Brandon and I got each of the little girls an Easter basket, complete with bunny ears!
We also raked and burned leaves, cleaned up flower beds, washed windows, picked up sticks, pulled out trees and much more!
(Keeping it real without makeup!)
Brother: "Hey, I'm just calling to tell you that we might be calling you in a few minutes, but you need to act like Cinderella."
Me: "Um, okay, why do I have to act like Cinderella?"
Brother: "We told Daughter if she goes pottie on the big girl pottie that she could call Cinderella."
Me chuckle: "Okay..."
Brother: "Okay, we'll call you in a few minutes."
So I wait a few minutes and my phone rings again.
Me: "Hello."
Brother: "Hi Cinderella, Daughter needs to talk to you."
(Brother gets "daughter" on the phone)
Brother (in the background): ""Daughter", say hi to Cinderella>"
Me: "Hi Daughter, it's Cinderella."
Daughter (with a little coaxing from her mom and dad): "Hi Cinderella, I went pottie in the big girl pottie and I get to wear Cinderella panties."
Me: "Daughter, I am so proud of you. You are such a big girl."
Sister-In-Law (in the background): "Daughter can you tell her what other princess panties you have?"
Daughter: "I have Snow White and Aerial."
Me: "Did you know that Snow White and Aerial are my friends?"
Daughter (to her mom): "Cinderella has friends?"
Me: "Daughter, do you get to have a jellybean for being a big girl?"
Sister-In-Law (in the background): "See, even Cinderella knows you get to have a jellybean for being a big girl."
Daughter: "Yes, I get to have a pink jellybean."
Sister-In-Law: "Okay, tell Cinderella you have to go so you can get your jellybean."
Me: "Bye Daughter, Cinderella is proud of you>"
Daughter: "Bye Cinderella."
Brother: "Thanks, Cinderella."
Oh the innocence of a child. Can it get any sweeter?
What are you thankful for today??
As I've mentioned, we're going to be launching a new website in four to six weeks, leaning more towards the six week mark ;) Anyways, we have approximately 120 pages that compromise our site and today, I got ONE page done! Yes, that is right, I'm excited about ONE page because it is a start! Now, I sort of feel addicted or that it is a big game because I want to accomplish more and more each day from here on out. I might be reflecting on this post in a few weeks and cursing myself, but for now, I'm going to consider it an accomplishment!
Tonight, I'll be trying out a new class at the Y called PiYo which is a combination of pilates and yoga. I figured I made it through the Yoga class last week, so I'm sure I'll make it through this too. The positive thing is that I'm getting out and exercising and I'm excercising with friends, which is even better! The negative part might be that I'll be really sore tomorrow, which to some exercise fanatics is positive, so I'll try to view it that way too, at least for today ;)
I got a new do last week. I decided to grow my hair out, but wanted some kind of "style" because I didn't like how it was just hanging in my face. So, my stylist decided to cut some bangs, and I absolutely love them! It is very easy to style and most importantly, it doesn't feel like I'm all hair. I'm not so sure Brandon likes the bangs, but I think they're growing on him.
And, here's Koby. He tells me he hasn't been felling the love on the blog lately, so he and Brandon had a little photo shoot yesterday.
Here are a few pictures from our house:
So, come on over and take a look!
1. My husband feels empowered while driving his truck in 4-wheel drive. Nothing is too big for him.
2. Turkey sausage just isn't the same as real sausage when making biscuits and gravy.
3. The neighbors pounding on their frozen car can indeed be heard from inside our house.
4. If you are unsure about the stupidity level of the movie "Paul Blart, Mall Cop", you should run with your intuition and avoid seeing the movie.
5. Time spent relaxing with nothing to do is quite refreshing!
By the end, I felt pretty good, but left knowing I was going to be a bit sore this morning and sure enough, my shoulders are tight. I'm not going to rule out Yoga in the future, but I think I'm going to try out a couple of other classes too.
As I sit here and type, that blizzard I mentioned yesterday is making its way into town.
