Great Monday!

I am so happy to say that today has been a great day! My kids were great (even that one), the weather was awesome, my new card came in the mail, someone placed an order in my etsy store, and I have a great meal planned! I hope you have had a great Monday as well!!

This weekend was very low key and I absolutely loved it! Here is a short recap:

Friday- This has become our chill night. We really haven't done much the past few Fridays. We went to Dick's, Fry's and then we picked up food at our favorite chinese restaurant. We go to a small chinese restaurant called Royal Chopsticks. We were worried there wouldn't be one near us once we move but there are actually 2! Yum!! 

Saturday- Chris got up very early and went on his last duck hunting trip of the year (darn). They got 3 ducks :-(. We hung out at the apartment the rest of the day. That night, a few friends came over and we grilled chicken. This has been our weekend routine for the past few weeks. I am really bad a taking pictures (& am the only girl so they don't enjoy photo shoots). Anyone know any single girls in the DFW area?? Kidding, kinda... 

Sunday- We slept in and he went off to shoot skeet & sight in a new gun. I planned our meals, couponed, and then went grocery shopping. Some people hate grocery shopping but I absolutely love it! I love going by myself with my list and coupon book. I am getting a little better at this couponing thing. I saved around $27 using coupons and shopping the sales. My grocery budget each week is $80 and I only spent $69 and some change. This shop also included stocking up on a few items that we also use and that I had coupons for. Does anyone else coupon? Any tips? Here is proof of my fun shopping trip...

Enough about my weekend. How was yours? How was your Monday? 

I am looking forward to one thing tonight... 

THE BACHELOR.

Even though this season is kind of lame and I don't really care for Ben, I can't pull myself away from it. I really like some of the girls like: 

Kacie B.

 & Jennifer

 I can't stand Courtney and really don't feel like looking up her picture. Also, what happened with Blakeley she is super tame now. She is definitely not one of my favorites but she is ok now. 

This is a super long and random post. Have a great night!!

Meal plan for the week

I'm excited about this week and the meals we are having. The past few weeks have been crazy and full of different things both during the day and at night. This week I will be in my classroom every day, all day and have no plans after school. I am going to try really hard to keep it this way and spend a lot of quality time with my hubby! I have missed him even though I have been home with him at some point at night. Anyway, here are the meals we are having this week...

Sunday- Cheese Tortellini w/ Meat Sauce

Monday- Chicken Enchilada Puffs

Tuesday- Crock Pot Roast

Wednesday- Spicy Ranch Chicken Pasta

Thursday- Slow Cooker Taco Soup

What are you having for dinner this week? Let me know if you post your meal plans on your blog!

100 Follower Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway!! I think my first one was very successful and had a lot of participation. I am so excited to catch up on all of my new followers blogs. There were over 200 entries over the week! I used Rafflecopter to choose a winner.

I would like to congratulate entry #91 which was Ashley v. from Life As I Know It.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I just finished checking out her house makeover & it is awesome!! Congratulations Ashley!! Please leave a comment with your email so I can contact you & get your winnings to you soon!

Thank you again for participating! I already have my second giveaway lined up. It will start at 12:01 AM on Feb. 4th. Here is a hint as to what it will include...

Enjoy your weekend!

Giveaway

Don't forget about my giveaway! It is going on through Friday at midnight! Spread the word!!

                                  Check it out here...

A Mary Kay Satin Hands Set

 A Lilly Pulitzer Koozie

A Mini Mineral Eye Color Quad

A $5 Starbucks Giftcard

A EOS Egg Shaped Lip Balm

One of those days...

It's Wednesday which means I normally do my What I'm Loving Wednesday and Oh How Pinteresting link up. Today has been a tough day to say the least. Today's edition will be a tad different.

Where to begin...

I wake up in a great mood ready to take on the day but had a heavy heart because I knew what was coming later in the day... I roll over give my wonderful husband a hug and kiss and force myself to get out of bed. I decided to wear my hair up, school sweatshirt and jeans today. I put my diamond earrings on to make myself not feel like a totally slob. Hug and kiss my hubby, give Ace some pats and head to school. Get to school... everything is great (minus some hot hair that was made hotter by the lovely, much needed rain). Kids are on their best behavior (minus one but it's expected). Then it starts...

Text from husband...

"The roof is leaking again."

