Randomness....

Things.
--I must have slept with my neck in a crazy position last night, because I can only turn my head to the right without pain.  Tylenol hasn't even touched it....dang!
--I got my hair cut and colored this week.  It was scary, but I am quite satisfied with the outcome.  It's auburn...aka reddish brown. 
--Isn't it sad that 28 degrees feels like Spring to us after all the bitter cold we have endured this winter??
--Today, while running on the treadmill, I decided to quick hop off and put on my sweatpants because my shorts were falling off me.  I let the treadmill go, put them on, went to jump back on...here's where it get's good...totally ALMOST biffed it.  Dumb me forgot I didn't shut the thing off...  You know when you see the people on Funniest Home Videos who totally all out get thrown off the thing...I kind of got bucked off and regained my balance.  Didn't make it any better though that the weight room was FULL with high schoolers Yep.
--Oranges are really good.
--I am an aunt....again! Holly had her baby...it was a girl!  Winny Mae 7lb 13 oz....she's gorgeous. We get to meet her on Sunday!
--The Devil Wears Prada has to be one of my most favorite movies...

Here are some things I found that I like and thought I would share with you...

These little nest rings you can find here are soooo cute! 

I LOVE finding things like the sign below...

This website is really cool...here is the link.  I love finding new recipes and trying them out!

That's all I have for you! Enjoy your weekend!

Moments captured that make me smile.

Dreams

This weekend Jason and I joined another couple we are good friends with and went out to eat at Plaza Mexico.  Dinner conversation brought us to movies we have seen and/or want to see.  The movie Inception was brought up. 

Backgroud info:
I absolutely REFUSE to watch any movie that has gory scenes, and I also dislike any movie that is scary.  If it is a suspenseful movie, I will attempt to watch it.  Yep, I'm that person.   Man, Jason has to put up with a lot!

 To be quite honest with you, they give me bad dreams.  And that is enough to make me not want to watch them. 

Lately, I have been having some weird and vivid dreams.  Random places I have never been or seen, trying to complete odd or impossible tasks, seeing random people from high school.  Most of the time I never remember my dreams, but the past week I think I could recall several of them. 

Personally, I would rather NOT dream, or at least not remember them.  I almost seem more tired in the morning after I have had a crazy dream.  Maybe my brain is just tired, I don't really know! 

Back to the dinner convo:
So after explaining how I am a big baby and refuse to watch scary movies because they scare me in my sleep, they explained that Inception wasn't scary, and it is actually ABOUT your dreams!  Hmmm...this sounds like something I would actually maybe like!  Haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but it is definitly one we will probably have to see!


Freezzzzingg F-f-f-f-friday...

Yep....you are seeing that right.... -17 degrees.

My car wouldn't start.

Jason had to leave work to jump it.

He wasn't wearing gloves.

Or a coat.

Just a long sleeve t-shirt.

I told him he was CRAZY!

School was 2 hours delayed today....too bad work couldn't be 2 hours delayed! : )

Come on...you know you were thinking that too!

Have a great weekend!!!!

Recipe Wednesday

Recipe Wednesday

Easy Chicken Santa Fe

I was totally sold on the when I saw "easy." 

And I am throwing this together as I speak type...lets hope it is delicious!

EASY CHICKEN SANTA FE
From: http://www.recipegirl.com/

One (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed & drained
One small bag frozen sweet corn (or 2 cans, rinsed & drained)
1 cup bottled chunky salsa
6 skinless chicken thighs (or 6 skinless chicken breasts- see tips below)
One (8 ounce) package cream cheese (low fat is fine), cut into chunks
1 cup shredded cheddar

1. In a slow cooker, mix beans, corn and 1/2 cup salsa. Top with chicken and pour remaining salsa over the chicken. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours, or until chicken is tender and cooked throughout.

2. Remove chicken to a cutting board and cut into bite-sized pieces. Return chicken to slow cooker along with cream cheese. Stir and let cream cheese melt into the mixture to create a creamy sauce.

3. For serving: You can serve the chicken & sauce over rice with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese on top. Or you can serve these as tacos with cheese and a couple of taco fixings such as lettuce and tomato.
Serves: 4 to 6
Cooking Tips:

*For chicken, the thighs will turn out more moist and tender than the breasts in a slow cooker. I used bone-in thighs and removed the skin. After the 3 hours, I removed the thighs, cut off the chicken, discarded the bones and returned the chicken to the slow cooker. You can use breasts too, just be sure not to overcook them or you’ll run the risk of drying them out.

*If you’re watching your weight, you can most certainly leave out the cream cheese. It makes an awfully yummy sauce, but the corn/beans/salsa/chicken mixture would also make for an excellent dinner over rice or inside tortillas.

Put your thinking caps on...

