Me A to Z

age - 35

bed size - King

chore you hate - Emptying the dishwasher, cleaning the bathroom...good thing I have a FABULOUS hubby that does it for us!
dogs - one, Cheyenne
essential start to your day - COFFEE!!!!
favorite color - pink
gold or silver - platinum
height - 5 feet 5 inches
instruments you play - air guitar
job title - wife, mom & teacher
kids - Spencer
live - TEXAS baby!!
married - For 9 1/2 years to my best friend, Rick!
nicknames - Gracie
overnight hospital stays - pneumonia in college and when I had Spencer
pet peeve - laziness & complainers
righty or lefty - Righty
siblings - one
time you wake up - 6:00am
university attended - Texas Tech
vegetables you dislike - beets
what makes you run late - usually my hair
x-rays you’ve had - Dentist. Foot.
yummy food - chips & queso
zoo animal favorite - tigers

Pinterest lately...

I love Pinterest.  That is a complete understatement.  I love cooking from Pinterest more than anything. 

Here's some keepers we've found lately...

Ham & Pea Penne

I added a lot more peas and used wheat penne.

Source: recipegirl.com via Kara on Pinterest

Chicken Burgers

Cannot tell you how good these were!! OMG!

Source: cookinwithsuperpickle.blogspot.com via Kara on Pinterest

Mango Chicken

We've eaten this a ton!  We serve over brown rice.

Source: sixsistersstuff.com via Kara on Pinterest

Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

YUMMMMM!

Source: robynsonlineworld.com via Kara on Pinterest

Loaded Turkey Taco Salad

We eat this A LOT!  The sweet potatoes make this salad.

Source: bevcooks.com via Kara on Pinterest

Glazed Orange Bundt Cake

Delicious!!

Source: dealstomeals.blogspot.com via Kara on Pinterest

Banana Pudding Poke Cake

So easy and delicious!  Can't wait to try other poke cakes

Source: thecountrycook.net via Kara on Pinterest

What are some of your Pinterest favorites here lately???

Valentine's Day '13

2 weeks late, I know...whatevs...

Valentine's Day is just a typical day in our house.  Rick & I have Valentine's Day every day in our house.  We don't need a special day to show each other how much we love each other.  As cliche as it sounds, it's so true.  We always joke that one Valentine's Day we are going to go out to eat in a really expensive restaurant, buy bottles of wine, sit there and not talk to each other (like we see so often in public).  Ha! 

But, for Spencer it's so much fun.  He loves Valentine's Day and we love that he loves it.  He couldn't wait for his "Valentimes" party.  Thank goodness he didn't have to make a Valentine's box this year.  Miss Lindsay is a smart cookie and did all of us parents a favor and made everything at school this year.  Thanks!!

The highlight of any party for me is making the goodies! 

Wanted to use the Oreo Cakesters for this, but looked EVERYWHERE for them & couldn't find them. Little Debbie to the rescue!

 

 

LOVED how these turned out!

Got the idea from this pin.

 

 

These were a hit!  I got the whisk at Hobby Lobby (30% off) too!

Spencer signing his name is my favorite!

 

 

And my favorite...for the grandparents.  These were so fun to make and his hearts and signature just melt my heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spencer's sweetheart, Sawyer.  They are beyond precious and Spencer had a laundry list of things he wanted to give her for Valentine's Day.  I would be completely OK with us looking at these photos at their wedding one day. ;)

 

 

 

Like I said, Rick & I don't give gifts to each other for Valentine's Day, but he sure did surprise Spencer & I with these...

 

One for each of us straight from the Duke bookstore! 

LOVE!

 

 

*Insta* Friday

Linking up with:

Harry Potter came on and we instantly found our cape, wand and Gryfindor sword.

 

 

 

Picked up Spencer from school and this is what greeted me.  YIKES!!!

(I'm all about his love for dress up, but not Elmo!!!)

 

 

 

Awesome Saturday night

 

 

 

Sleepy vampire

 

 

 

Getting those "yellow guys" (Georgia Tech) with his laser gun. 

Already a Duke fan! :)

 

 

 

We've had beautiful weather in the evenings, so that means park time!

 

Monkey bars by himself!  How is this happening?

 

 

 

First time at the dentist

 

 

 

Homemade angel food cake...grilled!

 

 

 

Hawkeye and his new bow and arrow...and goggles.

 

 

 

Can't wait to order this from Gap for Spencer!

 

 

 

Check out that static electricity! 

 

 

Daddy-less Weekend

This past weekend Rick had to go to his mom's in East Texas to see her real quick and take care of some business.  This was the FIRST time Spencer and I have EVER been without him.  Those two have had to bach it numerous times due to school conferences and such that I have to go to, but this was new territory for me.  We just hunkered down and had a great time.

Had dinner Friday night with our precious friends Monica & Carlos.

Carlos took a bite out of the concrete as they were playing.  Poor baby.

 



Saturday we made a trip to the mall in the afternoon (which was eye opening to say the least).  I was appalled at "what" was there.  Ugh.  Thank goodness Spencer is so good when we go shopping. 

 

 

 

We did absolutely nothing Saturday night, but VEG OUT!  It was really nice (and silly).

 

 

 

 

Spencer said this was Daddy...

 

 

 

And this was Mommy...

 

 

 

Sunday morning breakfast...

 

 

We sure were glad to have Daddy home!  I had some great one on one time with my sweet boy, but nothing is ever the same without Rick there!