Awesome, this is only the 4th time I have received this message since May. I don't know why it is so difficult to stop a leak in the roof, garage, wherever it was coming from. I think to myself, it's not that big of a deal, just a leak it will/can be fixed.

Next, getting ready for my sub because I took a half day off. Kids still great, over the leak and my sub plans were coming together great. It was 10:30 getting ready to walk out of the door to head home and I am approached by another teacher. Won't go into to much detail but I was told that I share my opinion to much and need to keep it to myself. Awesome. Soak that in and move on. Crying, annoyed, livid...but move on.

The rain had stopped, nice drive home and then I get home. I wish I had taken a picture but I was kinda running late from the unexpected (pointless) convo that happened before I left school. Open the garage, see that hubby had placed a bucket to catch the dripping water but notice that the entire floor of the garage is wet. I'm thinking to myself that the little leak in the roof cannot cause that much water. Walk through the garage and notice a stream (yes, a stream) of water coming from the water heater... hmm go figure another leak. This leak has soaked the ENTIRE garage floor. I start moving things that are getting ruined off the floor (keep in mind I had to be some where in 30 mins. or so). 3 boxes of our stuff ruined. That's ok, not going to fret it. Just move on. Go to take a shower, hot water turned off to stop the leak... Not ok, I needed to get ready. Not a big deal, I just washed my hair with cold water.

The thing that I was least looking forward to was finally here. One of my best friends dad's passed away this past Friday. I leave to go to one of my best friends dad's funeral. It all hit me when I got there that the little problems/issues that come up are so small compared to the big picture. I was beyond irritated about the leak, the conversation at school, the second leak but then I saw my friend and realized how many things in my everyday life that I take for granted. I felt guilty, horrible, selfish, and sad. I could do nothing but walk away and cry myself a good cry. Seeing so many people that I had never met mourn the way they did made the events of my morning not matter.

If you are still reading, here is the short version of what all of that means...

What I'm Loving Today is the fact that I am here, living this amazing life, with amazing friends and family. I don't know where I would be without each and every person in my life. God knows what will happen and why. Days like today happen but there is always a reason and it's just part of his plan. This song was played today and I lost it...

I pray for strength for my friend and family. I cannot imagine what she and her family are going through. We have bad days and sometimes forget about all of the good that we are surrounded by. Days like today really make you take a step back and realize how amazing life is.

I burnt my finger while making dinner and am now off to apply ice.

Tagged Tuesday & Giveaway

So there is a game going on in the blog world and I have been tagged twice! I love these questions and getting to learn more about you ladies!! Before I post all of that info be sure you entered my blog giveaway that I posted yesterday. It is awesome but I may be a little biased! I am giving away 5 of my favorite things!

You can find that post HERE!

Julie from The Smitten Mittons and Rebecca from Beautie & the Belle tagged me.

The Rules

1. You must post the rules.

2. Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.

4. Tag eleven people and link them on your post.

5. Let them know you've tagged them.

11 Fun Facts About Me:

1) I got my Masters in Administration and really do not ever see myself being an administrator.

2) I have a very unhealthy new car fetish. 

3) I always have and always will eat ketchup on almost everything!

4) I have to shave my legs every day (even in the winter).

5) On that same note, I hate sneezing or getting the chills because it makes my leg hair grow...

6) I have a routine in the mornings and if I get off it messes up my day. 

7) I absolutely love planning our meals, making my grocery list, and grocery shopping.

8) I cannot stand to sit at home and do nothing by myself for very long. If Chris is home, that is another story!

9) I love dogs and want a Yorki. I will never get one because I have to get a "real dog".

10) I can touch my tongue to my nose. I could pick it if I wanted to but I don't in case you were worried!

11) I had no idea where I wanted to go to college and ended up at A&M. Not a better place I could have ended up! 

Julie's Questions:

1. What's your favorite TV show?

Big Bang Theory lately, but I have a lot of shows I enjoy watching like House Hunters, CSI, The Bachelor/ette, Lock Up.

2. Who would play you in a movie?

My husband and I aren't really movie people so I really don't know. I really like Jennifer Aniston so maybe one of hers?

3. If you could pay someone to do one service for you for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Clean, most definitely. I despise cleaning! 

