I made it back from Washington! There was a short period of time where my irrational side thought I would just stay forever but reality kicked in and I boarded the plane to head back to the land of corn. I have so many updates and photos to post but they won’t make it online today. I will, however, leave you all with this little teaser photo of my handsome cowboy man roping steers. It’s beyond me how I managed to stay perched on the top of the fence rail while watching that man ride a horse. Something about the horses, the dust, and that sweaty cowboy roping steers makes me want to nearly pass out from attraction overload. God Bless Cowboys.
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I made it back from Washington! There was a short period of time where my irrational side thought I would just stay forever but reality kicked in and I boarded the plane to head back to the land of corn.

I have so many updates and photos to post but they won’t make it online today. I will, however, leave you all with this little teaser photo of my handsome cowboy man roping steers. It’s beyond me how I managed to stay perched on the top of the fence rail while watching that man ride a horse. Something about the horses, the dust, and that sweaty cowboy roping steers makes me want to nearly pass out from attraction overload.

God Bless Cowboys.

Ranch Chicken Salad: my new summer staple This chicken salad is literally the best I’ve ever had. I’m addicted, I’ve eaten it for three meals in a row, and I don’t care who knows it. The ingredients are simple and I’m thinking some fun additions and tweaks throughout the summer will continue to make this recipe a staple in my life. Ranch Chicken Salad -3 large chicken breasts; cooked and cubed/shredded -1 cup Roma tomatoes halved -1cup fresh asparagus chopped -1 cup mayo -1/2 packet dry ranch mix Mix all ingredients and serve! I’m thinking the addition of cucumbers would be amazing, and depending on your love for ranch you could add an entire packet if you prefer. Enjoy!
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Ranch Chicken Salad: my new summer staple

This chicken salad is literally the best I’ve ever had. I’m addicted, I’ve eaten it for three meals in a row, and I don’t care who knows it. The ingredients are simple and I’m thinking some fun additions and tweaks throughout the summer will continue to make this recipe a staple in my life.

Ranch Chicken Salad
-3 large chicken breasts; cooked and cubed/shredded
-1 cup Roma tomatoes halved
-1cup fresh asparagus chopped
-1 cup mayo
-1/2 packet dry ranch mix

Mix all ingredients and serve!

I’m thinking the addition of cucumbers would be amazing, and depending on your love for ranch you could add an entire packet if you prefer.

Enjoy!

Somebody take away my plastic

I leave for Washington this Friday. It will be a quick little escape to spend time with my handsome cowboy Joe and I absolutely cannot wait. The original plan was to wait until June to see each other but love makes your head go fuzzy and it also makes flights at any price justifiable. 

Even though we could have survived another month apart I’m so glad that we made the decision to just plan a trip. After all, life is short! We could be gone tomorrow! You only live once! (Do I need to continue spouting off positive, decision reinforcements??)

I’ve been mentally planning my wardrobe for the past few days and I keep encountering the same “I don’t have anything to wear” issue. This thought is absolutely laughable! My boyfriend lives in Washington. This man has never seen me in the same things twice and quite frankly he’s only seen me a handful of times to begin with! There is absolutely no reason for me to purchase a single item of clothing before this trip.

However, I’m still finding ways to justify new clothes for my trip.

“Well my style has matured.”

“I need something nice to wear when I meet his mother.”

“I need something comfortable yet show-stopping to wear when I get off the plane.”

The list goes on and on. I may need to beg my roommate to hide all my plastic so I am unable to go on a completely unnecessary spending spree. I should also remember my sweet Joe is a total man….he would be happy as a clam if I showed up in tattered faded jeans and a t-shirt. Yet, T-shirt or not I still want it to be the most flattering shirt of all time!

Being a woman can be so frustrating at times.

This Friday I decided it would be a perfect night to test drive the lovely fire pit we Brett and my dad installed last weekend. I gathered wood, sticks, and a few dried leaves to start the fire. I carefully placed each log into a tepee as I’ve seen my dad do a million times and then stuffed the twigs and leaves inside. I took the lighter, lit the leaves and in seconds had a blazing fire……then my little fire slowly simmered to a dull glow. More leave. More twigs. Instant fire. Instantly extinguished. What in the world was I doing wrong?? This is how I’ve always seen people build a roaring fire! I called my dad for advice and he assumed the logs I selected were still too green and that I’d need a big hot flame to dry them out enough to burn. Obviously, my previous attempts were not creating the lasting flame I needed. I ran inside, grabbed a few old socks, soaked them in a bit of gasoline and stuffed them in my log tepee. Instant flame and instant success! Forget this traditional fire building crap, from now on I’ll just have a gasoline can handy.
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This Friday I decided it would be a perfect night to test drive the lovely fire pit we Brett and my dad installed last weekend. I gathered wood, sticks, and a few dried leaves to start the fire. I carefully placed each log into a tepee as I’ve seen my dad do a million times and then stuffed the twigs and leaves inside. I took the lighter, lit the leaves and in seconds had a blazing fire……then my little fire slowly simmered to a dull glow.

More leave. More twigs. Instant fire. Instantly extinguished.

What in the world was I doing wrong?? This is how I’ve always seen people build a roaring fire! I called my dad for advice and he assumed the logs I selected were still too green and that I’d need a big hot flame to dry them out enough to burn. Obviously, my previous attempts were not creating the lasting flame I needed.

I ran inside, grabbed a few old socks, soaked them in a bit of gasoline and stuffed them in my log tepee. Instant flame and instant success! Forget this traditional fire building crap, from now on I’ll just have a gasoline can handy.

This Mother’s Day I gifted my mama with a family photo session. It’s bee nearly 10 years since our last professional group photo and, needless to say, we have all changed a little!  Mama and I debated back and forth on what “color scheme” we should all go with. Something bright but not too bright, trendy but not something too modern, and it had to be a color that we could get the guys in! (purple was not an option) We decided on coral and navy which happens to be a favorite combo of my mother’s at the moment! I love the color scheme and I just happen to already own some fab coral pants but am still unsure what to put on top! Navy tank? Navy and white tank? Chambray shirt with navy under?? Ugh! Decisions, decisions!
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This Mother’s Day I gifted my mama with a family photo session. It’s bee nearly 10 years since our last professional group photo and, needless to say, we have all changed a little! 

Mama and I debated back and forth on what “color scheme” we should all go with. Something bright but not too bright, trendy but not something too modern, and it had to be a color that we could get the guys in! (purple was not an option) We decided on coral and navy which happens to be a favorite combo of my mother’s at the moment!

I love the color scheme and I just happen to already own some fab coral pants but am still unsure what to put on top! Navy tank? Navy and white tank? Chambray shirt with navy under?? Ugh! Decisions, decisions!

In no particular order my Sunday included, but was not limited to: Walks with the puppies Finishing a few pieces of art Red velvet cake Quality time tearing our fence with pa and the brother More red velvet cake The start of a new kitchen table A few refreshing orange beers A newly build fire pit Sunday = Success!
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In no particular order my Sunday included, but was not limited to:

  • Walks with the puppies
  • Finishing a few pieces of art
  • Red velvet cake
  • Quality time tearing our fence with pa and the brother
  • More red velvet cake
  • The start of a new kitchen table
  • A few refreshing orange beers
  • A newly build fire pit

Sunday = Success!