Snow-verload...

Well I really underestimated this snow storm.  I saw it was snowing when I got out of the shower yesterday morning but nothing was sticking to the ground so I went about my day like normal..had a haircut appointment, then went shopping at Concord Mills with a friend to take advantage of the President's Day sales and let me tell you Ann Taylor did not disappoint!  Well..as we were leaving the mall we heard little ramblings about how it was a "blizzard" outside.  Neither one of us believed it until we looked outside as we passed an exit door and discovered the winter wonderland awaiting us.  We quickly finished up and got out to the car, which was already covered in about 2 inches of snow at this point.  Thankfully, it was just snow and did not freeze over until late at night so the roads were not that bad at all. 

Home the morning after...
 

It was pretty but I am so over the cold. Bring on the boating weather!

Obviously, walking outside to take this picture was the extent of my travels all day today.  Since it was still cold the ice that developed was still on some roads and I was not about to take my chances.  Grocery shopping can wait.  Plus side?  I don't think I have ever gotten so much cleaning done in one day.  I'm talking vacuumed, dusted, several loads of laundry, reorganizing the closets, cleaned the dog kennels, resealed the granite countertops, ran the dishwasher, put away all the clean dishes...It felt so good to get it all done because I haven't been able to the past few weeks after my wreck.  I am still dealing with some chest pain which makes things like vacuuming and mopping a little difficult.  The vacuuming wasn't too bad but after doing all the rest of that I didn't want to push myself too much.  Mopping will have to wait for another day.  Hopefully soon because it's driving me nuts.


In other news, I wanted to share this super easy, super yummy recipe for Pepperoni Rolls that I sort of winged and they came out fabulous.  I made them for our Super Bowl party two weeks ago and again for dinner since then. 

 

Home-made Pepperoni Rolls

What you'll need:

1 Package of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

1 Package of Pepperoni Slices

1 Jar of Pizza Sauce (I used Ragu)

1-2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Cavender's Greek Seasoning (or any Greek seasoning, but theirs is soooo good)

Get Started:
Take out your baking sheet and preheat your oven to 375* (as directed on the crescent roll package).
Open the crescent rolls and separate.  Pat them out so that they are a little bit bigger.
Put about a tablespoon of Pizza Sauce on the middle of the crescent.  Add about 4 slices of Pepperoni and a pinch of shredded Mozzarella.  Fold the crescent up (this make take a couple tries to get a nice shape but it will taste good no matter what it looks like).  Press together the seams of the folded crescent roll.  Repeat for all 8 rolls, then sprinkle your Greek seasoning over top of all of them. 
Pop them in the oven for about 10-11 minutes, and then enjoy!  Serve with extra pizza sauce for dipping if desired.
 

 

It's a great, quick meal or snack.  You can mix things up with whatever toppings you like inside.

 

 

 

XO, Stacey 

 

Accessorizing...

Accessorizing for my car...which I guess you could say is accessorizing for me.  With what?  This little beauty:



Car Organizer from The MacBeth Collection

My new car has an amazingly large amount of trunk space, much different from my old car.  I went out the other day and got a huge $175 load of groceries [Note to self: get back into couponing!] and was shocked that once I loaded all of my new junk items into the trunk there was actually tons of extra space!  It was a different experience than having to overflow into the back seat of the car like before.  So, I found a great deal on this wonderful trunk organizer that should fit quite well to help keep groceries from sliding all around.  Also, I love that it will match my new tan interior and is a fun print :) yay!

New Shiny Things

Well, the sadness of losing my beautiful old car has been cured with how much I am loving my new one...

2013 Kia Sorento EX, Satin Metal exterior with tan leather interior
[Side note--Yes, this is outside Nichol's Store, we bought the car in Columbia and stopped by here on the way home because Jake wanted to look at safes]
 

I have to say I am loving all the extra space...and all the fun little bells & whistles that this one came with. I never understood the "smart keys" before but man are they convenient when you get used to them.  We got a heck of a deal since this was the third car my family has purchased from this dealer (My mother & I both bought Kia Souls in 2011).

