And we are out

I know I haven't posted in forever, I really have no excuse, I have had a ton of days sitting here around the house. We had about 8 inches of snow on Friday and we are getting some more as I speak. I am headed out for the holidays to catch up with family and friends. Have a safe and relaxing holiday season!!

So Thankful

This year Ryan and I were lucky enough to spend Thanksgiving together. My parents drove up on Wednesday night with all the fixin's. I know lucky! They brought:

the turkey

the stuffin'

green beans

pumpkin pie

and Emma their dog

AND MIL and FIL were so thoughtful they provided Ryan's favorite dressing, cranberry sauce and my favorite cinnamon apples! We had sausage balls for breakfast leftover from their visit! 

We ventured out on Friday to get some shopping done at Birch Run, and my mom treated me to a girls spa day at the Aveda institute in Royal Oak. It was awesome to spend some time with my parents and Ryan. Here are some of the picutres from Thanksgiving!

Wrigs and her bestest friend Emma

All the fixin's Ryan didn't want his picutre taken becuase he was in his "jammies"

The table.

Some cuddlin' with Peepaw.

Okay so I was tagged

By Megan: 

7 Things about me:

1. I am horrible with technology (even though I technically have a Technology Concentration) via Ball State University. I am always bothering Ryan to help me with something on the computer.

2. I have always wanted to Skydive.

3. I love bathrobes. This started in college. I could seriously wear my bathrobe all day long and have no issues with this. I think it's becuase I am always cold... not sure.

4. I eat Subway for lunch 3 - 4 times a week. I have ordered the same thing since high school.

Veggie Delight on wheat with american cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, cucumbers, green peppers, a few bananna peppers, salt/pepper and vinegar. YUM

5. I always go to bed with socks on, however 9 times out of 10 I seem to loose them in the night. I have lost/left more socks at the ends of beds than I can count. 

6. Sunday is my favorite day of the week.

7. One summer I worked at a pool store. I was to sell pool items, chlorine tabs, take pool samples, sell grills, and outdoor furniture. I sold 3 things all summer: a grill to my friends parents (thanks etters), a patio set to my parents (thanks mom and dad) and a chair to probably someone who knew my parents or felt sorry for me.

That's enough of me: I am tagging Angie, ( I am sure you have time to do this :), Julie, and Jen. 

Giveaway!

Check out The Wooden Spoon http://mywoodenspoon.com/2008/11/15/stand-mixer-immersion-blender-food-processor-oh-my-giveaway/#comment-13119 for an awesome giveaway!

New Blog to follow...

Okay I admit it, I am not the best at planning, preparing and cooking meals. I am able to plan the meals that part is fine. When the week rolls around I usually have all of my needed ingredients on hand. Then the day rolls around to cook the meals. This part sometimes works and sometimes I just don't follow through. So... I have found a new blog and hopefully this will inspire me to plan, prepare, and cook the meals :) I also just printed out some neat meal planners and grocery lists to inspire me even more. I'll of course keep you updated!

http://gourmetmomma.blogspot.com/

Sausage Balls!

Rolling the balls.

This past weekend, we had a visit from MIL and FIL! They arrived after our big Halloween Bash on Saturday. We spent the rest of the day eating, visiting grocery markets, and making the famous SAUSAGE BALLS! These sausage balls are a tradition in the Greene household around Christmas. Ryan and I had no idea how to make the Greene family tradition so..... it was passed down to us :)

A glimpse of the ingredients....

To make a double batch:

2 lbs. sausage
4 cups Bisquick
4 cups sharp cheddar cheese

Warm sausage in microwaveable bowl (this will make it much easier to mix)
Mix in the Bisquick, two cups at a time
Mix in the cheese, two cups at a time

Roll into balls, place on cookie sheet to start to freeze
Place into plastic bags

To Bake:
Take out as many as needed, place on foiled cookie sheet
Bake 375 for about 20 minutes
Enjoy

We like to add Franks Hot Sauce / Wing Sauce to the SAUSAGE BALLS. YUM!

Obama Mamma or Sister

He is in the far back next to the bright light. Obama speaking in downtown Detroit.

A close second to being up front!

Ryan, the flag and a beautiful day in downtown Detroit.

Ryan and I were able to head downtown to hear Obama/Biden speak.

Just your friendly reminder to VOTE tomorrow! :)

Tortilla Soup!

Ryan made this the other night, I think almost all of the ingredients I swiped from my parent's house. :) It was soooo good:

1 can nacho cheese soup
1 can cream of chicken
2/3 C. milk
1 c. cooked chicken
1 can enchilada sauce
1 - 4 oz. can diced green chiles
1 can black beans drained/rinsed
1 can corn or frozen


Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan; mix well. Cook until heated over medium heat about 10 minutes.
Serves: 6
Garnish with tortilla chips and cilantro
We added some hot sauce and salsa for a little zip!