4. What's your favorite store to shop at?

I have a lot of favorite stores... Banana Republic, J Crew, The Limited, Target. I could go on forever!

5. What's your most embarrassing moment? (sorry! :)

Hmm, I was in band in high school (embarrassing in itself). We were at the state marching competition and I ate it! Not only did I fall but I made 3-4 people behind me fall as well. I look back and laugh now but boy I was embarrassed then! 

6. If you could only have one gadget, what would it be? (iPhone, computer, etc.)

Probably my iPHone. I can do everything I need on it. Make calls, text, pictures, check email, FB, Twitter and blog. 

7. What's your dream job?

I have my dream job now! I could not imagine doing anything other than teaching. 

8. What's the best thing that happened to you in 2011?

Married my best friend!

9. Who was your first crush?

Who knows!?

10. What's your guiltiest pleasure?

Eating a bag of powdered donuts, drinking a coke zero all while enjoying a bubble bath. 

11. If you could date one Hollywood hunk, who would it be?

Back to this movie star thing... I don't really know. I will stick to my hunky husband!

Rebecca's Questions:

1. dogs or cats?

Definitely dogs!

2. fav vacation spot?

My husband and I have been on a few vacations but I would definitely say our honeymoon was the best so far. We went to Antigua. 

3. makeup product you can't live without?

I really think I could live without makeup but I normally don't leave the house without my mascara and eyeliner. 

4. favorite movie?

These questions about movies are really making me think... I really like Disney movies such as Shrek, Toy Story. Adult movie would probably be The Notebook.

5. coke or pepsi? 

Neither, if you have read my blog for any length of time, you know that my weakness is Coke Zero.

6. scary movie or comedy?

Definitely a comedy. Scary movies give me nightmares and why scare yourself for no reason?!

7. country or pop music?

I really like both. It depends on my mood.

8. favorite online store?

I like Amazon. You can get anything and everything in one place! 

9. celeb you wish you could marry? 

I have my celeb at home lol

10. favorite animal? 

My favorite animal is definitely a dog but if we are talking crazy zoo like animals then a monkey. 

11. gold or silver?

I really like silver. I have one piece of gold that I will treasure forever and that is my Aggie Ring. Everything else I own is white gold or silver. 

Now for my questions:

1) If you could be any animal what would you be and why?

2)What is your morning routine?

3) If you could have any dream job what would it be?

4) Kindle or Nook?

5) Mac or PC?

6) If you could live in any city what would it be?

7) What is your favorite TV show?

8) What is your favorite store to shop at?

9) Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

10) Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

11) Are you a saver or a spender?

I am tagging:

Janelle @ Sprinkled With Love

Leslie @ Eat. Pray. Love. Run.  

Lia @ Life is Amayesing

Kristen @ Joyful Ramblings

Ashley @ Everyday A&M

Jennifer @ Bliss to Bean

Addison @ CarolinaOnMyMind

Leah @ Happy Hitched

Chelsea @ Life Is A Sunset

Married With A Pup

Alex @ Mutual Weirdness

Have a great Tuesday!! & don't forget to enter my giveaway!

100 Followers Giveaway!

My blog has reached (over) 100 followers!

I want to start off by saying thank you to all of my awesome followers! I never thought my blog would become what it has today. I never thought so many people would care to read the random's of my life. I am so excited about this giveaway!! The items are random just like my posts but are all things I love!  The winner of the giveaway will win:

A Mary Kay Satin Hands Set

 A Lilly Pulitzer Koozie

A Mini Mineral Eye Color Quad

A $5 Starbucks Giftcard

A EOS Egg Shaped Lip Balm

Here's how to enter...

Potato Soup Recipe

I had a few requests for the potato soup recipe that I made yesterday. I was introduced to this recipe by Ruthie from The Chronicles of Ruthie Hart. I love her blog and she always post awesome recipes! I then found the soup here on Pinterest and that is where the pictures are from. Speaking of Ruthie, she is hosting an awesome giveaway. Click here to enter. 

Here is what you will need for the soup:

1 30oz. bag of frozen, shredded hash browns 

3 14oz. cans of chicken broth

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

1 pkg. cream cheese (don’t use fat free, it will not melt)

To make:

Combine everything except the cream cheese in the crockpot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. 1 hour before serving, add the cream cheese and heat till melted. Serve with cheese, sour cream or any other topics of your choice!

