{ cheddar chicken }

I saw this recipe on my friend Amy’s blog last week and it sounded delish. We tried it tonight and she wasn’t joking – it’s great!

16 Ritz crackers (about 3/4 cup) crushed
6 oz of sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 Tbsp melted butter
* Heat oven to 350. In a bowl combine the crackers, cheese garlic and salt and pepper to taste.
* Dip chicken in butter then cracker mixture then place on a foil lined baking sheet.
* Sprinkle remaining mixture onto chicken then bake until chicken is golden brown. (25-30 min)

Thanks for this recipe, Amy! It’s a keeper!

{ JUNK }

I saw this cute cute bag pattern at the fabric shop in Poulsbo when we were there for Brian and Megan’s wedding last May. (You can find the pattern HERE.)

I was excited to make the bag for myself, but I’m a picture follower – so I had to get all the embellishments so I could make my bag look as close to the bag in the picture as possible.

It was fun to pick up old hankies at the Farm Chicks Antique Show in Spokane last June. I only bought 3 with this bag in mind…even though I’ve finished the bag, let me tell you, I will be buying more antique hankies when I go this year. What for, I don’t know – I just think they’re sweet and cute!

I got velour ric rack at the fabric store in Chelan (and cute little pink pom poms, which did not make the final cut) and green lacy ribbon/ric rack at JoAnn’s.

Here’s the final product:

I think it’s a lot cuter in person, personally. I’m not a great picture taker.
I am so happy to have it completed and it’s all ready to accompany me to the Farm Chicks show in June! (And I didn't leave it to the last minute!)

The pattern is actually really simple – it just took quite a while to embellish the front. It’s a great size and you could put any four letter word on it (careful now!).

So fun! And so happy to move on to the next project! :)

{ the story of Lary }

I have a new addition in my office that I’m pretty excited about. It’s perfect for my office and I have a selection of coffee creamers in my mini fridge under my desk. It’s one of the things I asked for at Christmas and I think we’re going to be a great pair!

One day last week, a student came in and exclaimed in her most excited voice, “Oh my gosh! You have a FISH?!” (Notice the blue light in the water tank.) I laughed (pretty hard) and replied, “No, Madi…that’s a coffee pot, not a fish tank.” And, I definitely shared that story a few times in the following days.

On Monday I walked into my office and Madi is cutting out a pink fish from a post-it note and writing a name tag for the fish, which she tapes to the side of the coffee pot. I didn’t want to make a big deal about my coffee pot so that EVERYONE knew about it, but now, it’s definitely an eye-catcher.

(And yes, we did have a conversation about how Larry is usually spelled with two “r’s”…to which she replied, “Not my fish!”)

 

Madi’s Dad works at the school, so of course I had to point this out to him. He surely would be so proud! He said she’s adopted.

Yesterday I came into my office to find Lary’s life story on my desk – written by Madi, of course. It’s entertaining, to say the least.

It makes me a little scared of what I’m going to find today.

{ beta “holiday” party }

We had our Beta Holiday Party last night…we couldn’t find a date that worked before Christmas, so we saved it for after Christmas. I think it worked out well and might be a tradition?! It was fun to get together after the holidays when there isn’t really anything to look forward to.

Bonnie, Sharon, Mom, Eileen, and Karen

It was my Mom & Dad’s 34th Anniversary – what better way to celebrate than to spend it with friends!

{ day 5 }

Day #5: A picture of somewhere you’ve been

OOH! I love this topic!

I am so lucky to have gotten to visit many places around the world:

Las Vegas

Park City, UT

Seattle, WA

Priest Lake, ID

Lausen, Switzerland

Denver, CO

Chicago, IL

Dallas, TX

Stillwater, MN

Guanajuato, Mexico

Boston, MA

Dresden, OH

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Where to next?!

{ day 4 }

Day 4: A habit you wish you didn’t have.

I have a lot of bad habits…prepare to know way more about me than you ever wanted to!

I don’t wash my face at night…
I don’t use lotion as much as I should or drink as much water as I should…
I pick at my feet (Melissa loves this one)…
I bite my cuticles…
I am not assertive as I should be in some situations…
I don’t hang up my clothes every day…sometimes for multiple days…
I can be impatient, stubborn, naïve, and easily irritated by crowds, dumb remarks, second-guessing…
I trust students’ word even though I’ve been burned by believing them…

I’m sure those close to me would have half a dozen to add to the list!

 

{ day 3 }

#3: Post a picture of you and your friends

I’m lucky to have lots of friends from many different parts of my life…

This is my friend Tracy – my oldest & dearest friend. We have been friends since my Mom tried to steal her when we were 3. True story. We shared birthday parties, church camp, tween drama, and even college together. We don’t get to see each other often anymore, but I still count her as my dearest friend.