Enjoy!

Wrigley and the chair

Or the couch or the bed...

This is an ongoing battle between our dog, Wrigley and the rest of our furniture. Ryan and I try very hard (at the beginning) to keep the dog, (my only rule) off the furniture and bedding. NOT becuase I am heartless, not because I don't love her. Because she sheds sooooo much! Anyway, fastforward 3 years later. This is a picture of the on - going battle in our household. Everyday, there is either a gate that we use to block off the couch or this basket to place in our chair so she will not get up on the couch and hang out in all of her dog fur all day. Apparently this is how she has been "sneaking" up to sit on the chair while we are gone. Poor dog, that cannot be comfortable. The sad thing is.... she has TWO beds in this house!

Opa!

Our good friends, Rusty and Julie came to D - Town for a visit. We had a relaxing time doing nails, eating at Redcoat and heading down to the Casinos. We had dinner in Greektown which was a lot of fun. We just HAD to order the flaming cheese! OPA!

Double Opa!

Casino...

not my fave place.

Our Opa!

Ryan, Jule, Rusty

Rusty and Julie

Overdue thank yous

Our camera has not been working lately and I have some major overdue thank yous. I wanted to wait to post pictures of me with the new gadgets, however, the camera is not cooperating. So here goes:

Thanks to MIL and FIL for our brand new rice cooker!! If anyone keeps track or reads this blog you would know cooking rice was a dilemma in our household. I could never get it "right" well lo and behold, the day before we left for Hawaii our new rice cooker arrived. Since then, I have used it multiple times and I truly love it! Who knew? Thanks MIL & FIL!!

Another belated thank you goes to my brother and his wife. They sent me some Yerba Mate tea to try. Well when I opened the box I was very unsure of the product. Let me explain, there was a bag of loose tea, a gourd, a silver "straw" and a t - shirt. I really had no idea what this Yerba was all about. After doing some research on the product, I found out this is a nice option if you are trying to cut out coffee in the morning routine. I also found some HILARIOUS youtube videos on how to use the product. You tube this if you have some free time but some of these are really really funny. Anyway, I have tried it (minus the gourd) many of the people said it was an "acquired" taste. But it was really good! So... THANKS!!

And again apologies for the lack of posts, and the delayed thank yous!

Tap Class

I just signed up for an adult tap class!! I know my brother is rolling his eyes right now. As a child I think I tried every sport, dance class, or instrument. I have ALWAYS wanted to take tap. My dad as a child took the class and hated it therefore, I never took the class. SO I just signed up for a crash course in tap! It is something I can cross off "my list". :)

Some pictures from paradise

Toes....
Oahu.

Ryan trying to catch the sun.
Maui.

Watching sunsets.
Maui.

Sailboat sailing into the sunset.
Maui.

Stolen material

I found this on Karla's Blog

i am: short.
i think: ryan is one of the funniest people i know.
i know: to take vitamin C when i feel a cold coming on.
i want: to be finished with school.
i have: a dog.
i wish: i could sing.
i hate: mayonnaise
i miss: working.
i fear: failure.
i feel: content.
i hear: the dog snoring.
i smell: my new bath and body works wallflower (autumn apple)
i crave: sugar cookies. and popcorn.
i search: for deals online.
i regret: not walking the dog today.
i ache: the day after i workout.
i care: about my family and friends.
i always: buckle up.
i am not: fake.
i believe: in karma.
i dance: to make people laugh.
i sing: off key.
i cry: at sappy movies and books.
i don't always: wash my hair.
i fight: for the remote.
i write: note cards when i study solo.
i never: say never.
i stole: this idea.
i listen: to my mom.
i need: to buy fabric to make an apron.
i am happy about: life.

What are you....

Let the games begin!

I bought Ryan this flag for his birthday, he exchanged it this morning for the Cincinnati Reds flag.

The fam's visit to the mitten

The first week of August my parents, brother and wife came to visit. As a birthday present, my parents took us all to the Henry Ford Musuem. It rained on and off all day but we still had a great time.  My brother and I are at least 12 and decided to play a game. My parents have many antiques and "other things" that have been around our house (growing up) for many years. We were able to count at least 7 things that we saw in the "pioneer village" homes that are in my parents house. It made for a fun day :)

Me, Dad, Mom, Chip

The strawberry cake I tried to make but would not make again. Sorry Paula Deen, I followed the directions EXACTLY.

