Taco Dip

It is cold today.  The cold does not bother me so much but we have softball games this weekend.  I will bundle up to keep warm but I am afraid I will probably complain the whole time.

This is my favorite taco dip.  A friend of mine brought this to a sports party.  Nobody could leave the snack table because of the dip.  I often make it on the weekends Kevin is gone and can eat it for a couple of days. 

1 lb ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning
1/4 cup of water
1 jar salsa
2 cups of shredded cheddar chesse

1.  Brown ground beef and drain.
2.  Add water and taco seasoning.  Cook of medium/high until boiling.
3.  Add salsa.  Simmer for 20 minutes.
4.  Place in square Pyrex dish.  Cover with cheese.  To melt cheese you can place in oven for 5 minutes or cover dish with aluminum foil to melt.
5.  Serve with tortilla chips.  Dip travels well, can easily be re-heated, and can be doubled for a party.
Enjoy!! 

Boredom....has set in.

I am bored out of my mind.  I am waiting to hear from HR at Ole Miss so that I can fill out paperwork to become a student athlete tutor.  The rain is heading our way.  I am out of spray paint for my multiple painting projects.  I can't shop because I don't have a job, yet.  I have finished all but one assignment and my final for my last grad school class.  And, my house is clean.  I am the type of person that needs a routine and this is not working.  I can't take much more.  Hopefully I will hear something from HR today or tomorrow morning.  On the plus side Kevin is in town this weeked playing ball.  The team is hosting the Red & Blue Classic and Kevin's sister, Brittany, is coming down to visit and watch a little softball.

I do have a couple of projects that I have yet to share.  I found these two pieces at my favorite store in Oxford, Sugar Magnolia.  Sugar Magnolia is set up so that people can sell their arts and crafts, thrifty finds, re-finished furniture, or junk.  I found the chair in a shade of white and the table in the most awful shade of baby pink.

The chair got a coat of blue paint and a little sanding to distress.  I love it.  It sits in the corner of the guest room so that others can throw stuff on it.  The table got a coat of brown spray paint and then I had to fix the broken piece.  It originally had a wooden piece to hold magazines, books, etc but it was broken.  I am not handy enough to add another piece of wood.  However, I did have Kevin drill me some holes and I strung ribbon through them.  The ribbon is tight enough to withstand a couple of magazines and books for guests.  I added some candles wrapped in the same ribbon.  My Goodwill cakestand that guests can use for jewelry.  And my Goodwill lamp with the shade that is a bit to big but works for now.  All in all not to bad for a newbie to refinishing and redecorating.

I am getting a little bold.  I linked up my wrapping paper organizer to Allison's, a high school friend, Catch A Glimpse party.  I am trying to get the full blog experience.  Check her blog out.  She is wonderful, creative, and has lots of great ideas.  Her blog is Adventures of the Michelena Family,

Everyday Projects

I loved Glee last night.  I wish they could cram more musical numbers into a show.  The dancing and singings makes me smile and laugh every time.  I can't get enough.  On another plus side, Ole Miss softball grabbed another win last night.  The ladies won 6 to 1 against Mississippi Valley State University.  We play again this weekend in Oxford in the Red & Blue Classic.  Keep up with the scores via Gametracker on the Ole Miss Sports website. 

I posted my card boxes last week.  I display cards on a card holder that my Mom bought me a couple of Christmases ago.  I found it in a magazine from Pottery Barn.  I couldn't make myself buy it at that time but I loved it.  Between birthdays, small holidays, and big holidays we are always receiving cards and each is special to me.  Once the card holder is full, I store any cards that are important. 

Already this morning

In the first hour of the morning I have already: started a load of laundry, dusted all the wood surfaces in my house, and unloaded the dishwasher.  All I have left is to finish laundry, take a shower, and go to Ole Miss softball game.  Here is another project of mine.  My mom bought these letters for $2.00 at Hobby Lobby.