These are my friends from my graduating high school class at our 10-year reunion. I love these girls! Some of them I went to school with since kindergarten! I can be myself around them. Our unspoken bond is deep. I know that they will support me no matter what.

These are my Beta friends – and some of my closest friends at this time in my life. They make life a lot of fun and are always up for a good time! I am thankful for their friendship and support. I love sharing life with them.

This is my college roommate Andrea! We were in Vegas at the same time this last June and met up for lunch. I learned a lot from Andrea – she exposed me to the city life that this small town girl had not experienced. French presses, Anthropologie, Thai food, Nutella – I learned from Andrea. We spent many nights watching The Amazing Race, The Osbournes, Sex & the City, and Real World together when we should’ve been doing homework. My only college friend to break the Big 3? Andrea. I was boring in college, but I lived vicariously through Andrea!

Jessica! Jess and I went to jr high and high school together, but weren’t friends. We just didn’t hang in the same crowd. When I started working at CHS, she was already a seasoned teacher. I was intimidated by her – just not knowing what she thought of me and trying to make a good impression. Somewhere in my 1st year at CHS, we clicked and we decided to coach football cheer together the following year. The rest is history!

This is my friend Jen – who’s just one part of the fabulous friends I gained in graduate school. Right after we graduated, she moved to Minnesota and we have only gotten to see each other a few times since then. She is so encouraging and supportive and keeps me laughing! I admire her for reaching her goals even when the path is difficult. I can’t find the picture of Jen and I with our other grad school friend, Jody – but she is also one of the best parts of my graduate program. (My degree, which led to my job, and Jen and Jody. Thanks Whitworth!) Jody has such a deep faith and her gentle personality inspires me. She also is very encouraging and gives great advice. And great hugs.

Last, but not least, my sister & cousins. They are my best friends. I am truly thankful to have them not only as family, but also as friends. *heart them*

{ day 2 }

Day #2: The meaning behind your blog title

My blog title is a take off of the “Confessions of a –Fill-in-the-Blank—a-Holic”. Let’s face it, blog titles are tough. I wanted something catchy, not lame, and reflective of me. I’m not sure that I accomplished that, but what the hey, it’s my blog name and it’s doing it’s job so far.

When I created my blog title and really started blogging was when I started quilting…but I also scrapbook, make cards, cross-stitch…well, I’ll try pretty much anything. I even tried knitting and crocheting, which did not work.

I’m ready for a new name if anyone has any ideas!

{ day 1…}

To get through the January blahs, I’m going to start the 30 Day Challenge.

Day #1: Post a recent picture of yourself and 15 interesting facts about you

1. I am addicted to my iPhone.
2. I love trolling blogs and finding new projects.
3. I went to high school with one of my BFFs, but we weren’t friends in high school. Weird, huh?!
4. I’m definitely not the cheerleader type, but strangely enough, I like coaching cheer!
This is harder than I thought!
5. Melissa got Just Dance 2 for the Wii for Christmas and danced her pants off all week….and I beat her in a best 3 out of 5. That’s right.
6. I took piano lessons from 1st grade to 11th grade and even for a few semesters in college. I don’t get to play much, but I really like it when I do!
7. I love Christmas but I hate decorating the tree and wrapping gifts.
8. I really want to go back to Switzerland and Mexico. I’m so sad about what’s happening in Mexico because I’m afraid I won’t get to back.
9. I like shoes, but I don’t fit (size 13!) into most shoes I like. Good thing my sister is a shoe collector!
10. I wish I had a nice camera to take better pictures of my completed quilts. The pictures I get of them don’t do them justice.
11. I like looking at decorating blogs and shopping at decorating stores – even though I don’t have anywhere to decorate. Someday.
12. I’m a white sheet, no top sheet, only use a duvet cover kinda girl.
13. I’m not a big sports fan – but I really like high school football. A Lot!
14. Sometimes I wish I was back in college…and taking better advantage of what was available to me…school, friends, etc.
15. I’ve never had a broken bone or been admitted to a hospital, but I have the worst teeth ever. Ever.

{ chelan }

Our time in Chelan was a good ending to our Christmas break. We did a lot of reading, relaxing, and being with friends.

We started off our time in Chelan by having dinner at the Tsillan Winery (my favorite of the ones we’ve been to). We spent the rest of the week drinking Starbucks, shopping downtown, playing card games, reading, napping, and playing “Just Dance 2.”

Here’s Mom & Dad stuffing Christmas card envelopes…

The adults all went to dinner on New Year’s Eve at Campbell’s – always a fun time. I got to sit by Kameron and Christine. I don’t get to see them much so it was nice to have some time with them.

It didn’t even snow while we were there – which I was just fine with!! It had snowed before we got there, so there was snow on the hills, but no ice in the parking lots. YAY!

Looking forward to going back next year! So fun!