Month: December 2014

2014 Year in Review + LINKUP

 

 eoy2014
20141231_092228

Welcome my pretties to the 2014 YEAR IN REVIEW LINKUP!!!  Grab a cup of coffee & join me 🙂

Go HERE to participate!!!

What did you do in 2014 that you’d never done before?

This is SO hard!  I can’t think of anything I have never done before off the top of my head.  I ate new foods, tried new little things, but nothing too extravagant.

Did you keep your new years’ resolutions? Will you make more in 2015?

I vowed to lose 25-30 pounds.  And no, I probably actually gained MORE weight this year…of course it’s right after the holidays.  I do want to eat better & not make a goal to lose weight, just to be healthier.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, someone in Terence’s family is always pregnant or having a baby.  I love all my little nieces and nephews.

Did anyone close to you die?

People I knew died.  Not any immediate family & for that I am HAPPY.

What countries did you visit?

Stayed in the US this year…next year I’m ready to get out of dodge!

What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?

will-power, self motivation to chase my dreams, not be afraid of being my true self.

More family time.

What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory?

My sister had a beautiful wedding this past summer.  I’ll always remember that.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Growing my photography business.

What was your biggest failure?

Oh I fail every day at something.  I am far from perfect, but I try my best.  I am really bad at meal planning and grocery shopping.  I struggle with that the most.  The last thing I want to do when I get home from a long day is cook.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

No *knock on wood*

What was the best thing you bought?

A new Nikon D750!!!!  So excited!

Whose behavior merited celebration?

My husband.  He puts up with me and all my flaws.  He’s very structured and disciplined…and I am very free-spirited.  He keeps me grounded and focused for sure.

Where did most of your money go?

FOOD. Ugh.

What did you get really excited about?

Photo shoots- My passion….anytime I get asked to take photos or have a new event I get SO excited!  I love weddings and the vibe you get from all the love in the air 🙂

What song will always remind you of 2014?

Taylor Swift- Blank Space

Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or sadder?

Happier

Thinner or fatter?

Fatter. Blah.  I am “Plushious”

Richer or poorer?

Richer

What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercising & spending time with distant family.

What do you wish you’d done less of?

Working

How will you be spending Christmas?

I went to Arkansas and we had Christmas on the farm there.  We also had Christmas with Terence’s family in Texas too.

Did you fall in love in 2014?

No, I already am.

How many one-night stands?

Zilch.

Who were your best friends?

I don’t have any BEST friends here in Texas…I wish I could find one.  My best friends have always been my girlfriends from high school and of course my twin sister Bonnie.

What thing did you do that was meaningful to others?

Capture memories and take photos that will hopefully last a lifetime.

What were your favorite TV shows?

The Goldbergs, The Black List, & so many more!

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Yes.  Not hate…just dislike.

What was the best book you read in 2014?

The Crossfire Series (Thanks Nicole!!!)

What was your greatest musical discovery?

Taylor Swift 1989 album= LOVE.

What did you want and get?

A new camera.

What did you want but did not get?

To move closer to my husband’s job so we can have more time together.

What were your favorite films this year?

I can’t even REMEMBER.  We watched a LOT of movies…I can’t think of a stand out favorite though.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

33.  Spent the day with my family.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A personal chef.  Ha ha!

What kept you sane?

My MEDS.  No joke.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Beverly Goldberg.  Overbearing Mom of the year.

What political issue stirred you the most?

Obama everything. SUCKS.

Who do you miss?

Our old President.  My family in Arkansas.

Who are the best new persons you met this year?

I met some great blogger friends and so thankful for them!

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.

Life is short. You can’t take it with you.  Pick and choose your battles.

Quote that sums up the year:

Your future is as BRIGHT as your FAITH.

 

MetLife TRICARE Dental #MetLifeTDP

I participated in an Ambassador program on behalf of Influence Central for the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

afdwf

(Terence on the day he enrolled in the Air Force)

December is the National Guard’s birthday. If you are a member of the National Guard I want to say THANK YOU!!!  I’ve talked about our military experience before and also the benefits of the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program.  It provides low-cost monthly premiums and offers a cost share for a variety of dental procedures. Let’s face it…dental care isn’t cheap.  My co-worker chipped her tooth last week on a sucker and now she’s got to go to the Dentist…I know she isn’t excited about that!