 It took a little bit longer than planned because of the issues we have had trying to deal with Allstate, which is the insurance company that the guy who hit me has. I have to say, we are not Allstate customers and through this experience I do not see us ever deciding to use them. You would think that they would want to keep me as happy as possible so that I would agree to an easy settlement, but it has been the biggest hassle and that in no way makes me want to try to be understanding or compromise with them.  I'm still being treated by the chiropractor for the next at least six weeks, so we will see how everything ends up I guess.  By the way, if you or someone you know is in need of a chiropractor, I highly recommend ChiroCarolina.  They are members of a networking group that I am a part of through work, and they have been so professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. 


Okay, now back to The Bachelor...

 

Bye, Bye Car :(

Well it's been a whirlwind the past few days.  As most of you probably know by now, I was in a car accident on Friday evening on my way home from work.  I drove literally 20mph the entire way home down the interstates and after watching two cars lose control on the ice I thought I had finally made it to safety when I got off of the highway.  I even called Jake just to let him know I was finally almost home and off of the interstate...and then I had to call him again three minutes later to let him know I had been in an accident.  I was less than 2 miles from home when a guy heading the opposite direction lost control and spun out across all 5 lanes, hitting me head-on.  It was like slow motion out of no where.  The airbag deployed, which  I had never seen happen before so I didn't realize that there is a lot of dust that comes out with it.  I saw the dust cloud and thought it was smoke so I grabbed my phone and got my door open and got out as quickly as I could, worrying that my car was on fire.  After calling Jake and 911 I went back to my car to try to turn it off because my horn was stuck on.  I was so surprised and in a daze that I didn't even think to put my car in park or turn it off when I got out.  What we found out later is that between the combination of the bent axle and my transmission laying on the ground, the car wasn't going anywhere anyway.  I was still in shock so I got my purse and turned off the car (still didn't think to put it in park, but it was so messed up it didn't even stop me from taking the key out like it usually would if it was in gear).

From Monday when we went to see it in daylight and get my belongings and tag.

It was so cold out so when the cops got there they let me sit in their truck while they were doing the police report and then the ambulance got there to take me to the hospital for some chest x-rays and treating the burn on my hand from the airbag deployment.   I had my seatbelt on, which truly saved me but it still caused a lot of pain from the restraint.  My chest was so sore and it hurt to even breathe, and all across my hips and stomach I was in pain from the seatbelt across my lap.  Those turned into some seriously nasty bruises that are currently a lovely shade of yellow/purple as they're healing.  Luckily the chest x-rays came back fine.  After about two hours we were on our way home.  Jake took such good care of me!  I love him so much.  He helped out all around the house so that I could rest all weekend.

Now we are dealing with all of the insurance settling which is a pain.  Apparently they were having trouble getting ahold of the guy who hit me which was causing issues with my rental car...after lots of headache that was finally figured out and we got my rental car.  Right after we picked it up we got a call from the car assessor that he was ready to inspect the damage to my car and he determined that it was definitely totaled (no surprise to us).  Hopefully all of that will get worked out this week and we will be buying a new car Saturday.  Sad because I loved my old car but also starting to get excited to get something new.

I'm going to the chiropractor tomorrow, which I've never done before so I'm a little anxious.  I know that they can be really helpful, so I'm hoping that my neck and back will feel better with a little adjustment.



So, all very unexpected but hopefully within a week or so it will all be behind us, moving on to better things!

 

2013!

 

 

 

Ohh, the year ahead...Can I just say that I am very much one of those dorks that gets way too  excited about new office supplies--i.e. my new desk calendar.  I just love getting a brand new calendar/agenda and writing in all of the important dates--anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, showers, due dates, vacations, etc.  I guess it's because I get to see so much of what is to look forward to that year.  What else do I love about office supplies?  When I find them on a bargain, and thanks to the lovely Target Dollar Spot, I've found just that.  How can you beat a mini monthly desk calendar, already printed and professionally bound for $1.00?  You can't!

 

However, if you're not planning a trip to Target anytime soon [yeah, right] and you want a different option, this one is extremely cute, colorful, and you get to print it for free :)  2013 Printable Calendar from The Tomkat Studio.