What do you want more of in your life?
What do you want less of in your life?
-More: I want more time with my husband and my family.  I want to spend a lot more time baking and cooking.  I want to make as many memories as I can and document them here, on this blog, so I can always look back and recall the good times I have experienced. 
-Less:  I want less worrying...not that I worry a ton, but I just want a little less.  I want to use less time on Facebook and emailing.  I want to have less doubt. 

How would you spend your ideal day?
-Easy, with my husband on the beaches of Mexico, drink in my hand and not a care in the world. 

What's something most people don't know about you?
-I'm adopted.  I have met both my birthmother and birthfather.  I don't mind talking about it at all.  I wouldn't want anything to change how my life has turned out.  I am blessed.

What's the best decison you ever made? (I have a few for this one)
-Falling in love with Jason. 
-Going to NIACC for school.
-Choosing to live in a small town.
-Deciding I would rather be happy and have less money, then have more money and be miserable. 

If you had to move 3000 miles away, what would you miss the most?
-I would HURT for my family.  It makes me sad just thinking about it. 

How would you describe the past year of you life in one sentence?
-I have found more joy in life, made more memories, and truly found my happiness. 

What are your favorite simple pleasures?
-Finding money you didn't know was there.
-Freshly fallen snow.  Untouched.
-Making someone smile.
-Doing something you thought you couldn't do.
-Seeing someone you haven't seen after a long time.
-French manicures.
-Cut grass.
-Date nights.
-Clean linens.

Thursday thoughts...

Current faves:
-Enchiladas
-Heaters
-Old Navy's clearance racks
-Coffee...because I got a new cup for Christmas...Thanks Holly! : )
-Heated leather seats in my bug
-Seeing people who are important to me happy.
-any music by Adele and A Fine Frenzy
-Marker pens in all different colors
-homemade brownies
-Etsy
-Smiling
-Getting snail mail
-Greek yogurt


Current loathes:
-When the salt they put on the roads/sidewalks, stains the bottom of your jeans
-Spilled coffee
-Split ends...I want a haircut!
-Frost on my windshield...it's prettier on the trees


Happenings this week...

-Jason took me on a "date" to Jimmy Johns last night for supper...it. was. AWESOME!  Love #12...Beach Club I believe is the name of it...oh so good!
-Jason starts his second semester at NIACC next week...woo hoo!
-I have been watching a show called "Obsessed" online...it's about people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder...very interesting...I love psychology!
-Right now I have NOTHING planned for Sunday...how great is that!?  It's really great in case you wondered!

Looking back...

Looking back...I NEVER thought I would have a sister...never...then Greta changed that! 

Looking back...I didn't really like living on a farm...I always wanted to live in town...now I would love to live out in the country...

Looking back...I never realized how talented my little brothers really truly were...yes, that is a 3 person shoulder sit. 

Looking back...I never throught that my little brother woud have a better toe touch than me!

Looking back...I knew he was the one...from the first time I met him...I honestly can't explain how it worked...it just did!

I love looking back...life was good then...and it's really good now! 

Enjoy your day!

Recipe Wednesday.

Recipe Wednesday

Brownies.....

They seriously make my day...

And I TRY to stay away from them...

Because otherwise I usually eat WAYYY more than I should. 

So, my best advice to you if you happen to swoon over brownies as I do...make a pan, take them to somewhere that will have lots of hungry people, eat one, let them eat the rest. 

I made these for my mom's birthday cake...her birthday was on the 9th, Sunday.  I have 4 brothers and 1 little sister...the brownies disappeared quick. 

My plan worked!

Also, I have one kind of boxed brownie that I truly love...it's a Hershey's kind...otherwise...not a fan of the boxed variety...I like to be able to pronounce what is going into my food.  And when you make things homemade, this is possible!

Ok, here it is.

Molly's Most Absolutely Favorite Brownies

In a glass mixing bowl, combine:

• 3/4 cups melted Butter
• 4 squares un-sweetened baking Chocolate ( I used cocoa, the crossover is on the side of the cocoa container.)
Microwave Butter and Chocolate until melted (on high about 2 minutes)

Add:
• 2 cups Sugar, then mix
• 3 large Eggs, then mix
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 1 cup Flour, then mix
• 1 cup large Walnut pieces and chunks of premium-grade Bar Chocolate (Gently fold in – don’t over-mix)

Stir Sugar into Chocolate until well blended – stir in Eggs and Vanilla, mix in Flour, stir in Nuts and Bar Chocolate. Pour into a 9×13 buttered baking dish and bake 30-35 minutes and 350° (325° in glass pan), until toothpick in center comes out with fudgy crumbs (do not over-bake).

A sad story...

Read this...
Cheerleaders cry foul

The squad went before the school board tonight and they refused to overturn the decision...

I've seen these girls perform...they were phenomenal...

It is frustrating to see and hear about an AMAZING cheerleading squad have their biggest goal crushed and their is nothing they can do about it. 

It may seem trivial to some of the readers out there...but until you know all of the hard work that these girls put in, you just don't really have any idea. 