I believe we have freezing rain now and it will eventually turn into the snow. I wouldn't mind the snow if we didn't have to have the ice first - YUCK! But, I know we are not going to get hit near as bad as those in Western Kansas, so I'm not going to complain too much ;)
Also, just an update on my "Day Off To Do List" - I slept in until 9:30 a.m.!!! Woo Hoo!!
1. Sleep in (Ha, it won't happen, but I like the thought of it)
2. Pick up the house (or I won't be able to focus on anything else)
3. Watch Food Network and HGTV
4. Plan and make a nice dinner and have it ready when Brandon comes home from work
5. Scour the internet for color schemes and ideas (since I can't do it in person)
6. Bake chocolate chip cookies - it just seems like the perfect time
7. Throw the ball countless times for Koby, who will be totally thrilled that I'm spending All. Day. Long. with him
8. Organize our closet
9. Make a menu plan and grocery list
10. Layout Brandon's sports "stuff" and devise a plan for where we'll hang some of the pieces in our basement
So, this will be my day tomorrow. What would you all do with a day off in the midst of a blizzard??
Have I ever mentioned that I love my job?!?! Well, just in case I haven't, "I LOVE my job!". When I started at the Chamber, I knew that we would be rolling out a new website (which is set to launch in about a month or so, fingers crossed), but what I didn't know (but probably should have assumed) was that we would be integrating social media into the site.
So, part of my job these days has been to familiarize myself with different social media applications - Facebook, blogs, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn and Twitter. I already knew about most of these things, but I didn't know too much about Twitter. As I've been lurking on some local twitter sites, I've discovered the power of this little social media outlet. Yes, it is pretty much like texting (although you don't have to have a phone that is Twitter capable, it can be done from the computer), but it can reach audiences in ways that traditional media just can't and Thursday, I'll be attending a Twitter seminar over my lunch hour to learn even more. I'm very excited for this opportunity and while I'll be twittering on behalf of the Chamber, I've decided I will also Twitter for myself, too.
Now, I can just hear my mom saying "Tessa, you need to be careful with these things," because she told me that over the weekend regarding Facebook. But, I firmly believe social media is all about responsibility. Why would I put something out there that I wouldn't want my mom to know, let alone the entire world?!?!
So, if you have Twitter and would like to follow me, just follow the link to the right. And, if you don't have Twitter, then this blog can be your one-stop-shop and you can catch up with me here!
Tweet! Tweet!
My dad told me today it was slightly embarassing for a cattleman's daughter to enter a chicken recipe in the newspaper. He said he was thankful my last name isn't Bohn anymore.
So, I was flipping through the Wichita Eagle this morning (which is part of my job, by the way) reading about the new 13th Street bridge and then was intrigued by a pancake article in the Local and State section. As I was reading about the 30+ pancake topping options, my eyes glanced to the left-hand section of that page and suddenly, I noticed my name, printed, in the paper. I was taken by surprise for a moment until I realized what my name was in the paper for.
You see, I subscribe to the Eagle's food e-newsletter and several weeks ago, the food writer was asking for people to submit their "go-to" recipes - you know, the ones that are a safe bet for any crowd. I just happen to have a perfect recipe for that, so I thought "Heck, why not send it", and so I did. A few days later, the food writer replied to my email with something along the lines of "Mmm, that sounds really rich, but delicious". I thought he was probably just being nice (after all, he does sort of know me through my uncle Tom) and didn't think much of it after that. Then, low and behold, there it was today "Tessa Brungardt, who works for the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, says she modeled this dish on one she enjoyed at Bravo in Kansas City." - needless to say, the recipe was my Chicken Rigatoni.
So, there you have it, my 15 minutes of fame!
We found a FANTASTIC deal online and we booked our flight and hotel yesterday! I absolutely CAN'T. WAIT. I spent most of yesterday researching tours, restaurants and Broadway shows. I also tried to find out how to get tickets to shows like Rachael Ray, David Letterman or Good Morning America. I've been to New York twice and Brandon has been once, so we're going to try to do some "not-so-touristy" activities as well and really just try to experience the city together!