I taped off the hooks and gave the letters a coat of primer.  I decided on giving the letters a coat of the chalkboard spraypaint.

I hung the letters above my $10.00 Goodwill table.  One for Kevin.  Two for me.  Three for Trot.  I found another set of numbers at my local Hobby Lobby ($1.20 a piece) and plan on hanging them in my guest room.  I am hoping for a warm day and good softball.

More Spray Paint

Boring weekend here.  Trot and I tried to keep ourselves busy with cleaning and projects around the house.  However, there is only so much you can do to a clean kitchen.  I did spray paint my filing cabinet though. 

I had planned to put it in this corner but did not want a ton of black all right in one area.  I primed it and gave it a good coat of spruce green.  I found thefabric box at Target and it houses my camera stuff.  I like it.  It adds a little color to a necessary object. 

One Pan

Since Kevin and I leave in the same state now, I am able to cook more often.  This Weeknight Lasagna has been one of our favorites lately.  The best part....ONE PAN!!

Weeknight Lasagna

1 lb ground beef                      1 2/3 cup of water

2 green peppers                       1/4 cup Italian dressing

3 cloves garlic                          12 lasagna noodles, quartered

1 jar spaghetti sauce                1 cup mozzarella cheese

1.  Brown meat (I have used a skillet but a larger pot works better).

2.  Add peppers and garlic.  Saute for 5/6 minutes.

3.  Add sauce, water, and dressing;  Bring to a boil and stir in noodles.

4.  Cook on med/low for 10 15 minutes.  Stir to make sure noodles do not stick to pan. 

5.  Remove from heat.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Let stand for 5 minutes.

Spray Painting Away

I have been spray painting for the past 4 days.  It might be the reason I have been sick lately.  I am congested to the point that when I have to open my mouth to breath.  Open mouth and spray paint don't mix.  Here is my latest project. 

My mom had cleaned up this piece for my sister.  She wanted nothing to do with it so it was mine.  Originally the rolling tv stand was a "nice" faux dark wood laminate.  I gave it a layer of primer and then this dark gray.  I added a 3 inch piece of foam on top so it can be used as a rolling foot stool.  I placed it in Kevin's tv room.  I will probably add blankets and such for guests but I like it as is for now. 

Projects

I have been offered an online job tutoring students.  I am working on the paper work and until then trying to keep myself busy at home.  I worked on these projects yesterday.

My mom found this shadow box at Goodwill.  I kept thinking to put insects in it.  Since I despise bugs ribbons tied in bows were the next best thing. 

I also grabbed these photo boxes at Hobby LObby (for 50% off), hot glued some ribbon on them, and keep birthday/anniversary/christmas cards in them.  I am spray painting today.  I will post pics later.

Weekend Review

I travelled to Columbia to celebrate my Mom's birthday (remember the wrapped present from a few days ago).  While I love spending time with the family, the best way to get to Columbia from Oxford is the Natchez Trace.  And can I tell you that is the world's most boring drive.  We spent Saturday shopping around Columbia, Hobby Lobby, Lowe's, Office Max, etc.  I bought tons of projects for the house and I will get busy putting those together.  We went to Logan's for Mom's birthday and then back to the house to open presents and eat cake.  Mom loved my present, of course.

An "M" for the front door.  Lindsey Mills a local Oxford artist did this for me.  Check her out on facebook, graffiti by lindsey.  Sunday morning I packed up and started the drive back to Oxford. 

Something Sweet

I received a wonderful birthday present from my in-laws last week.  I ate these for the first time in Cape Cod and could not get enough.  They are called Whoopie Pies!!  Imagine an Oreo cakester but 10x more delicious.

I have seen a lot of places offer them now and even more recipes but you can't beat the chocolate whoopie pies from http://www.stevessnacks.com/.  Order a dozen, or 2, you will not regret it.  

Babysitting...

Yep, I did a little babysitting today.  With all the snow and daycares closed, I babysat for the softball associate head coach and her husband.  Emory was great but I am a bit tired.  If you need something to do, that doesn't involve a lot of activity, check out the Ole Miss softball team's first games of the season.