Seriously, so good!!

Also, I have reached and passed 100 followers (yay)!! Because I am anal (I hate the word anal) and like to have things completely planned, I am waiting to post my 100 follower giveaway till Monday. So, make sure you come back Monday morning and enter my giveaway!! If you missed the preview, click here to see it. 

WILW & Oh How Pinteresting

Morning!! For some reason, I popped out of bed ready for teh day this morning. I think that is a good sign for how the day will go! I am linking up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday and Michelle for Oh How Pinteresting.

I'm loving that we are having Crock Pot Potato Soup for dinner. It will be delicious!

I'm loving that my dad is coming to stay with us tomorrow! & that I get to see my stepmom and little brother and sister this weekend.

I'm loving that I am having a reunion lunch with my amazing grad school group. Without their support, I don't know if we would have made it through!

I'm loving these pins from pinterest. No theme today, they are super random!

 I wish my meal plans were this organized!

 Love, love, love this kitchen!

 Need these ASAP!

 Ha, so true!

As always, I am loving my sweet husband!

Link up with Jamie and Michelle and tell us what you are loving today!!

Sometimes and Always

I am linking up with Megan at Mackey Madness for Sometimes and Always!

Sometimes: I get really irritated at work.

Always: I remember that they are little people and do not process things as fast as I do.

Sometimes: I get motivated to work out after work.

Always: I am to tired (but still want to).

Sometimes: I tell myself I do not need anymore clothes.

Always: I go to the mall of Target and buy new clothes.

Sometimes: I get so tired of watching football.

Always: I enjoy the time spent with my husband even if it is watching the 3rd game of the day!

Sometimes: I plan to get up early to get to work early and get some things done.

Always: Push snooze and then end up running late!

Go link up!!

Miscellaneous Monday

Hello friends!! I have enjoyed this weekend and am sad to see it come to an end. We had today off for MLK day and I have/had a lot planned to accomplish. I have so much left to do today but cannot make myself get up off the couch. Here are a few random things I am thinking about. 

- I cannot wait to watch the Bachelor tonight. Here are my favorite ladies so far. 

 & I can't stand this one!

- I set a budget ever month for our groceries. Before planning our meals for the week, I look at the sales & match coupons. My budget each week for the grocery store is $80. We normally eat out on the weekends so this is to cover breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday- Friday (not dinner Friday). I just got back from the store a bit ago and only spent $55. I love when I am under budget but it was weird that it was a flat $55. 

- What is with this weather?!? It is not hot but definitely not cold. I went to the store in a short sleeve shirt and flip flops in Jan. CRAZY! Then tomorrow it is suppose to be freezing. Here's to not getting sick and eating lots of oranges and taking lots of vitamin C.

- I am going to start counting calories again. I am not trying to drop any weight but I am wanting to tone-up. For starters, I need to get rid of the cookie dough in the refrigerator... I bought a lot of fresh fruit at the store today. Instead of eating crap for a snack, I am going to grab a Cutie or some grapes.

I think that is all of the randomness I have to offer today. More to come i'm sure!! I hope everyone had a great weekend. 

Meal Plan

I am excited about this week because my dad is coming to stay with us on Thursday. My stepmom and little brother and sister will be here on Friday. Needless to say, it is a good thing I have tomorrow off so that I can clean like a mad woman! Here is our menu for the week. 

Sunday- Pappasitos. 

Enough said really. This is my favorite Mexican restaurant and I could definitely eat it everyday!

Monday- White Chicken Enchiladas

Mexican food twice in a row...sure!! I have never made these but they are all over pinterest and I think they look amazing. 

Here

Tuesday- Hamburger Helper

Some people don't like this, I love it! We have a lot of boxes in our pantry so I will choose one to make. 

Wednesday- Crockpot Potato Soup

I have made this before and it is really good. I definitely recommend making this if you haven't.

Here

Thursday- Meatballs, Rice, and Gravy

This has been on our meal plan a lot lately. I love them. It's not the easiest recipe to prepare but it is so good. My dad has wanted to try them for a long time so I am making them for him! Chris is probably sick of them!

Friday-Saturday- Who knows what we are going to have. we may go to dinner with my family on Friday but will figure that out later this week. 

I am off to the grocery store.

What's on your meal plan for this week?