So, for those of you who have been to NYC, tell me about it! For instance, I think Megan should tell about seeing this man in real life:
WHOLE WHEAT PIZZA DOUGH
Prep time: 5 minutes
Start to finish: 15 minutes
To make ahead: The dough will keep, in a plastic bag coated with cooking spray, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1 package quick-rising yeast, such as Fleischmann's RapidRise
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2-2/3 cup hot water (120-130°F)
2 teaspoons olive oil
To make:
1. Combine whole-wheat flour, yeast, salt and sugar in a food processor; pulse to mix. Combine hot water and oil in a measuring cup. With the motor running, gradually pour in enough of the hot liquid until the mixture forms a sticky ball. The dough should be quite soft. If it seems dry, add 1 to 2 tablespoons warm water; if too sticky, add 1 to 2 tablespoons flour. Process until the dough forms a ball, then process for 1 minute to knead. I put the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in the food processor to mix it up, but then transferred it to the mixing bowl on my stand mixer fixed with the bread hook attachment.
2. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Spray a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray and place it, sprayed-side down, over the dough. Let the dough rest for 10 to 20 minutes before rolling.
3. Roll out to desired thickness and place on a greased cookie sheet or pizza pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
4. Top partially baked crust with pizza sauce and desired toppings and finish baking until cheese is melted.
I don't really make homemade dough, because I'm always afraid it won't rise, or I'll kill the yeast or something. But let me tell you, this was so easy!
And, this was me being dramatic for photo purposes!
So, with all of that said, I have stumbled across something that has consumed far too much of my time recently - celebrity Twitter sites. And, I know for a fact that they are legit because I've heard a few of these people discuss their Twitter sites on TV shows like E! News. And others take pictures with their iPhones that not just anyone would be able to take, for instance in their homes or on their vacations. So, for your viewing pleasure, I've listed several twitter sites below. To view the sites, just type in www.twitter.com/ and then the name listed :)
mrskutcher
aplusk
johncmayer
giulianarancic
RyanSeacrest
ChrisCuomo (he's on Good Morning America)
SamChampion (again, on Good Morning America)
Okay, well, that is about all I have today. I told you this was a shallow post...
The Menu:
Ranch Style Chicken (We grilled ours rather than pan-frying it in bacon grease.)
Sauteed Asparagus
Roasted New Potatoes
Tossed Salad
Here is a picture of my plate, but have no fear, I barely made it through half of my chicken!
This was a really great chicken recipe, so I would highly recommed you try it sometime!
* I was in Topeka yesterday for a legislative reception. It was fun to be a part of that world for a few hours, but I'm not sure I could live that life every day. I'm sort of amazed that people actually choose to be a politician.
* I had to buy new work shoes today. After yesterday, I'm tired of my old boots!
* Our small group is doing a really great study right now! It has really made me think about all of the ways the devil tries to infiltrate our lives.
* Yes, I watched The Bachelor this week. And yes, I knew ahead of time what was going to happen. But, I think I might be the only person who liked Molly. Actually, Jillian was my favorite, but Molly was second. And, I do feel sorry for Melissa, but from what I gather, she knew ahead of time it was coming. You know, everyone was so mad at Brad (the guy who didn't pick Deanna) for not picking someone, and then Jason picks someone, but has a change of heart and everyone is mad at him, so really, you can't win. Now, I'm not advocating for the show, it is TV after all, but you get my point.
* We got our love seat and new buffet in this week, but we haven't downloaded the pictures yet. However, I'm very pleased with both pieces! Now, I need to accessorize!!
* I tried another new recipe this week - Oatmeal Cookie Brownies. They were okay, nothing to die for.
* It was 84 degrees today! 84! In March!! And, to celebrate, I wore cropped pants and cute peep-toe flats to work :)
* Currently, Koby is at the foot of the bed snoring. I just love that dog!
1. Your spouse is sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen
2. Who takes longer showers, you or him?
Me - he is in and out.
3. What is one food your spouse doesn't like?
4. What would your husband say is the first thing that caught his eye about you?
My mad flower arranging skills :) No not really, I think he would probably say my smile!