Check out the Ole Miss softball website and click on Gametracker to keep track of the Rebels progress.

http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/w-softbl/sched/ole-w-softbl-sched.html

Getting Organized

Snow is supposedly on its way so I will be staying indoors today.  I found in "Better Homes and Gardens" a way to organize wrapping paper.  I have never had the room to organize wrapping paper, bows, and notions so I have been looking for a good idea.  I bought this, a pantry organizer, from fingerhut.

I turned it into this.

Paper on the bottom shelf.  Tags and scissors on the next.  Ribbon and twine on the next with tissue paper drapped over the bar.  Boxes on the top shelf.  And just so you know that I use it, here is my Mom's birthday present wrapped and ready for Sunday.

Stay warm.

Afternoon Project

Still looking for a job and still looking for things to keep me busy.  I was tired of seeing my brooms/mops/swiffers huddled in the corner of the living room.  So I decided to mount these clips to the wall and TADA...

Organization at its best.  And if you noticed one clip is empty.  I ordered this little cleaning tool with some birthday money.  Not something I would normally do but vacuuming stinks and sweeping stinks so why not speed up the process.

It is a dirt deveil rechargeable broom vacuum.  I will let you know how it goes.  Picking up my mom's birthday presents today and may try to tackle the guest room/Red Sox room. 

2011 in Review

I thought I would give you a review of 2010 since I am not the best about keeping everybody updated. 

I enjoyed a birthday party with the family in January.

We had enough snow in the winter to miss 9 days of school.

Mom, Nana and I headed to Disney to support my high school cheerleading squad.  I enjoyed the cheerleading but you can't beat a visit to Mickey.

Opening day for the Red Sox.  Go Boston!!

Easter day followed by a sunny day with Trot.

UTM Rodeo, one of the biggest days of the year in West Tennessee.  This night was real men wear pink.

Kevin and the Skyhawk softball team brought home an OVC regular season CHAMPIONSHIP.

Mom, Caroline, and I took a trip to Hilton Head, SC to see our neighbor/friend get married on the beach.

Kevin took a trip to visit his parents in Ohio.  While there he decided to visit The Christmas Story house.

Every 4th of July we take a trip to Chicago to visit Kevin's sister and husband.  The Taste of Chicago is always on our agenda.

Kevin enjoyed his birthday cake.

Before we started back to school, the McBroom family to a trip to Gatlingburg to white water raft, hike, and enjoy our time together.

Introducing Kevin Creech, assistant softball coach for the University of Mississippi.  First day at work.

Our first Ole Miss football game together and might I add the first win of the season.



Thanksgiving Day!!

Me and the little guy, Trot.

Last Christmas in Martin, TN.

Garth Brooks with the brother and friends.

Beer tasting at the Adventure Science Center in Nashville.  They tasted and I handled the scavenger hunt.

Predators game.  Thanks Curry!

Christmas Eve Just Dance party.  I have never laughed so hard.

Christmas Day.  All the grandkids and Granddaddy.

Off to New York.  First visit after leaving Grand Central was Macy's!

Ben Stiller museum, better known as the Museum of Natural History.

Center of Times Square on top of a 6 foot mountain of snow.

Kevin took a quick skate on the ice at Rockefeller Center.  He is wearing the Red Sox hat with the pom on top.

Stop at the NBC Observation Deck.

Casino Night for Brittany's 21st birthday.  Penny slots are awesome.

That is our year in review.  2011 started off with our house selling and me finally moving to Oxford, MS.  We will see what happens next.

First post

Well, let's see...
I am new to typing in this world but have enjoyed reading others blogs so much.  With so much changing in our lives, I decided it was time to start my own blog.  Kevin is soon to be starting the softball season with Ole Miss.  I am soon to the widow of a coach.  I am still looking for a job and until then my OCD has lead me to clean this house from top to bottom.  Dusting here I come!