Life Changing...and Sweet and Sour Chicken!!

This is blog post, that we've all been waiting for. The one when I tell you, I'm really enjoying cooking. Oh, and I found a blog that will change your life! Because it's got the most AMAZING and DELICIOUS recipes around!! Go immediately here, and follow Made It. Ate It. Loved It.

Back to the post. Around here, we enjoy oriental food. Probably a little too much! But in this small town, there's not really a place to go. And you know, get good food. There is a place, on the college campus. But it's only open Monday-Friday, from August-May, from 11am-2pm. Not really making for the easiest place to dine. If you know what I mean....

Other than that, you can drive an hour away, end enjoy PF Changs. But for us, that's just not going to happen. It's like a once every 6 months, kind of thing. We do have a local place. But the only thing that is good, is the beef and broccoli. Oh, and the prices!! But we crave sweet and sour chicken, lo mein noodles, and good egg rolls.

When we dive up north, like once a year, we also eat at Panda Express. Like 5 times, in 2 days!! I know, we're crazy. But I so wish, that we had a Panda Express near us. The closest one, is 3 hours away! Can you see why, I need to learn how to cook? And why this blog, is making me so excited.

Well, not only have I found good egg rolls, at Costco! I can't remember the brand, but they're in the freezer section. Oh, and I've seen small packages at Wally World. But you pay less, if you buy the big box. Then I found this good lo mein recipe. I know! The stars were lining up. Lastly, I found this recipe for sweet and sour chicken!!

Can you tell what we're having for dinner? Um, hello! Look at this picture!! I just have to make this. I've already been to Albertsons twice. And it's not even lunchtime. Can I make it to dinner? Oh, the Honky Tonk Hubby is going to be so excited!! ~Chels

Earring Making....

We are invited to a few weddings this summer. Oh, only 5! And I don't want to go out and buy 5 separate outfits. Especially fancy maternity clothes. It just seems like a waste of money. If I wasn't pregnant, than I might feel differently. But that's still a lot of dressy clothes....

Being that most of the people going to all these weddings....are the same people, I need to change things up!! I've decided on 3 dresses. That should cover me for the weddings, a few Bridal Showers, and a few Baby Showers. :) It's going to be a busy summer for our friends!!

But I figured I could have fun with my accessories. Heck, I thought, I could even make a few things. First, I bought some really inexpensive shoes. 3 identical pair, brand new, for a total of $15! I glittered a fun pair....for a really fun wedding! Not too hard. Spray glue, lots of glitter, than my hubs sealed them....with some sort of clear spray. Fun, easy, and inexpensive!

I've also been making trips to Hobby Lobby. Pretty regularly. Using lots and lots of 40% coupons. I've made a bracelet, a necklace, and a fun hair accessory. See were I'm going here? I've been trying to make some fun stuff, to liven up my "fancy" outfits.

Then I took to Pinterest. And found this fun picture. Unlike most "Pins" on Pinterest, this one had a link. That worked. And took me to this website. Where I fell in LOVE!!! Hello!!! P.S.-I Made This....I LOVE YOU!!

I really liked the look of these earrings. I know, they're totally over the top! But for one wedding that we're going to, they're perfect! I just so happened to have some rose earrings. Very similar to these. Our local 99 cent store recently went out of business....and for no good reason at all, I stocked up on their flower earrings. :) I don't know when I'll use 30 pairs....but for $2.50 I couldn't leave them behind. :)

I also had a rhinestone necklace, that had broke. It sat in my jewelry box....for 6 years. Well, I dug it out. It's very similar to the trim in the picture. I also dug through my hubby's tackle box. And I found some new fishing string. And Krazy Glue! Score. All I had to do, was find the bottom rhinestone things. I actually just went to Wally World. And found some beautiful rhinestone buttons. I think I got 2 buttons for $3. Not bad!

This is what I'm working on right now. I've actually got a few other projects from P.S.-I Made This. I can't wait to share them with you! But you should definitely take a look around this website. I'm so glad that Pinterest lead me there. :) ~Chels

Very Fun!!

I've been searching out some good maternity pictures. I NEED ideas people! Fun ones! Preferably....were I'm not showing any real skin. I know, I know! But seriously. So I've been going through good 'ol Pinterest. And this picture in particular, made me smile. :)

What do you think? I would like some other ideas. Please leave me a note. Send me a picture. Post a link. Anything! I'd love to see more ideas. We really want some fun pictures. That our a little different. To document our baby. ~Chels

Colorful Fun!!

Some things just make the world, a very happy place. You know, like walking through Hobby Lobby. I know, it's just February. But I walked through all the aisles in Hobby Lobby. And I spent an extra long time, in the "Summer" aisles.