5. Where did he go to high school?
Garden City High School, home of the Buffalos
6. What is his shoe size?
10.5
7. If he was to collect something, what would it be?
George Brett stuff and baseballs
8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
Umm, maybe Turkey with cranberry sauce, veggie cream cheese and provolone - it's a strange new love for him. However, in college, he survived off of ham, American cheese, mustard and mayo.
9. How does he take his coffee?
He doesn't.
10. What is his favorite cereal?
11. Where did he go to college?
First, he went to FHSU and played baseball. Then, he transferred to K-State to major in construction science.
12. What is his favorite sports team?
Hence the George Brett collection
13. Where was your first date?
We went to dinner at Coco Bolos in Manhattan (and I devoured my entire meal) then we went to a KSU v. OU Big 12 Championship watch party and K-State won!
14. What is something I do that he wishes I wouldn't?
Clap, snap, hum or tap to the rhythm of a song while we're in a car.
15. What is his heritage?
He is PURE German!
16. You bake him a cake for his birthday, what kind is it?
It changes from year to year, but this year it was yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Last year, I think it was chocolate with strawberries and cream filling.
17. What could he spend hours doing?
Golfing, playing Wii, watching stupid movies...
18. What is one unique talent he has?
Brandon is very athletic and he can pretty much play any sport, even if he's never played it before.
19. Where is his favorite place he has traveled?
20. What is a clothing item he would never wear?
Skinny Jeans!
* Read a good book - I think "The Shack" is on my list. So many people have read it and I'd love to be able to form my own opinion and join in on the conversations.
* Try a new recipe at least twice a month (I already try to do this, but I want to be more conscious of it)- Yes, I have been doing this! I'll post a few below, just to prove myself!
* Develop a better strategy to manage our house - Ummmm, not so much....
* Be more intentional with friends - Check! It's so refreshing to have dedicated girl time!
* Plan date nights regularly - In the process of doing this one. In fact, we made a list last night (go on a picnic, become tourists in our own city, play golf, wine and tapas at Oeno, etc)
* Redo the living room (this one should be starting soon!) - In the process - you already saw the couch, the loveseat should be in any day now and the buffet is ordered!
* Save money for our NYC trip - Oh yes! We actually looked at plane tickets last night :)
* Exercise more (it's tough for me to be specific about this one - it's a struggle!) - Surprisingly, this has happened!!! I try to get on the treadmill at least 3 times a week and believe it or not, it's actually working!!
* Weed through my old clothes and shoes and donate them to Goodwill - Ugghhh! I'm putting this one off for as long as possible...
I've also added a few to this list:
* Develop a quiet time - I want to spend more time in the Bible and pray more
* Work ahead more in all areas of my life or this could read "DO NOT PROCRASTINATE"
* Start a new blog dedicated to all things "home" :) Stay tuned...
* Take and print more pictures
* Hand-write notes
And, to end, here are a couple of new recipes:
Creamy Italian Chicken and Pasta
1 lb. grilled chicken, cut into cubes
1 lb. bow time pasta
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 package fresh sliced mushrooms (optional)
1 can Italian diced tomatoes
4 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
1/2 c. chicken broth (or water)
Grill chicken and cut up into cubes. In the mean time, bring a pot of water to boil and add pasta. Cook according to package directions. While pasta cooks, saute bacon until crispy and then remove from the pan. Drain the grease and return to burner. Add mushrooms and saute until tender. Add tomatoes, broth and cream cheese. Simmer until cheese is melted and thoroughly combined with sauce. Add chicken and pasta and mix together. Serve with a tossed salad.
Margarita Dip
8 oz. package reduced fat cream cheese
1/4 c. frozen limeade concentrate
2 T. orange juice
1/2 tub fat free cool whip
In a glass mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, limeade concentrate and orange juice. Beat with electric mixer until soft. Fold in cool whip. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve with fresh fruit, vanilla wafers or graham cracker sticks.