The someday dream file...

Dreams can always come true!

Seeing this in person would be breathtaking...

It is CRAZY how bad I want to take a ride in a hot air balloon over my parents' farm.  I am deathy afraid of heights, but would hop in one of these in a heartbeat.  I've actually even looked into buying one...yep...can you say obsessed? 

I want to see a mountain...someday.

Sorry ladies!

The Herrick boys are ALL taken now!! My brother-in-law, Justin, proposed to his girlfriend, Danna, over Christmas break, on top of a mountain!

And...

She...

Said....

YES YES YES YES YESSSSS!

Welcome to the family, Danna!!!

Marriage lessons Jason and I have recently learned...

--Never make an expensive purchase without talking with your significant other.  Unless it's diamonds...no need to consult on that one!


--Date nights are good for the soul...especially if they involve popcorn and rootbeer!


--Don't try to keep tabs on housechores...it doesn't matter if you did the dishes two weeks ago...what matters is that you don't have anymore forks.

--The little things you do make a big difference in the other person's day...yesterday I found a 2-pack of Oreos in my purse...wonder how they got there?  Talouse the cat?

--Just because you are married doesn't mean you don't need a little time away from each other...meeting up for lunch with the girls, or going to ride 4-wheelers with your buddy keeps you sane. 

No one is perfect, no marriage is perfect.  Sometimes seeing the little imperfections brings you back to reality.  And if you look closer, past the imperfections, you see that person you can't get enough of.  The person you fell in love with, the person who chose to spend their life with you. 

"Don't marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can't live without."
-James C. Dobson
 

4 things...

Four TV shows I watch:
-The Big Bang Theory
-The Office
-Glee
-Outsourced

Four things I am passionate about:
-Being happy & trying to make others happy
-Living life to the fullest
-Coaching cheerleading
-My family

Four words/phrases I use a lot:
-You bet!
-Talouse, Trixie
-Jason, Jas, J, J.R.
-I Love You!

Four things I have learned from the past:
-The only way to get what you want is to work hard and be kind.
-Never let a day go by where you don't learn something.
-Be proud of who you are.
-Live for today, not for tomorrrow.

Four places I would like to go:
-Ireland
-Italy
-A rainforest...any rainforest.
-Heaven...someday.

Four things I did yesterday:
-Ran 2 miles
-Blogged
-Ate tofu
-Had a date night with Jason, we saw the movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Part 1...amazing!

Four things I am looking forward to:
-Spring
-The sweet potato I brought for lunch
-Boating
-Jason finishing school

Four things I love about winter:
-The cool crisp air
-Comfy blankets
-Pumpkin spice lattes
-Christmas

Manzana y Manzana....I don't speak Greek!

The Herrick Christmas has come and gone...here is a little bit of what went down...

How in the heck did you get up there?!

Foooodd....

Adam...thought he needed to dress up for Christmas...tie, belt buckle, snowman broach...Santa is proud!

Homemade sushi!

That is cuuuuteee!

Yep this stuff was kind of nasty...but Andy makes it look goooood!!

Digging the comb over Adam!

Emmet and Otters Jug Band Christmas...it's a tradition...Titus loves it!

D-d-d- DANNA!   Sporting the ugly Christmas sweater!

Hmm...do you like Seafood?  Thanks for the gross food pic Jas! 

This man LOVES onion rings!!

Red roasters for Christmas!!  Holly and I were stoked!

The girls!

Christmas Kitten...awwwww!

The boys!

The meaning of my blog post title...Apples to Apples...the rest doesn't really makes sense but it is funny!

Jason has a helper!

We had a wonderful Christmas/New Years and hope that you and yours did as well! 

New Years Resolution...

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? 

I used to...

They would last approximately a week...maybe two if I was lucky.

Then they would be done. 

Usually it involved eating more healthy and exercising...yes I know...how original am I?

This year I think I had my New Year's Resolution come to life in the middle of the year, August to be exact.  I needed something different in my life...something new, less stressful, and maybe a little more rewarding.  My life has changed so much in the past 5 months, yet been the same as well...funny how things work out that way.  After switching jobs in August, I have been happier...found more joy in life, and appreciated everything I have a little more.  I started taking care of myself by exercising with my husband everyday, I found myself being thankful more often.  I helped coach a group of cheerleaders to a state title, I ran a 7 mile cross country race.  I celebrated one year of marriage with my husband, Jason.  And Jason went back to college this August as well.  I have found a great outlet and spot to take my thoughts...here...on this blog. 

I will not have a New Year's Resolution this year...

I am going to continue doing what makes me happy.

-Celebrate the little joys in life.
-Coach cheerleading.
-Bake and cook more.
-Read books.
-Live in the moment.
-Be spontaneous.
-Pray more.
-Take care of myself.
-Make memories.

No pressure this year to keep a New Year's Resolution for more than a week...I made a Life Resolution, and it's really been working out great for me!