After the chocolate exhibit

Embarassing Moment of the week:

Last week, I went to the gym to workout, shocker, I know. Anyway, I jumped on the treadmill and started my intense workout. At the end of my workout I hopped/staggered off to get the wipes to wipe down my machine and low and behold, there was a pair of very familiar underwear on the floor right behind my machine. Yup, a pair of my underwear, (not the one I was wearing) was stuck somewhere in my pants and worked their way to the end of my treadmill. NICE. 

Suzie's Shower

A few weekends ago, I was in town to celebrate with some of my favorite girls from High School. We were celebrating:

1. Suzie's shower / pregnancy

2. Em's engagement

3. Mary's new house

Mare, Suz, Em and Me

Burning Rice

Did anyone think this was possible? Well I am here to announce, it is. I am by far the world's worst rice cooker. I remember when Ryan and I were registering for our wedding, I wanted to include a rice cooker. Here is how the scene played out:

Me: Hey we should register for this

Ryan: What?! What is that?

Me: A rice cooker

Ryan: (Pointing to me) Here is the rice cooker

With that said, we never registered for the rice cooker. Yah sure it probably would have taken up some space in the cupboards. Yah, I may only use it occasionaly. However, it would have been nice to have today when I almost started a fire in our house cooking some rice for lunch. I smelled something burning but at first thought, "no you followed the directions exactly, that can't be the rice" sniff, sniff, sniff mad dash to the stove. AND Confirmed yes, it was my rice.

The sad thing is I can never cook rice, I have tried instant, brown, white every kind and it NEVER turns out.

Moral of the story: Rice cooker, maybe we should have registered for one after all.

Burp Cloths

I am officially in the biz of making burp cloths. I will display pictures when I actually finish one that I am proud of. I am super excited to give them to some of my prego friends! They are turning out to be pretty cute! Last night I was able to help Ang. (check out her blog) with painting her nursery. I am so excited for both Chris and Ang and the new baby G on the way!

My phone is a piece of *&%$

Urgh. Wish me luck, I am taking my phone into Verizon today. The battery will not charge, apparently after I plug in my phone it stops charging. I don't have the time to hold the cord to the phone while it charges all night long. The sad thing about this phone is it really is a piece of &%$#. I know this because

1. Ryan has already had to replace his battery
2. My other good friend we will call her spacey, has had similar problems
3. We are now exchanging batteries and charging one at a time so I can use my phone.

Ryan and I discussed the issue last night AND I might be getting a new phone by Saturday! Yipee!

Other August Birthday shout - outs

Happy Belated to

Emily - August 8

Uncle Mark & Aunt Reene - August 11

Happy Anniversary to Janelle and Pete - August 27 - (3 years)

Denver Bound

I was able to take a few days and head to Denver, CO. To visit some friends from high school. We had a great time. Mary was a wonderful host who showed us all the sights from Boulder to Vail. I had to borrow many of Mary's outfits. I had packed for weather in the 80's we experienced rain, hail, snow, and a little bit of sun! We had to keep reminding ourselves it was AUGUST! Here are some of the pics from the trip. Love you girls!

Red Rocks amphitheater.

We were trying to take a picture of the 33 degrees on the dash.

Ski man and his ladies.

Froggy Prince.

Us in Mary's clothes.

We drove through snow to get to Vail!

Our gondola ride up to the top of the mountain.

Right before the hail storm.

Doing some yoga positions in the hail storm.

Dog Day's of Summer!

Here is Wrigley, helping me water the flowers in front of our house. I think this is the reason they are all dying :)

Happy Anniversary, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday

What a week! This is a list of shout outs!!

1. MIL & FIL Happy Anniversary - August 5 Congratulations! Your wedding was many years ago. The celebration continues to this day!

2. Ahma Happy 80TH Birthday! - August 6 I think you outdanced all of us at our wedding :)

3. Chip Happy 33rd Birthday! - August 6 We can celebrate this weekend!

4. Em Happy 28th Birthday - August 8 I can't believe it! I distinctly remember playing in your gray car with our cabbage patch kids, being "mommies" and driving to the grocery store!

JCREW Purchase

I am soooo excited for my madras purchase from J.Crew, this is what it looks like and I will be anxiously awaiting for the mailman to drop it off!




AND I had to order another dress, I am hoping this warm, beautiful weather will last until the end of September! :)

DMB

As in Dave Matthews Band. Here are some pictures from the DMB weekend. This year we rode in style :) It was pretty nice to have front row parking, I am not going to lie. We had a great weekend and hope to see some of you in Michigan soon!

Maggie

I am sad to say that this morning my parents made the difficult decision of putting our family dog, Maggie to sleep. She was such a loyal and and loving dog. We had her for over 12 years, she was diagnosed with cancer 3 years ago and stayed strong up until a few months ago. She will be missed.

Maggie, Emma and Wrigs

Maggie

Maggie and Emma