And, since Valentine's Day is in just a few days, I decided to make Valentine cupcakes, mostly so I could use my cupcake tree :)
After the surgery, the nurse pulled us into a softly lit room and gave us a bag full this stuff:
She also gave him strict instructions to use ALL of the eye drops at least once a day, most of the 2 or 3 times a day. She also told him he must go home and take a nap to let his eyes rest. Then, she said he needed to take it easy for the next 5 days!! So, this weekend, we've been doing a lot of this:
The irony in all of this is that Brandon doesn't feel bad. He feels perfectly normal, except for the fact that his eyes feel like he's been a pool for far too long. So, if you know Brandon at all, you know he's still been his ornery self, while trying to milk this "recovery" for all its worth!! If he doesn't want to do something, he tells me he has "...doctor's orders to sleep."
Now, in his defense, his eyes have been pretty sore today, so I've been giving him a little slack. But, Koby and I have been so bored. You can just see it in Koby's face, can't you??
My boredom resulted in this:
A clean kitchen :) (Among other things like clean floors, clean laundry, a picked up basement, etc.)
I also remembered to take a picture of the new couch! We ordered the matching love seat last week and it should be here in a few weeks! What do you think?!?!
All in all, it's been a pretty relaxing weekend, which has been good for all three of us! Brandon has to take tomorrow and Tuesday off work as well and then goes for his final check up on Wednesday. I'm sure Koby will enjoy the extra company.
Very broad question...who inspires you?? It could be anything too, cooking, decorating, way of life, spirtually etc.
Well, I think there are a lot of things that inspire me, but most importantly,
I am inspired by my Grandma Mentha, my mom's mother. I admire her because she was a very strong woman. She owned and operated her own business for many years while my mom was young and didn't close the store until after my sister was born. She was also very generous - always offering to help people in need. She was a strong Christian woman and I am so thankful she passed those values down to my mom, who then passed them down to our family. She was truly the cornerstone of the family.
If you could be featured on the cover of any magazine, which one would it be and why?
Hmm, this is a good one - I have a shallow answer and a not-so-shallow answer. Since I have a slightly embarassing obsession with celebrity gossip, I think it would be really fun to be featured on the cover of People or US Magazine having lunch or shopping with some fun celebrity. I also wouldn't mind being featured on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens for having this really awesome home and yard.
If you could go back and time and live one memory over again - what would it be? and would you change anything about it?
I would certainly re-live my wedding day. It was one of the best days of my life. However, I think I would change my bridesmaid dresses. I would also relive a few of my high school or college days and try to have a little more fun - I think I was too guarded at times.
If people were to describe you in one word - what word do you think it would be (you can't ask brandon.)
Strangely, I can think of several words people would not use to describe me, but if I had to choose just one word that I think people would use to describe me, I guess I would say "easy-going". Come to think of it, I think this might have been an interview question and I am pretty sure I drew a blank then, too.
So, here's your chance! Ask away! I'll try to answer most everything, unless it is something that is too personal for the world to know! I'll try to post my answers this weekend!
I can't wait to see what you all come up with :)
As I was standing in the gift shop of the Museum of World Treasures this morning, directing traffic at our monthly Sunrise Scrambler, I noticed a little box of mood rings and my curiousity peaked a bit - I hadn't put one of these little things on in ages! So, during a lull in traffic, I decided I should try one on. I chose one with cute little flowers all around it and slipped it on my finger. And, as I waited, I kept willing myself to be relaxed or romantic and alas, after waiting for at least a minute, staring at the stupid thing, it stayed the same, boring Amber color - anxious and nervous, the same as I always remember; however, I was not feeling anxious or nervous as I had nothing to be anxious or nervous about.
So, what does that say about me?? Am I or have I always been an uptight person, waiting for the next disaster to come my way? I don't think so, but maybe I've been wrong about myself all these years. After all, mood rings are the best personality indicators, right???
After we accomplished our tasks, we loaded up Koby and Tucker (we're dog sitting this weekend) and went to Sonic for our weekend soda treat, took the pups to Petco, washed Brandon's truck and went to Home Depot. Brandon had a gift card to spend, so he got a cool work light and some door sweeps for our front and back doors. We have laminate flooring in our house and our doors were a bit drafty, thus causing chilly floors.