There were so many colorful things! Pinwheels for you yard. A heck of a lot of garden stuff. But also, lots of fun summer stuff. Like kitchen utensils. In all these fun and bright colors. It totally didn't help that everything in that section, was 40% off this week. I wanted it all! Including this cool cutting board. That has a fold out bowl attached. To put your peelings and stuff. Really cool! Well, I walked out with nothing....

But I still had all this on my mind. When I got home, we had this catalogue in the mail too! For the love of mankind, I couldn't help myself. I sat down, and looked through the whole thing. Filled with kitchen gadgets, tools, and essentials. We're talking pots and pans, towels, and decor. In the best colors ever!! Including some fun spoons. Wooden spoons. With fun colored, painted handles.

When my hubby came home, I was going to show them to him. Being that I had been so good all day. All day people! I didn't buy a thing we didn't need. And I paid all our bills. :) But I couldn't find that catalogue anywhere. :(

My hubby decided over the weekend, that we should go back to Hobby Lobby. Pick up a few things. Being that everything was on sale again. It's the 3rd week in a row, that these things were on sale! This time, I couldn't bring myself to spending the money. I know! I'm a fool. But we're saving up for a really good cause....our baby's nursery.

And honestly, in the back of my mind, I was still thinking about those spoons. I'm almost 100% positive, that they were 6 spoons for $20. Kinda a lot. But totally worth it! And I didn't want to blow money, on something that I wasn't 100% sure of. Yes, I liked the brightly colored spatulas, whisks, and gadgets. But even with the discount, they were $5 a piece. Oh, and then how would I decide on a color, or which to buy. We left....empty handed.

Then we crossed the road, and did our grocery shopping. Totally on the wrong day. At the wrong store. Wally World on a Saturday....is a MAJOR SIN!! Especially in this college town. Hobby Lobby's lines had been insane! This was ridiculous! At one point, 2 hours into shopping, 90 minutes in line....my hubby wondered away. He actually snuck to the McD's in the back. To get us a little snack. And on his way back to the front, he saw a package of wooden spoons. Hanging on the side of an aisle. And because I had shown my hubby, this picture earlier in the week, he brought them to me. :)

I left hubby with the his fries and ice cream, and our grocery cart. Still in line. And I made a beeline for the small craft department. How can you call 1 and 1/2 aisles, a "Craft Department?" Anyway, I picked up a few different colors of paint. And some sponge brushes.

Long story short, I spent my Saturday night, painting. I ended up using this picture as a good inspiration. And I'm happy that we still had some painters tape, in the closet. It helped make my handles straight. A few coats of paint later, we have some fun cooking utensils. Now I'll be on the lookout for more wooden utensils. Thank you Hobby Lobby and Pinterest for my new, colorful, and fun kitchen accessories! ~Chels

Indoor Tent

Fun in a tent! Who doesn't enjoy a tent? I know I do! It's probably, one of the only reasons I enjoy camping. Fun in a tent....can happen at all ages!! So when I was strolling around on Pinterest, and came across this....I was so excited!!

First of all, yes our baby NEEDS one of these tents! How much fun would this be? A little place to hide out in. Lots of time for fun playing, and reading. Imagine all the memories you could make. :)

Oh, and until baby is big enough....this momma and daddy, can have a little fun in there too! Because honestly, a tent is good for any age! Now where is my hubby? Wouldn't this be fun for Valentine's Day? ~Chels

Can We Say Fun??

Some ideas just make you smile. From ear to ear. With no explanation! You just smile. And walk on air. That's how I felt, when I seen this cute idea!

Oh Pinterest, how I LOVE you!! I just think this idea is genius. At least for us! Because out here, the weather is wild! For the last few winters, we've had an insane amount of snowfall!! Then we have a ridiculous amount of heat, in the summer. Say 40+ days of triple digits!! And the heat, is just unbearable between May and September.

This idea is just genius! I'm going to save it. In the back of my brain. And on this blog. So when our Honky Tonk Babe is about a year and a half, I'll start bugging my Honky Tonk Hubby. You know, to build us something like this! That way, we can play. No matter if we have 12 inches of snow, rain for days, or triple digits! Oh, I can't wait!! ~Chels

Fun Gardening Ideas

Maybe I've been watching too many garden shows. You know, on PBS. But they are really interesting. And now, I want to garden. Never mind that it's just February. Or that I have a "Black Thumb." Or even that on a good day, I've got "Morning Sickness" for 20 hours a day!

