some things

I have lots to catch you up on between some craft projects. around the house things, and some family things.
Some of you may or may not know that Coby and I have been trying to get pregnant and things aren't quite working out as planned. Obviously;) I haven't really talked about this here just because I try to not let it consume my life and I like to be able to come on here and post about other things. Please don't be offended if you are someone I have not talked to about this. It's just not always something that is convenient to talk about and like I said there are some areas of my life that I like to have where I don't have to think about all this mess. I am open to questions though so please don't feel like you have to walk on egg shells or anything.
We've had a few different procedure done and most recently I had an exploratory laproscopic surgery. The doctor wasn't sure if he would find anything but also said it couldn't hurt. I was hoping he would go in and find a definite problem as to why we can't get pregnant. Well he went in an found "the beginning stages of endometriosis". I didn't talk to him directly and got most of this information from Coby who he did talk to. We have a follow up in two weeks and hopefully will have more information then and figure out our next steps. I am feeling a lot better than I expected. A little sore from the air they have to pump into your stomach to distend your belly so they can see better. I feels like a stitch in you side like you have after you workout to hard. (I haven't had one of those in a long time;). Some of the air has also moved into my shoulders causing them to be achy. But over all it's really not to bad. Nothing a little prescription pain meds won't take care of.
Prior to this Coby, who has been complaining about back pain for a few months, finally went for a MRI and found out that he has two budging discs in his lumbar. Right now he is trying to avoid surgery and is about to start physical therapy and some shots for pain management. As you can imagine having a back injury and working in a kitchen all day is not a good combination. AND in the mist of all this he was at a friends out and backed into a motorcycle that had JUST been turned off and subsequently burn a hunk out of his calf. This has been very painful and bothersome as well. When is rains it pours, right?
But a rainbow follows rain...
Coby entered a contest a few weeks back for a free pass to the international culinary conference in NYC. HE WON! The pass is about $400. We talked about how this was great but now may not be the best time (physical health and financial health wise). He would still have to pay for travel and room and board. Well, he talked to his boss who agreed to pay for the travel and room. How could he pass this up?! Then came the question. Should I go with him? Again, money and time off from work came into question. Not to mention the fact that he would be in the conference for the majority of the four days he would be there. I can get a plan ticket for $300 and I found a interesting course for some continuing education hours. This course is only one day but I could right it off a business travel. My decision is still up in the air. How can I pass up a trip to NYC for next to nothing. But, do I feel comfortable exploring the city by myself for most of the time? I kind of feel like, may be this is why we have not had kids yet. Maybe God is saying go, travel, live and I will take care of the rest. If I do go Coby and I will have been to Jamaica, New Orleans, San Francisco, NYC, and Nashville within our first 2.5 years of marriage. How fortunate are we? Feed back from anyone would be helpful. Especially if you have been there. So that is what has been going on around here. Sorry for the lengthy post. Have a happy Friday! Leaving you with a sweet picture of our fur babies.

Fall Fancy

Saturday was the first "game day" of the season! I love football. We plan on going to a few of our nephews games as well as going to some North Little Rock games where Coby played in high school and where his younger cousin is a cheerleader. I love football weather, football food, and hot chocolate!
Saturday I made a big dinner of beef brisket, creamed spinach, and potato skins. Here are some picture and recipe links. It ALL turned out really good, and easy!
Crockpot BBQ Beer Beef Brisket This will make really good sandwiches for the rest of the week.

Creamed Spinach

Pioneer Woman Potato Skins

Coby also made this very yummy chocolate pie. Homemade crust and all!

I had to take a picture of my chalkboard in my kitchen. I try to change in up for the season and I thought my razorback turned out pretty well. I've had a few people ask about the chalkboard. I painted a square with a chalkboard paint directly on the wall then framed it out with trim. If I ever did this again I would find a frame I liked and was sized correctly, paint the frame if needed, and then use the chalkboard paint on the glass. Much easier!

Yesterday Coby and I got up, hung around the house and then ran some errands. Then we made a last minute trip to Hot Springs to see his parents. They were having a fish fry at their lake condo. The food was great and the weather was perfect. The dogs were well behaved and swam a ton!
Today has no plans. I hope to get some much needed crafting projects finished.
Happy Labor Day!

Long Time No Post

Things feel like they have really picked up here lately. Between school and church and Coby's work I feel like the weeks and weekends are just flying by. I've met all of my students for this year. They all seem to be really great which will make for a smooth year. Last Friday I had a Girl's Craft night with the girls from Sunday School. We had a potluck salad. I prepared the lettuce and everyone else brought salad toppings. It worked out really well and no one really had to cook anything. We all ate then made coasters. It was a really simple project that we got done in about an hour. Here is the table setting.

I made mine as a birthday gift for my mother. Christmas coasters.


I used my new Silhouette machine to cut the "H's" (that is what my maiden name starts with). I can't wait to try it out on more projects! It cuts vinyl and paper. You can use it for all sorts of things and the computer program it comes with for designing fonts and designs is super simple.

This weekend I also wrote another letter to my sponser child from Compassion. I have not yet receive a letter from her but have received multiple correspondance from Compassion and from the director of her center in Bangledesh. I thought it would be fun for me to color part of a coloring page and for her to finish the rest. Hope she enjoys.