Now, I think I will make us some whole wheat baked penne and a nice salad for dinner! The dogs spent quite a bit of the afternoon outside playing, so I could get the house cleaned and now, they are both conked out sleeping - they've had a big day! We had a big day too, but it felt good to get some stuff done - even if I didn't get my nap!
Well, that is about all I have time for now. Have a wonderful weekend!
So, part of my struggle with this diet thing is guessing how many calories I consume and how many I really burn when I exercise. Yesterday, I downloaded nutrition guides for some of the restaurants I visit from time to time, which is helpful when I go out. But what about the other stuff? Like meals I prepare or something that doesn't have a label? So, during a frustrating moment today, I decided to Google "How many calories are in a miniature York Peppermint Patty" (someone graced my empty candy dish with this delightful treat). When I clicked on one of the first links it took me to The Daily Plate. After a little exploration I discovered that this thing is pretty cool! Basically, all you do is enter your age, weight, height and weight-loss (or weight-gain - those lucky people) goals and it will calculate how many calories you should consume in a day to reach your goal. It also has a food tracker where you can search out different foods, like Miniature York Peppermint Patties, click on the "I ate this" button and it will add it to your list. Then, you can enter what kind of exercise you did and for how long and it will subtract your burnt calories from your total intake and calculate your net calories.
Now, I'm new to dieting, so this may be very elementary for someone else, but I figure it will help keep me on track and also help me learn how to eat a well-balanced diet. On top of watching my calorie intake, I'm also trying to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables I eat, while eliminating pop and excess sugar.
Also, on a side-note, we FINALLY bought a new sofa this weekend! It's a pretty funny story that I will have to write about sometime, along with posting a few pictures! But, I am very excited about it!
I also have a lot of people around me who are committed to trying to be healthier this year - Brandon is doing a "Fat Man" contest at work, my coworkers are all trying to trim down and we're doing a competition with Brandon's family - so, I have some motivation.
And, in case anyone reading this is trying to do the same thing as we are, here is a smoothie recipe that we intend to try for breakfast:
1/2 c. low-fat yogurt
1/3 c. frozen fruit (we chose blueberries and peaches)
1/2 banana
A splash of orange juice
A few cubes of ice
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Over the past three years, I've had an office job, where I mostly sit all day and work on a computer or attend meetings. Then, after working a full day, I come home and cook dinner, because cooking is a release for me and it's something I truly enjoy doing, then I tend to want to relax on the couch with Brandon or run errands or do something else to fill my time. Never have I wanted to work out or try to fit a work out into my routine, simply because it is not something I've ever had to do. I was fortunate enough to be able to maintain a fairly manageable weight thanks to cheerleading and dance in high school and walking to and from class in college. But now, I've come to the realization that this routine I've developed is unhealthy and plain stupid. I only have one body and I need to take care of it.
So, this is where my New Year's resolution comes in - I'm going to set a goal to work out three nights a week and stretch every day. I'm also going to be more conscious of my eating habits, especially at work. Instead of snacking on leftover bagels or muffins from a breakfast meeting or snagging a leftover chocolate chip cookie from a lunch meeting, I'm going to pack healthy snacks and only let myself indulge once in a while. I'm also going to start cooking more vegetables. I have always shyed away from this becuse Brandon doesn't especially like vegetables, but I'm just going to fix them anyway. I'm not going to set a magical weight goal because I know it will only bring me down, so I'm just going to focus on exercising and eating a more healty diet and the weight thing should follow.
Another goal of mine, not necessarily a New Year's resolution, is to figure out how to get more organized. I know I've mentioned this on my blog before and it is actually part of that list I made a while back, but I've got to figure out a solution FAST!! I only have so much storage space, so I have to get creative with how I organize. But, as my mom allued a few weeks ago, my cupboards are slightly cluttered, similar to my grandma's cupboards (my grandma liked to keep a lot of stuff around and would stash things in every nook and cranny possible. Right after my parents got married, my mom took it upon herself to organize the cabinets in my grandparent's home....), so that was a real sign that I need to do something!!
We are leaving for Garden City tomorrow, so I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and I'll be back in 2009!!!