 

 

So, last New Year's we were looking forward to our 1st wedding anniversary and our vacation to Las Vegas.  This year?  I'm sad to say that not much is already planned!  Usually I have things like vacations planned pretty far in advance, but I've been considering checking out some Groupon Getaways and Living Social Escapes, which you can't purchase that far in advance.  It's our 2nd anniversary, so I'm thinking it will be less of a splurge but still a nice, relaxing vacation.  Somewhere beachy and tropical seems appealing.  Minimum of 4 days, because I want to get there and enjoy  my time, not feel rushed.   

 

One thing much in our future for this year is plenty of pontoon time!  Now that the holidays are over I am so ready for warm weather and sun tans!

 

What else? Babies and weddings!  Jake's cousin is due in the next couple of weeks with her second little boy.  They are so close and grew up together so she's more of his big sister and we're like Uncle Jake & Aunt Stacey :)  One of my best friends is also due with her second, a little girl coming in March!  I can't wait to spoil them both rotten.  As previously mentioned, we also have four weddings on the books this year, which are always great times to get together and celebrate important moments with friends!

 

I've never been one for new year's resolutions, but now that I've been cleared for workouts after my Lasik surgery, and Thanksgiving and Christmas meals have passed, there will be Insanity and a bigger focus on healthy meals.  I don't diet, mainly because I really enjoy healthy food so I don't see it as a chore, which dieting always sounds like.  If I've eaten a healthy breakfast and lunch, why can't I have my bowl of slow churned chocolate fudge brownie ice cream after dinner? 

 

I'm also looking forward to the unexpected!  This past year, the opportunity for my Lasik surgery was such an unexpected blessing.  I'm 2 months post-op and my eyesight has never been better!  Even with contacts, I would find myself having to squint sometimes because the astigmatism in my right eye would make my contact shift around. 

 

Cheers to a new and exciting year!

 

 

 

 

 

 





 



Holiday Season

Sooo we were a bit busy over weekend.  Looks like the Thankful list will be continued this week until the end of the month....


12.  Our home, and how blessed we were to be able to make this big purchase on our own.  I can't believe it's already been two years almost!

13.  Our vehicles, especially my car.  Being the youngest in my family I was always the one who got my brother's old car or my dad's old car.  Now, I know it is a blessing in itself that I was given those vehicles since I know that there are many others who are not that lucky or who's parents made them save up to pay for their first car.  However, there is something special about being able to save up my big girl money and buy my first shiny new car with exactly the finishes and features that I wanted.  And, after 9 years I'm finally driving something other than a white SUV!!

14.  Alpha Delta Pi.  Six years ago I had no idea the lasting impact that organization and women would have on my life.  I'm no longer a collegiate member and often times in my daily routine I don't really take the time to reflect on it.  I put on my crest ring every morning, and I'll think of my sisters and what they're doing with their lives now when I get phone calls, texts, or see updates on facebook.  What's amazing about it is when it pops up in unexpected places.  I couldn't even count the times that I've been at business meetings or networking events and find out that another woman there is an alum as well.

15.  Pinterest, for making me seem like such a fantastic and creative cook and hostess.  Also, thanks Pinterest for making private boards so that I can keep my bouts of baby fever to myself! haha



...In other news, I've been decking the halls here for the holidays and I've been inspired to do some organizing of our bookshelves in the living room.  Hopefully pictures to come soon of the holiday decor, etc!

House a Home

I am loving my new car! I ended up getting the Kia Soul "!" model, in the metallic black ("Shadow") color. It is really cool because the metallic in it is actually red. I got a heck of a deal! We definitely went at the right time. It has upgraded hounds-tooth interior and a sunroof, which is awesome. In the past I have not really been a 'driving with the windows down' kind of girl, I mean let's be honest that doesn't work well with long hair. However, the sunroof adds a new dynamic and I love it. It is so nice and relaxing to ride around town. It's also got bluetooth which is a feature I am surprised that I use so much. I hate the bluetooth ear pieces and have always thought it was weird, but the car version is really nice to be hands-free even though I probably look weird talking to myself.

So, as I have mentioned before, Jake and I have pretty much been very slack with decorating our house since we have moved in. We didn't have as much time as we would have liked to get things ready before we moved in. Lately I have really been wanting to do more with the house. I would love to paint the bathrooms, and put up framed mirrors instead of the builder mirror sheets. We also need to get up lots of artwork, and I am hoping to slowly but surely do that.

