Gettin Crafty...Day Two

Since I work this weekend, I was off work again yesterday, and after going on a cleaning spree in the morning, I decided to do another Pinterest project. I've seen all kinds of yarn wreaths on Pinterest and a few of my friends have made them too, so I decided to give it a go.

Instead of buying a styrofoam wreath, I used a tip I also found on Pinterest and bought foam tubing from Home Depot, which was super cheap!

Then I started wrapping it with my yarn.

Finally done with the yarn wrapping.

Now on to adding some flowers!

More flowers.

And the finished project!

Time to Get Healthy: Week 5

It's Thursday, which means it's time again to link up with Raven and Kristen for Inspire Me: Healthy!


I am proud to say I've had a pretty good week! I've been keeping up on my workouts and I've even been trying to do a little extra workout time on my days off from work.  This morning I got to go on a relaxing 6 mile run to start my day! I always like when I get to workout in the morning because then it is done and I have the rest of my day to do whatever I want.  I also have been doing a lot better on my snacking. I have had minimal snacking in between meals, and when I think I'm hungry or need a snack, I try to either put a piece of gum in my mouth or drink some water or no calorie juice.  So how has your week been? This weekend is going to be a challenge as it's Labor Day weekend and the first Husker game, so there is going to be a lot of tempting food around, so I will need to be on my best behavior, lol!  I'll leave you with a couple good motivators when you're tempted to eat bad or not workout:

Have a good healthy week...cya next Thursday!

Gettin' Crafty...Husker Style

Today, I decided to have a DIY afternoon! I found this awesome idea for a Nebraska Husker wreath, courtesy of Mom Endeavors.

Your supplies needed are:
- cardboard
- assorted ribbon
-hot glue gun
-any extra embellishments wanted

First, you cut out a wreath shape from cardboard. Then, start tying the ribbon in knots around the cardboard, making sure to push them close together to cover all the cardboard. Use the hot glue gun in any needed spots to keep the ribbon down. When you have gone all the way around the wreath, trim any of the ribbon if you need to.  Then, add any embellishments/extras if you want to.

Here is how my project turned out:

My cardboard and all my ribbon ready to go.

About halfway done.

Ribbon is all done and trimmed.

Final project! I added a painted "N" for the Huskers.

This gets me excited for more Husker volleyball and for Husker football to start! 

I Have a Blog Button

Hello everyone! I'm super excited today because I get to share with you that I have added a button to my blog!!

What do you think of it? After a couple hours of trying many tutorials and failing with the HTML code, I finally found a really great tutorial here. I was so relieved when my button and grab box showed up on my blog preview...yeah! Thanks to everyone whose blogs I looked at stalked to get ideas for my button!

Weekend Wonders

It's almost time for bed, but I'll get my weekend post in first!

On Friday, I was off work, so I went to visit Ryan's nieces in Lincoln. They had a wedding on Saturday, so Ryan's brother and family were camping there for the weekend. We played at the park all morning!

Friday night I got to go on a date with my husband, which was much needed as he worked late every night last week. We went to the mall for some shopping in Lincoln, and he spoiled me with some new clothes from Vanity. I also got a Green Bay Packers shirt since football since is super close! Go Pack Go!

Saturday and Sunday were busy, as I worked 12 hour shifts at work both days.  Saturday night, I did come home and watch the Husker Volleyball team on TV as they beat #1 UCLA in 5 sets, it was pretty exciting! 

Sunday night I got to end my weekend at mass and with my husband! Hope you all have a great week!

Frugal Friday

Today I am linking up with Wendy from The Shabby Nest for a Frugal Friday link up party!

For our wedding in May, instead of the traditional flowers hanging from the pews in church for the ceremony, I decided I wanted to use the letter of our last name instead! 

I went to Hobby Lobby and bought the wooden letters and then decorated and modge podged them using different colors and designs of scrapbook paper.  I waited to get the letters when they were 50% off and then used a 40% off coupon for a book of scrapbook paper, so each letter cost me less than $2.00.   

We then hung them with ribbon from the pews! It was a very inexpensive and fun project, and now, I'm going to reuse a couple in our new apartment and hang them on the front door and in our office! 

Time to Get Healthy: Week 4

It's Thursday, which means time to link up with Kristen and Raven for Inspire Me Healthy Thursdays!

My week has been pretty good. I've worked out every day so far this week, so I'm pretty happy with myself. The best part is that 2 of my workouts this week I got to do with my sister! We went on jogs and walks together, so it was good to inspire each other.  