(I was Mary and Brandon was Joseph, unfortunately, Koby was not allowed to be Baby Jesus)
The weekend was a perfect mix of relaxtion and fun and now, we're resting up for another celebration with the Brungardt family!
Dear Family and Friends!
The Christmas season is upon us and I’m just now getting around to writing our letter. It’s hard to believe that it has been two years since we last sent out an update! This year has been exciting and fun and full of changes!
Brandon was promoted to Project Manager at Key Construction back in June. He is now in charge of his own projects and typically has anywhere from three to five jobs going at once. This past year, he wrapped up one of Key’s largest projects in Columbia, South Carolina and has completed several other jobs here in town. It is always fun to get the inside scoop on what companies are expanding or coming to town! It has provided me with great fun to be the “first to know”!
Brandon has also kept busy working on our house, an area of constant change! We have painted (inside and out), installed new landscaping, hung light fixtures, installed new countertops and backsplashes and painted some more. And, I use the term “we” lightly – I come up with the ideas and Brandon generally makes them happen! In addition to these projects, he took on a large tiling project for my aunt this summer that provided him with some great experience. So, if anyone needs a handyman, give him a call!
I experienced a pretty significant change this year, as well. After two and a half years as an account manager at Armstrong|Shank Advertising, I decided it was time for me to expand my abilities. In July, I began working at the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce as the manager of Marketing and Public Relations. I am responsible for developing the newsletter, the e-newsletter and promoting Chamber events. I will also be assisting with a website re-development and the development of new marketing pieces in the New Year. It was an exciting move for me and the last few months have literally flown by!
I have also gotten more involved with the children’s ministry at our church. Due to an expanded program and a new facility, more volunteers were needed to assist on the weekends. I began volunteering at the check-in center and have just been asked to lead a team of volunteers that I have deemed the “First Impression Team”. Basically, I will be recruiting volunteers to make people feel welcome as they drop off their children. This is a big responsibility, but definitely something I look forward to.
Together, Brandon and I started a new small group through our church. In a step of faith, we volunteered to lead a group of four couples, including us. It was certainly challenging at first, but God has really taught us a lot and we have made some excellent friends through the process.
And, we can’t forget about Koby, our Boston Terrier! He is still leading a pretty comfy life. His days consist of a lot of sleeping and playing fetch in the back yard. He also enjoys outings to Sedgwick County Park and Petco. He is such a loving dog, we just can’t imagine what our days would be like without him!
As we reflect on the changes we have experienced this year and the changes our country has and will experience, it causes us to pause and think about the one constant thing in our life, the one thing that will never change – our relationship with Jesus Christ. He will be there for us, no matter what. Our prayer this Christmas season is that each of you will also find comfort in Jesus and make him your constant partner in life.
Merry Christmas!
Brandon and Tessa
P.S. - Koby has not been taken over by demons, he was just having a bad day and didn't really want his picture taken...
However, to tide you over, go here: Moms Like Us. Yep, that's right - it's Pioneer Woman!! Just in case you don't get enough of her funny stories here, you can get your fill at the other site. Speaking of too much to do, I wonder how she finds the time to blog, let alone blog with a purpose and make sense!! Maybe someday I will be like her :)
And, as I mentioned, we have our decorations up, but I haven't had time to take any pictures yet, so I will get some posted soon!
Trying to decide on furniture fabric over lunch = Frustrating (but glad my mommy was there to help!)
Stiff neck turning into one nasty headache during a REALLY LOOOOONG meeting = Awful
Coming home to a wonderful husband who picked up the house and made the brownies for small group = PRICELESS!!!
Sometimes, it's the little things that matter the most! I love you, honey!
I just might have the scent of autumn leaves in my house all year round! This is a must-buy candle if you like a warm, homey smell, take my word for it!