One way you can take the pressure off of going to the Dentist is by enrolling in the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program.  They are dedicated to educating members about dental health and important dental care practices. The TRICARE Dental Program is ideal for military families because it is a convenient and cost-effective way for families to have continuous dental coverage despite changes in life events, geographical locations, or military status.

I miss the benefits of Tricare now that I don’t have them anymore.  I stay in touch with a lot of our military friends now, thanks to Facebook and social media.  Seriously, if you have the option to enroll in MetLife TRICARE Dental then DO IT!

You never know what you have until you don’t have it anymore & this is a great program to take advantage of NOW.  The end of the year is a great time to review your dental benefits & get ready for the coming year.

The TRICARE Dental Program is part of the TRICARE Health Plan for military families. However, you must enroll separately in the TRICARE Dental Program to obtain dental coverage for your family.

For more information check out MetLife TDP Facebook page, Twitter, and Fact Sheet.

Sign up for the TRICARE Dental Plan Newsletter, Dental HealthMatters, shares information about TRICARE Dental benefits, updates and announcements, tips to keep teeth healthy, and more helpful information for enrollees.

Christmas Recap 2014 & Changes in the Year to Come!

We had a great Christmas.  Connor and I left to visit Arkansas the week before Christmas.  We had a great time visiting Bonnie, Vinny, and Jarrett.  We stayed with them the first night we got into town.  Let’s not mention how I drove into the wrong driveway and woke up their next door neighbor at 1 a.m.!  So embarrassing!

I visited with lots of old friends and co-workers.  It’s always nice to catch up with people and see how much has changed.  We headed to the farm on Saturday and celebrated Christmas, ate, slept, ate, slept some more….

Sunday we went to church and then packed up the ginormous amount of toy pieces strew all over Nannie’s house & headed back to Conway.  There is NO PLACE on Earth like the farm and I’m so thankful we have a place like that to retreat to.  Mom and I had a day out together of lunching and shopping.  I always love having special days like that with my Mom.  We headed home begrudgingly on Tuesday.  After a long drive we were back in Texas.

We had an amazing Christmas and I feel so SO very blessed that I have a loving family and more than I ever needed or wished for in this lifetime.

On Christmas day we spent time with Terence’s family and had some yummy food and togetherness.  We’ve had great weather this year, but I hear it may snow this week!  (Always a good excuse for building a fire and making soup right?)

This next year we are hoping to make the big move to Plano/Frisco to be closer to Terence’s job.  We have to sell our house, it’s bittersweet because it’s the home we bought when I was pregnant with Connor.  Having family time and being closer together is something we’ve been striving to do for a long time.  I’d like to get settled before Connor starts Kindergarten next fall.  I ask for your prayers as we figure out what to do and transition during this time.  I know everything will work out and God is ALWAYS in control!

Well, I know this is going to photo overload, but here is a glimpse of our Christmas 2014:

IMG_109427944465184

IMG_20141219_232011 IMG_20141220_030110 IMG_20141220_131822 IMG_20141220_202754 IMG_20141220_213522 IMG_20141221_171141 IMG_20141222_154859 IMG_20141222_155029 IMG_20141226_083820 IMG_109341006476904 IMG_109346136878514 IMG_109350971900486 IMG_109361303992772 IMG_109368315681004 IMG_109371697883151 IMG_109376489234471 IMG_109380992286228 IMG_109384131354833 IMG_109388104987644 IMG_109393889014744 IMG_109397940650486 IMG_109404128699803 IMG_109407863624118 IMG_109419438025974

IMG_20141219_125027

After Christmas Depression…

Okay I’m going into my after Christmas depression today.  Enjoying one of the last eggnog lattes I’ll have until next season.  (Don’t you DARE think of taking it away #Starbucks !)
I don’t know what it is…but it’s the build up of Christmas more so than the actual day itself.  After I get home from Arkansas I instantly miss my family again, but when I’m away I miss my Texas family too.  It’s hard.
I know this next year there will be lots of changes for the good.  Connor will be starting Kindergarten & hopefully we’ll get a few fun trips in along the way.
I’m hoping on building my photography business a little bit more and I’ve been eyeing THIS beauty for the last few months.  Hoping if I work hard enough I can make it happen.  Does anyone have the Nikon D750 yet and what do you think of it?  I know it’s a fairly new camera body.
I had a great Christmas yesterday and a great pre-Christmas in Arkansas.  I’ll recap on that later…meanwhile you can follow me on Instagram for all the latest and greatest!
(Being on Instagram I feel like a lot of the blogs I used to follow and love ONLY use Instagram now….what happened to the art of writing???  My goal is to keep this blog going.)  Just a thought!
I’ll recap our entire Christmas in a few days…here’s one of my favorite pics of me and my twin sister Bonnie 🙂  Miss you like crazy boo!

