#selfie

I just found this on my computer...

I have no idea where it came from (I didn't make it!)...but it's a pretty good look at how #selfies go around here.

This was us - our blond haired, bad eyebrows, silver wearing, skinnier selves - back in 2009.

Five on Friday!

*one*

The best thing that happened this week was that the SOONERS beat Alabama in the Sugar bowl! There weren't many people who thought we could do it, luckily OU makes a really really good underdog! I was so surprised and absolutely thrilled that we pulled off the win! I'm going to watch the ESPN replay tomorrow night so I can watch it without all the nerves! 

*two*

Can I go ahead and just put in a request to have every Wednesday of 2014 off? It's like getting an extra Sunday in the middle of the week! I loved going to work on Thursday knowing I just had to work for two days!

*three*

I have been loving audio books for my long commute, it really makes it more tolerable. I just finished this Jodi Picoult and I have a few more ready to go but if you've got any suggestions I'd love to hear them!

*four*

I was ridiculously excited to open up my Day Designer by Whitney English (this picture is from her site) this week! Mine is gold and it is just as perfect as I expected I just love it! My plan is to carry it around with me during the week (it's kind of big for every day but I don't mind that) but it's just so pretty I don't want to mess it up!

*five* 

We have no plans this weekend for the first time in like a 100 weeks and I am so excited to sleep in, catch up on laundry, and do a whole lot of nothing! 

See ya later 2013!

I really meant to come back around here and write something in November or at least in December, but it never happened.

I didn't want the year to end without a word...

So here I am a few hours before the new year, while I watch football in my pjs (my preferred way of spending NYE) thinking about this crazy year.

 I didn't accomplish nearly as much as I thought I would (or I as much as I probably should have) but somehow I was always busy.

The healthcare changes didn't help to free up any time...

Then even without crazy long work days December is always busy: my birthday, Kuddles birthday (yes we celebrate!), Garrett's birthday and Christmas all happen in less than two weeks and no matter how prepared I feel and how much I want to just relax and soak up my favorite time of the year I'm always rushing around doing last minute things.

I did not turn my camera all month. I didn't even take my camera out of my purse at Christmas, usually I at least give it to the littles to capture some pictures.

Next year I want to take more pictures.

None of that is complaining or excuses just facts. Someday I won't be so busy - or maybe I always will because it's just in my nature.

I wrote a bunch of goals or resolutions for 2014 and my plan of attack to accomplish what needs to get done (think pass the CPA exam - not that I have failed - I am just having trouble getting the courage to even do it)

I am once again not sure what to do with this space. Do I invest more time into it? or do I just keep it as is an occasional thing? and if I do invest more into it what exactly do I want that to look like? I'm just not sure.....

oh well it's hardly a big deal it will work out one way or another! or something I have to decide and commit to before midnight :)

I hope you're spending your new year's eve just how you hoped!

because what's a post without a picture :)

Beans and Rice

Well all of the sudden it's Thursday...work has been insanely busy and then Garrett's parents came into town last night which meant we needed to make sure the house was  extra clean. But the weekend is so close I can almost feel it! This is one of my favorite quick meals when things are crazy!

 I cook a lot of crock pot or freezer meals we get home late after long days and if dinner isn't planned and ready to be eaten when we get home we are pretty much guaranteed to go out and eat. Which is super tasty! But, it's expensive and I'm not the best at going with healthy choices when we go out to eat I want what sounds tasty when I'm hungry after a long day of work. 

I do have a few go to meals when I don't have anything planned that I can make at home instead of going out. One of those is beans and rice. Do other people eat beans and rice? 

I lived in Miami for a couple of years and we had a neighbor that was Cuban and she invited me over for beans and rice one night, and I was hesitant (as a kindergartner it sounded weird!) but I was hooked and went and ate with them a couple of times a month or sometimes she would bring it over for us. It was so good! This is nothing like what she made but it's not a bad easy week night meal. 

I take a can of black or pinto beans (rinsed and drained), a can of diced tomatoes, and Lawry's put it in a pan to warm up while I cook quick brown rice (this was actually a quinoa, chia, brown rice mixture) and then top it with cheese and sour cream (which was moldy this day so it didn't get added) You can also add some sausage if you want some meat or for extra flavor!                            

                               

I can make "real" beans and rice where I soak and cook my beans but that's not a fast meal so it doesn't get made nearly as often around here :)

Happy November

 Here is the little bee in all of her Halloween glory!

Five on Friday!

*ONE* My little bee stayed in costume the whole night and was very well behaved. She got lots of treats out of the deal!      

              

*TWO* Since I have such a long commute home now days I've been listening to books on tape to pass the time. I just finished the last of Chevy Stevens books and I really like all three of them I'm sad she doesn't have any more out. Do you have any good book recommendations?

*THREE* I got lots of cute fall clothes in the mail this week! Including this Loft dress (that's much cuter in person) thanks to the wonderful Pinterest Told Me to 

*FOUR* Now that Halloween is over we can finally start the count down to Christmas and I'm so excited!

*FIVE* We have a bye this week and while I love college football (and I'm so sad when it's over) it's nice to have a weekend off every once in a while to catch up on other things that need to be done. There will still be games on just none that matter much to me :)

Halloween's Past

Kuddles loves Halloween! 

Actually she hates every part of it, except the candy. She hates that I dress her up. She hates that the door bell rings, and she hates that there are small loud children on the other side of the door...

Sadly for her I love to dress her up!

Kuddles the squirrel! Once when K was not so fat we were staying at a hotel and I took her out to potty in the morning and this lady started screeching and said "oh my goodness is that some kind of squirrel"  2012

I love hippos! so of course when I saw this I knew K had to be a hippo! 2011

The bug costume has to be my favorite! Sweet little Kuddlebug!

It was just so bright and cheery! 

And of course we have the yellow submarine! In which everyone got the added joy of listening to me sing The Beatles Yellow Submarine all day! :)

We can't leave out this shot of her Halloween pjs!

This year's costume will be up tomorrow!