The other big project that Jake and I want to do is to remodel our kitchen. You would think that since it is what I do for a living, this would be easy. To an extent it is, however it really challenging to find good premade cabinets. I do not deal with premade cabinets at work, and ones that I have found at Lowe's and Home Depot really do not impress me. Here is something similar to the look we are going for:

We have a similar kitchen layout and coloring. We have the glass slider on the right wall, and door to the garage where this one is. Instead of an island, we have a peninsula that we are going to add coming off of the left wall. Our flooring is light laminate hardwood like this, and we want some sort of dark (not necessarily cherry) cabinets. The countertops are going to be light/medium tone quartz, and a light onyx backsplash (these were easy to choose from work!).

The new Martha Stewart line at Home Depot has some really nice character to it, and it is so new that they do not have any kitchen displays, only the sample boards. From reading reviews online, as much as these cabinets have in design details, they lack in structural integrity and quality. They are already more expensive than they should be just because they have the MS name, and they are built standard with 3/8" particle board instead of 3/4" plywood (which you have to pay even more to upgrade to). There are also horror stories of everything coming in wrong or damaged, and taking forever to replace. Lots of extra time to deal with other people's mistakes is something that I do not have, working 6 days a week. After lots of research, a new store called Cabinets To Go is opening up in 2 weeks in Charlotte and I think that is seeming like the most promising thing so far. Of course, that could change when I go there and see the quality of their products, but from the information on their website I am keeping my fingers crossed! Jake wants to get this remodel done sooner rather than later to get all of the wedding gifts that we have piled up in the dining room into the additional kitchen storage, and I am not complaining! We are just hoping to keep a good budget so that we can still do the back patio this fall. I love being an interior designer, and feel so blessed that we will get great discounts to allow us to get these projects completed.

Aside from that, we are looking forward to a fun night tomorrow going to Thirsty Thursday at the Charlotte Knights stadium. We are going with some friends from church, and I am using a voucher that I bought off of Living Social a few weeks ago :) I haven't been able to do a whole lot of couponing lately but at least I am still on the lookout for bargains! We bought the "Voucher for 2 field box tickets and one appetizer from the Budweiser Brewhouse from Charlotte Knights" for $15, a 59% savings. www.LivingSocial.com

Goodnight!

Friday!

Thank the Lord another weekend is here.  Technically, anyway, since I still have work tomorrow but Saturdays go by a little quicker.  I have not written on here in a while, so for a quick update we have been busy working, deciding on a new car for me to get, had a lot of fun Tuesday night at our church group dinner, and are really looking forward to a low key, relaxing weekend! 

I was trying to tidy up a few things last night while doing laundry, and decided to hang a mirror that we got as a wedding gift at the bottom of our stairs.  Iris helped :)

I am also pretty excited about seeing the LAST Harry Potter movie tonight.  I grew out of the books after the 4th one, but shortly thereafter the movies started coming out and I really enjoy those.  Jake is really looking forward to it because he read all if the books and is a little obsessed.  I'm hoping it lives up to his expectations since it is the final one.

Also, I decided to switch it up a bit with this layout.  I'm not a big purple person so I don't know how long this will last.

That's all for now!

Weekend!

Almost the weekend for me, just have to make it through the usual 6hr Saturday work day.  I am looking forward to getting lots of rest & relaxation in this weekend.  Writing wedding Thank-you's, pool time, reading my new book, cleaning, and working on my painting.  It seems like this is the first weekend in about 3 months that I do not really have anything to do (other than work).  It is very nice, and it makes my weekends seem longer I think. 

Jake and I are looking for a new car for me so that he can use my current car for his day to day work, which will save him a lot on gas.  He will still have his truck for times when he needs to haul stuff.  We are looking to get a 30+mpg car for me, so that I will also save a ton of money.  My car has good highway mileage, but in town it is not great at all.  I use the same amount of gas running errands in one afternoon that I use driving to Columbia to see my parents.  I'm excited, hopefully I will have something in the next couple of weeks.  I found several good options last night for Jake to check out.

That's all for now, bye!