that into the quilt. Might as well get another use out of them!

I plan on cleaning out my craft closet next weekend while Steven is out of town. I have some old art projects from school that I don't think I'll be needing anymore. Then I can get the closet organized so the projects I want to work on are more easily accessible.

Maybe I can make my own cute camera strap!

cjd

Meal Planning: Week 1

I decided to try something new this week. I planned out the entire week's meals, and only bought stuff to make those meals (plus lunch and breakfast stuff, of course).

See, when I lived alone (or basically alone since my

roommate is never home) I rarely cooked. I ate a lot of frozen meals or sandwiches, or more breakfast food. But now, I have someone to cook for!

So last week I wrote out 4 meals and all the ingredients needed. I only did 4 because I knew we were likely to have leftovers, or maybe we would want to grab something else for another night.

This week I planned for:

teriyaki chicken w/ broccoli (Monday)

orange-apricot pork chops w/ rice (Tuesday)

leftovers (Wednesday)

baked ziti w/ salad (Thursday)

cheese burgers w/ roasted potatoes (Friday)

I found the orange-apricot pork chop recipe online... you make them in the crockpot! I really enjoyed it. The chops were fork tender, and the sauce was yummy.

Here is the recipe!

5-6 pork chops (bone in or out)
1 cup apricot jam

1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges (and juice!)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon clove

The Directions:

Use a 4-6 quart crockpot. I put the can of mandarin oranges on the bottom, just to make sure that my pork chops wouldn't stick or burn. Then I put the pork chops (mine didn't have bones) in an even layer on top of that. I seasoned them with salt, pepper, the brown sugar, and cinnamon. I didn't have clove, so I used a touch of pumpkin pie spice because it has cinnamon and clove in it. Then I spooned the apricot jam on top of the pork.

I left the crock-pot on high for the hour I was still home in the morning, then turned to low for the remaining 7 hours of cooking. When I got home I flipped the pork chops and spooned the juice/oranges on top. I served them on rice, which soaked up all the yummy juice flavors.

Steven told me, after he had approved the recipe the day before, that he didn't really like apricots so he thought it had too much apricot flavor. So next time I make this I might try using orange marmalade, or even peach jam. I quite enjoyed them, though!

I'll keep posting any yummy recipes we use!

cjd

Jessica & Jeremy's Wedding!

You should remember my friend Jessica and her new husband Jeremy from the engagement photos I look. I obviously didn't take these photos, but I wanted to share a couple photos from her wonderful winter wedding! It was on January 2nd, 1 month ago today, and we froze our butts off! I was a bridesmaid, and I had so much fun sharing in Jessica's day!

Her photographer, Amanda Little, was fabulous. Great to work with, and had fun with us!

The Beautiful Bride! 

The girls! 

From L to R: Latessa (college friend), Cristina (cousin), Ashley (best friend and Maid of Honor), Jessica, Melissa (Jeremy's sister), me (college friend), Allison (sister-in-law and Matron of Honor), and Ella the flower girl.

Little champaign toast before the ceremony!

Jeremy before the vows. He cried when Jess was walking down the isle. So sweet!

They had unity sand instead of a unity candle. 

The kiss! With a leg kick and everything!

The whole wedding party!

This is totally Jess and Jer!

Cutting the cake that Jeremy's aunt made.

The Newlyweds at the head table.

The girls doing a kick-line to part of our 'girls just wanna have fun' number.

cjd

Lose It!

I discovered this application for the iPhone, or iPod touch, called Lose It! It is basically a log to keep track of your weight, calories, and nutrients. I have been using it to count my calories, and I weigh myself every morning. There is also a way to connect it to the web, so you can view your logs online - I haven't tried that yet. 

I am proud to say that I have lost 5 pounds since starting my endeavor! And I owe it all to calorie counting. It's not a diet, I can eat what I want. It's just that now I pay more attention to what, and how much, I am eating. I still go out to eat, and have my cheat days, but I am loving it so far. In fact, when I went to see my parents for a week I ate really well. Too well. But I didn't gain any weight, I just stayed the same - I was pleased to discover that!

I can't wait to start walking again once it gets warmer outside. I'd also love to ride my bike... if I could get it to Missouri. I'll keep you posted!

cjd

Officially Official

I officially graduated!