Since school is starting back up and its fall, which means Husker volleyball and football season start, I feel that a lot of us are going to be busier, but that doesn't mean we should start using that as an excuse for not working out, although I like to use it sometimes. So here is a list of a few short workouts, AKA one song workouts I found on Pinterest to try out when I'm short for time!

  

Loaded Potato and Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Last night for supper, I tried a new recipe courtesy of a recommendation from my friend at work. She got the recipe, Loaded Potato and Buffalo Chicken Casserole, from Cook Lisa Cook.  It turned out great, and even had a little kick to it's taste.

For your ingredients you need:

• 2 lbs raw chicken breasts, cut into pieces
• 8-10 medium potatoes, cut into small pieces
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp pepper
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 2 tbsp garlic powder
• 6 tbsp hot sauce (I used Frank's buffalo)
• 2 cups shredded cheese
• 1 cup crumbled bacon
• 1 cup diced onion

First, mix the oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and hot sauce together.

Then, add cut up potatoes, mix into sauce and dish into greased 9x13 pan.

Leave as much leftover sauce in bowl, and mix in chicken, let marinate.

While chicken is marinating, bake potatoes at 500 degrees for 45-50 minutes, stirring occasionally. When potatoes are done baking, turn oven down to 400 degrees, and put chicken on top of potatoes. Then spread cheese, bacon, and onion over chicken.  Put back into the oven to bake for 15-20 minutes, or until chicken is done.

And...drumroll please...the finished product!!

(I didn't have bacon, but it was still delicious!)

If you're a fan of buffalo chicken flavored things, you should try this! 

Sister Bonding

Today I'm off work for the day, so my lovely sister came to visit! She is a senior and Resident Assistant at Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln, and had the day off before getting ready for freshman move-in day on Wednesday.

We started the morning off with a refreshing run and walk and some much needed time to catch up on each other's lives.

Then we finished off the morning with a competitive game of Scrabble, even though she beat me by about 40 points and the movie, The Backup Plan.

Even though it was a short visit, I was happy to see her and glad we got to spend some sister time together!

Weekend Wonders

I am finally sitting in the recliner and relaxing to wind down the weekend! I'm watching Father of the Bride, classic funny movie!

Anyways, here was my weekend...

Friday night a few friends came up to hangout and see our place. We grilled, played some yard games, had some drinks and sat by the fire.  We even roasted marshmallows and made smores, yum!

Story behind this picture... You play on teams of two. You get 3 throws and each hole on the board is worth 6, 4, and 2 points. If you get it on the board, it's one point.  The first team to 31 points wins. BUT...if you get either all 3 washers in the same hole in one turn or get one washer in each hole on the same turn, you get Yuckapoo (the name of the game as we know it, but probably has other names I'm sure), which means you automatically win! And low and behold, after playing horribly warming up for a few games, I got this on my first turn of about my 5th game...yeah me!

Saturday morning consisted of rainy and windy golfing starting about the 5th hole, but we still had fun! I think we finished our last 4 holes in record time.

Saturday night I experienced my first Thunder by the River tractor pull in Wisner, NE, close to my hometown. It's a national tractor pull that brings thousands of people to watch. I'm not exactly sure how to define it, but they are tractors and trucks that are modified with bigger engines and more horsepower and speed. It was very interesting to watch and see all the different names and design of the tractors, and also how loud they can be. Ryan's dad also got us tickets to the VIP tent, where we got to try a lot of delicious food and drinks.

One of the tractors that won a division in the pull. The puller is from my hometown of Howells, which is pretty cool!

On Sunday, Ryan and I spent some time with his nieces before going to visit my cousin Kim who was home from Texas for the weekend. It was great to see her and catch up! She even introduced us to a new game, Monopoly Deal, you all should check it out!

Time for a New Recipe

Tonight, Ryan and I are having a few friends over, so I decided to try a new recipe out! They are called crockpot ranch potatoes, courtesy of Never Trust a Skinny Cook!

It's very simple, 4 ingredients: 1 can of cream of chicken soup, 1 dry ranch packet, 1 cup sour cream and 2 lbs cut up potatoes. You put it all in the crockpot on low for 6 hours and enjoy!

My ingredients.

Potatoes fresh from my parents' garden!

All mixed up and ready to cook!

Tune in next time to see how they turned out! Have a great weekend everyone!

Time to Get Healthy: Week 3

It's time for another Healthy Link Up Thursday with Kristen and Raven!