But I want to garden. The more I search, the more I want to dig in the dirt. Invest in garden projects. And grow something green! There are definitely a few projects, that are sticking out more than others. Because of Pinterest, I've got nearly 200 things, that I'd like to try. But 3, I'm hoping to finish this year. :)

I don't really know what this is. But it makes me think, of securing plants to our back fence. I've seen this done a few different ways. With brightly colored containers. And they just make me happy!!

This sculpture/pot makes me so incredibly happy! I want to make this. Like 5 of them. This weekend. And I want to buy tons of colorful flowers, to fill them with. Oh, this is such a great idea!!

How about this vertical box? I've seen the one on the Home Depot commercial. Filled with flowers. But I think, it would be fun to put herbs in the box. And attach the box, near our kitchen. For me, this would be the most useful of the 3 projects.

What other ideas should I work on? I've got a head full of ideas! Too bad, our bank account isn't endless. But I won't sit here and pine on that. Nope! I want to get started. ASAP. On some fun and useful yard projects! Hopefully, I can grow something green. :) ~Chels

Daydreaming About....

Now that you all know, that we're expecting....I can share something with ya. I find myself daydreaming, about babies and kiddos all day long!! I'm 9 weeks, 3 days today. I look more, "ate too many donuts," than pregnant. I've been super sick....for weeks. I swear to ya, there is no such thing as "morning sickness!!" It's all day, every day!

But enough of that, I've just been dreaming of kiddos. And how fun this new chapter of our life, is going to be. I sit here and try to imagine life with a little girl, and a little boy. Of crazy days, filled with toys, tantrums, and lots of cuddles. I think about all of that. And it just makes all of the "morning sickness" worth it!!

Come on! How can you not be excited, over a sweet little girl like this? Playing in the park. Right down the road. All smiles!

Or a cute little boy. Just like this. Jumping around. Taking a leap off of our back porch. Enjoying all that life has to offer! Being rough and tough. And all that stuff.

I sit here and imagine what life is going to be. How different our life is going to be. But how exciting life is about to become. I just can't wait! Until the day I get to snap pictures like these. ~Chels

When Times Get Tough....

Lately, life has been tough. I feel like someone has kicked me in the stomach. Or is sitting here, with their hands inside me, torturing my insides. I've been so sick! "Morning sickness," is killing me. Literally, I spend 20 hours laying down. A day!! Why don't women talk about this stuff?

I've been feeling really bad. I mutter up enough energy to make my hubby some breakfast, take my vitamins, and shove something down my throat....every morning. Then I lay down. For hours and hours. Praying that it stays down. In the afternoon, I manage to get up again, throw in a load of laundry, and shove some lunch down my throat. Then I take a nap, until my hubby gets home.

Talk about feeling like crap! He comes home, to a messy home, no dinner, and a wife that looks like death. Poor man. If he wanted a divorce right now, I'd totally understand! My hubby comes home, from working 10 hours. And has to cook dinner. Then I feel really bad. And I try to do more laundry. And I cry. Cry every evening, in the middle of our bedroom.

To which my hubby comes to hold me. And tell me, it's OK. That life isn't always going to be like this. There is a reason. And that is, I'm growing  us a strong and healthy baby. My hubby reminds me that life isn't always going to be like this. That I'm doing something, that he can't do. Grow a baby. And he is more than happy, to pick up my slack.

Yes, my hubby makes us dinner. Preps both of our lunches. Finishes the laundry that I started earlier. Cleans the yard. And has started helping out with the housework. I pray, that this will not last much longer. I just don't know if I have it in me, to continue this way.

Last night, my hubby reminded me of our wedding vows. "For better, or for worse. In sickness, and in health." You never think about those things, when you're getting married. But on the tough days, the wedding vows, really do take on a new meaning. A more meaningful definition of marriage.

I know, in my heart, that all of this is for the well being of our baby. And our family. It doesn't make it easier. But it makes it easier to understand. I know, that I have an AMAZING husband. Lately, I've grown to know, he is so much more amazing, than I could ever dream up. He's so loving, caring, and understanding. I'm so thankful for my hubby! Yes, he makes my grey skies happy. He finds ways to make me smile, when no one else can. I'm so lucky to have him! Our baby is so lucky, that he is going to be their daddy!! ~Chels

Speechless....

Once in a while, I find something that I REALLY LOVE!! Not only do I LOVE it for myself, but then I also want to give them away. Well, as I was wasting time on searching through Pinterest today, I found this little picture. And it was seriously "LOVE at first sight!"

Not only do I think this particular cross would look AMAZING in our home. I'd LOVE to gift my parents and my in-law with one too! Wouldn't this be a wonderful Christmas gift? Gee, now I need to actually find crosses like this. Or maybe, my hubs and his buddies could make some.... ~Chels