While we were out, we stopped by the furniture store where I've been shopping for furniture. The sales associate who greeted us said "Oh, hi - are you back to look again?" - I was so embarrassed! They probably think that I'm never going to make a purchase. However, I did find some fabric today that I think just might be perfect for the couch below (which is the one I've decided on). It is green, but not too green and has some texture and a slight pattern. Now, I just need to find a good coordinating fabric and I might be set :)
It was cold and rainy and dreary today. The wind was blowing, the clouds were thick and there was a constant mist in the air. What I really wanted to do was crawl back in bed, but since I had to work, I decided I would pretend we had been home all day, snuggled in our sweats. So, I made chicken and rice soup, caesar salad and cheesy biscuits for dinner and it was perfect!! So, in honor of a cold day meal, here is my chicken and rice soup (I actually stole it from my aunt Sharon!):
1 package chicken breasts
3 carrots, chopped
3 celery ribs, chopped
3 chicken boullion cubes
2 c. water
1 box Uncle Ben's wild rice, 5-minute version
Place chicken in stock pot and cover with water. Add boullion cubes and celery leaves (my bunch was dwendling, so I used the hearts of the celery). Cook until chicken is done, approximately 20 minutes. In the meantime, chop your vegetables. When chicken is cooked, strain the liquid and return to the pot and chop your chicken. Add vegetables and 2 cups of water and cook until crisp tender. Add rice and seasoning packet and cook for 5-minutes. Add chicken back to the pot and cook an additional 5 - 10 minutes.
Enjoy! And, stay warm!! It's finally November!!!
So, here's my theory... If I can accomplish one major task on the weekend and focus on one smaller task each day of the week, the house will seem to be in order and I won't dread a major cleaning day! I also discovered another clever idea to cut down on clutter by taking a pre-determined amount of time (60 seconds, 5 mintues, etc.) to attack one area and then stop when the time is up. I tried it out earlier this week when I realized my car was locked in the garage (long story, but we had to get the garage fixed professionally) and I felt much better leaving the house knowing I wasn't coming home to a messy kitchen :)
Now, I should give Brandon some props because he does help. He did all of the laundry today. But, it was a negotiated deal. He didn't want to help clean, because he thought I was doing a major cleaning day, so he said "If you do ALL of the cleaning, then I will do ALL of the laundry" and I said "Deal!". He later told me I was being tricky... :)
I must say, I'm glad this election is over. While things didn't exactly go the way I wanted, there isn't anything I can do to change the outcome. I guess I just pray that our new President will cross party lines and really do something to unite this country. And, I hope that the Republicans will pull together and really figure out how they are going to handle the next 4 years.
On the local front, I hope our new County Commissioner will try to understand the concept of progression and that Wichita needs to continue to make strides by attracting and retaining businesses and jobs and attracting and retaining young talent and workers.
Those are my 2 cents today.
Today, we woke up at 5:30 a.m., threw on some clothes and made our way to our election site. We stood in line for 20-30 minutes waiting to cast our vote and we voted! Today, I am thankful we have the opportunity to have a voice in our government and I'm proud that we took advantage of that opportunity. I hope anyone who is reading this made the same decision to vote today!
Oh yeah, and I am also thankful for a warm Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks!
This is the shelving in our closet. It was stuffed full of stuff. And, you see how all of those shoes down there are sitting nicely in their spot, they all used to be scattered all over the floor :(
And, since I was on such a kick, I moved down to the storage room. Before I began, there wasn't much walking space, but I did a lot of condensing and some tossing and now it is managable again. There is still a lot of work to be done down there, but we need to buy something to store our china in before I can do the real work. A larger kitchen would also help, but that is obviously not an option (most of the stuff in the storage room is kitchen stuff that doesn't fit in my kitchen).
Needless to say, I feel rather productive today!
* Read a good book
* Try a new recipe at least twice a month (I already try to do this, but I want to be more conscious of it)
* Develop a better strategy to manage our house
* Be more intentional with friends
* Plan date nights regularly
* Redo the living room (this one should be starting soon!)
* Save money for our NYC trip
* Exercise more (it's tough for me to be specific about this one - it's a struggle!)
* Weed through my old clothes and shoes and donate them to Goodwill
This is all I am coming up with now, but I know there are more! However, I would like to know what some of your goals are? What is something you would like to accomplish before your next birthday?