And, remember this post? Where I attested to my love of okra. Coby's dad went out to the farm last weekend and picked me this. Yes, a whole bushel of okra. (This is about half of it.) I cut up about 2/3s of it and gave the rest away. I think I am set for the rest of summer and winter. And, let me tell you, do I ever wish that there was some contraption, like those apple slicers, to cut up okra.

SEC football starts this weekend!! Woo Pig!!!

Summer Funk

You know that time around mid-late winter when you just want it to be warm and sunny. Well I feel like that only it is warm and sunny. Scratch that, sweltering and sunny. Apparently we are on our way, here in AR, to breaking the average daily high temperature. 17+ days of 100+ degree weather plus the humidity. Oh the humidity. But, things are looking up. Today's high is only 94! Maybe we are on the down swing and are headed into fall, football, chili, and Thanksgiving crafts with my kids at work.
That's right. School has just begun and I am ready for Thanksgiving crafts. The kids will actually start on Thursday. I guess starting so late in the week is a way of easing everyone back into the school routine. I am excited about this year. Ready to see what my student have overcome this summer and what challenges lay ahead.
Leaving you with a picture I added to the Pioneer Woman's set "love" on flickr. Happy almost hump day!

Love from the bloggy world

Look at this....

My second blogger award! Yay! This one is from Whitney at PrettyWhitty. I happened upon her blog one day and realized her "About Me" section was almost the same as mine. Now I follow her blog and tweets. The blog world is so fun!

With any award there are a few rules that go along with it...


1.Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2.Share 7 things about yourself.
3.Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason!
4.Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award! I’m sure they’ll be thankful.

7 things...
1. I love my job. Sometimes I complain about the paperwork or parents who don't make the "right" choice. But really, I am very lucky to have found a career in which I make money doing what I love.
2. When I was in seventh grade (living in MN) I went on a summer bike tour with a group of students and teachers. We rode 325 miles in a week and camped out every night.
3. My favorite book is The Outsiders.
4. If I could live off of one food for the rest of my life it might be okra, or ice cream;)
5. One of my pet peeves is when people leave cabinet doors and drawers open. I mean really? How long does it take to close a cabinet door?
6. I used to love summer, but after this scorcher I am more than ready for fall.
7. I am a febreez addict. I buy in bulk from Sams.

Awarded Bloggers...
Morgan @ The Newlywed Chronicles
Dorothy @ Kitchen Koala
Shannon @ Bless Our Nest
Julie @ Brown Eyed Belle
Kate @ Southern-Belle-Simple
Michelle @ Land of the Misfit Toys
Chris @ Pickup Some Creativity
Nichole @ Colie's Kitchen
Becky @ The Branches
Bonnie @ The Browns

I'll be adding some more along the way! Go check them all out. Lots of fun stuff!

Crafty Crafty

I've really tried to make a commitment these last few days of summer vacation to not turn the TV on in the mornings. During the begining of the summer I wanted nothing more then to roll out of bed in my pjs and spend the morning on the couch watching the morning shows, and the cooking channel (my new love). I got nothing done. So here lately I've be getting up and in the shower first thing in the morning and then finding other things to occupy my time. I found a great new devotion book that I have been able to do every morning. The Faith Book of Jesus by Renee Johnson. It's a book for 20 somethings so I've got about a year to finish! Actually I think it's really great for any age. Doing a devotion in the morning really sets my day of in the right direction and I have found that I have a much more positive outlook.

With all this extra time in the morning I have a few projects I have been working on. A girl at work is having her third baby boy in a few short weeks. I made these for her boys but wanted to make something for her baby shower.

So I made these. Her husband is a big apple/computer guy. I thought "geek" one might be a little to much but she and her husband really liked them.

These edges look wet because I used this on it. It keeps the edges of the fabric from fraying and drys clear. I got it Hobby Lobby.

During the shower we wanted to do a fun activity. So we each did some simple stiching on a square of fabric and I am going to make them into a baby blanket. I'll post some pictures when I am done.
I have also been working on a project that has been inspired by this. I'll do a whole post on that when it's finished. Don't expect my to look as good as the inspiration though!

Weekend Ways

We have had such a relaxing weekend but I just keep thinking about how I only have a week and a half left of summer vacation. I am determined to make the best of it. I have been busy these past few weeks with lots of fun project but I left my camera at work and so those posts will have to wait till next week.
As for this weekend.
Coby got a copy of Kitchen Confidential from a friend that we have been watching.

It was a series that ran in 2005 and was based on the novel Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. The cover describes it as the Sex and the City of the restaurant kitchen. In this household that is the best of both worlds. It only ran for one season but has been pretty good so far. Wikipedia says you can get it on Hulu. Bonus: it stars Bradley Cooper.
This morning we got up and went to the farmers market then ran some errands and got my dad a present for his birthday on the 2nd. We are going to lunch with them tomorrow after church. Then we came home, may have taken a little nap, and made homemade pizza for dinner. Down to the crust. Mozzarella, prosciutto, and arugula. Yum.


After dinner we went to Orange Leaf yogurt. It's one of those places where you choose from lots of flavors and topping and pay by the ounce. I got a mix of coffee and coconut. The place was super busy but very good.