I have had a great week working out! So far since last Saturday, I've worked out every day except Tuesday, so I'm pretty happy with myself! My husband Ryan also came with me 2 times this week, so it's nice to have someone to workout with. It's way easier when you have a workout partner! 
Tonight, I took my bike out for my first long ride since we moved. I went almost 9 miles, some gravel roads and some highway. It was a beautiful evening, nice and cool and it felt so refreshing outside! 
I'm still working on eating healthier, but I have been eating less for lunch and trying to eat more fruits and vegetables, but my sweet tooth is still here!
How did all of you do this week?

Keeping "Him" in the Center of It

Recently, I have found a new favorite song to listen to called "Center of It" by Chris August. I first heard it on the radio and now tend to play it often on my laptop. It's a great song about how God is always there for us through the good, bad, ups and downs! It also reminds us the importance of keeping Christ in the center of our lives and in the center of all we do! When things aren't going well in our lives, whether it be our job, school, or other aspects, it's probably due to us not putting God in the center of them, which I am guilty of a lot of the time!

Here it is:

Weekend Wonders

It's Monday, which means the weekend is over...bummer! Mine was a great weekend! Friday night Ryan and I went home and got to spend some time with his nieces, Allie and Dani. They were a lot of fun and full of energy!

Saturday morning I got to go on a run with my dad, so it was some good father daughter bonding time and the weather was great! I also got to go on a walk with my friend Ashley and we were able to catch up on each other's lives. Saturday afternoon I got to be pampered at my favorite salon with a haircut by Carmen at A Little off the Top Salon. Check out their Facebook page here!

Saturday night I got to have a girls night as the guys were having their fantasy football draft! It was a very fun night, obviously since Samantha at 3 Oh 1 Grace St. mentioned it in her post also!! We had snacks, drinks, and a few other fun things also! 

Here's the girls crew!! 

Sunday was spent with my fam and Ryan at World's and Ocean's of Fun! I survived the roller coasters and got some waterslides in too! It was a fun day to end the weekend!

The Patriot...my favorite coaster of the day!

Until next weekend, everyone have a good week!!

Go For the Gold! #Team Jordan

TGIF Everybody! I am so happy it's Friday, which means once I get through work today, it's the weekend! Today I would like to give a couple shoutouts to former Huskers!

First to hometown Nebraskan Jordan Larson and the rest of the USA volleyball team as they play for the gold medal in the Olympics tomorrow! They beat Korea in the semis and are now working for the USA's first gold medal in women's indoor volleyball!

Here is a really neat article about Jordan that was in the newspaper yesterday that talks about how Jordan is such a great inspiration to volleyball players in Nebraska, both at the high school and college level:
Hooper's Larson hasn't lost sight of Husker roots

Also, second shoutout to former Husker wrestler Jordan Burroughs as he starts his Olympic wrestling today in the 74kg freestyle!

To catch freestyle wrestling or the Gold Medal volleyball match online, go to: NBC Olympics

Or tune into to NBC on TV!

Go Huskers!

Time To Get Healthy: Week 2

Happy Thursday! I am linking up once again with Raven and Kristen for a Healthy Link Up Thursday!


How has your fitness week been? Mine has been ok. After working three 12 hours shifts on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, I didn't get to workout on any of those days, although I can partially count the walking and pushing patients up and down the halls in the hospital. 
But the rest of my week has been great! On Tuesday and this morning I got a good run in outside and even went 6 miles on Tuesday! I haven't ran that far since my half marathon in May, so I was pretty happy! And on Tuesday night, my husband had me lift some weights with him to hopefully strengthen some muscle. Yesterday I went to the fitness center and did the elliptical to change it up a bit. 
As for the eating portion of getting healthy, I am doing a little better but still need to snack less! Can someone please come pull out my sweet tooth?? 
Have a good week and see you again soon! Here's a couple of my favorite Pinterest inspirations!

An Epic Week

Hey Everyone! Sorry for my lack of blogging lately. In reference to the title of my post, last Saturday at work we went live with a completely new electronic health record system called Epic-One Chart! This means no more paper charts, everything is tracked electronically. This is really cool and a great thing for the hospital, but it also meant a lot of work and a lot of training to come. We all got basic training, but now we are trying to learn the system more in depth. There are also some hiccups and issues we are finding as we use the system that have to get fixed. So I've worked every day since Saturday and it's been a little crazy and stressful!

In other news in my life...last Friday night I got to enjoy the Casey Donahew Band and Dylan and the Dirt Road Detour at the Dodge County Fair with a couple friends from work. Besides that, I've still been keeping up with the Olympics and am excited for the USA vs USA gold medal match in women's  beach volleyball today! And also continuing to support the women's volleyball team as they are in semifinal action tomorrow! 

Jenna and I at the fair concert.