IMG_20141219_161553

 

Christmas Chocolate Soufflés

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Goldrich Eggs, which can be found at Wal-Mart. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

D7K_7974-975x753Christmas is NEXT WEEK y’all!!!  Can you believe it?  I’m enjoying a nice little vacay and visit here in Arkansas.  I know I’m going to eat good while I’m here.  My Grandma always cooks the best meals.  My favorite part of every meal is dessert.  It’s no secret that I’m a chocoholic.

One of my favorite things is a chocolate soufflé.  I shared with you a couple of weeks ago a wonderful egg souffle that my Mother-in-Law makes every year.  So, in keeping with the soufflé theme I thought I would share a dessert recipe.

I’m using Goldrich eggs, which have a wonderful#GoldRichYolk & great flavor.

D7K_5854-2

Grease 4-6 ramekins/small bowls to bake your souffle in.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set dishes on a rimmed baking sheet.

D7K_7940

In a large heat proof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, combine chocolate, vanilla, and 1/4 cup water. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
D7K_7942

An egg separator is KEY for souffles. It’s an inexpensive tool and it assures you don’t get any #GoodRichYolk in your egg white mixture.D7K_7944

D7K_7961

Stir egg yolks into cooled chocolate mixture until well combined. Set souffle base aside.D7K_7948

In a large bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 5 minutes.

In two additions, fold egg-white mixture into souffle base: With a rubber spatula, gently cut down through center and lift up some base from bottom of bowl. Turning bowl, steadily continue to cut down and lift up base until just combined.

D7K_7968

Bake souffle until puffed and set, 30 to 35 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

D7K_7977 D7K_7986

AND ENJOY!!!

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas.  Remember calories don’t count during the holidays, so eat and enjoy yourself!  Head to Walmart if you are looking for the tastiest eggs around- GoldRich Eggs.

I made a little video below with some instructions and helpful hints.

Holiday Traditions & Hospitality

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Charmin. I received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

I can’t believe we only have 10 days until Christmas!  This year sure has flown by.  In the midst of all the hustle and bustle comes shopping, eating, and lots of family.  We always have a house full of relatives and everyone is going in different directions.  Kids running around while the men watch football and the gals are in the kitchen slaving away.

The LAST thing you want happening to ruin your holiday is this…

A CLOGGED TOILET.

                                             image

Thanks to Charmin we don’t have that problem.  Charmin has Roto-Rooter’s stamp of approval to be clog-free and septic-safe, but it is also used by plumbers more than any other brand.

D7K_7917

We’ve used Charmin in our home for years, it’s super soft and we prefer it to other toilet paper.  I always try to make sure our guest bathroom is stocked full of toilet paper because the worst thing for guests is running out of toilet paper!  Can you say AWKWARD???

Make sure your bathroom is inviting.  It’s okay to add a little Christmas to the bathroom too.  It’s one of those rooms that gets neglected during the holiday season, yet it’s one room that’s used the most.

D7K_7938 D7K_7932

For more than 70 years, Charmin has been trusted in millions of Americans’ homes!  If that doesn’t tell you people love Charmin, then I don’t know what will.  You have to try it for yourself.  I compare it to sleeping on 100 thread count sheets or 1000 thread count sheets….which one is softer?  Obviously the one with the most thread count and that’s the bed people want to USE!  Same goes for toilet paper.

With Charmin Ultra Soft and Ultra Strong you can use up to 4X less toilet tissue.  You use less because you don’t need a whole lot to do the job.  It lasts longer and saves me money.

So…after we are done with our Charmin we like to use the cardboard roll on one of our favorite holiday traditions.  Every year we build a gingerbread house.  It’s not always the most beautiful sight, but the point is we are having FUN!

D7K_7979

We take a left over cardboard roll from the toilet paper and roll it in icing.  The cardboard color matches the gingerbread house perfectly so you can’t even tell!  Then we roll on some sprinkles and we have our chimney 🙂D7K_7982 D7K_7983 D7K_7985

I hope you all have a blessed Christmas season and make sure your stocked up and ready to go with Charmin!  Buy less & save MORE!

Follow along on Facebook & Twitter  #TweetFromTheSeat