I think I might be crazy.

I've managed to keep my 40 hour per week job as a lab tech, complete two master's classes Spring semester (HELLO 4.0!), while picking up shifts at my college waitress job.

Yep. I'm definitely crazy. Add to this the possibility of some major life changes for hubby and I...and well, I'm overwhelmed. Pure and simple. I have plenty of goals, hopes and dreams, and I refuse to give up. :o) I found a great verse/poem today that made me smile, and I just have to share!now, would you believe that's the mission (manifesto) for a company that first began manufacturing tee shirts? Hello dream job! either way, since finding this quote, I'm taking a good hard look at myself (and products by Holstee!)

updates to come.
xoxo

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday to our gorgeous baby boy. :)
Meet Rocky, the English Bull Terrier
Today my furbaby is 3 years old. In honor of his loyalty and unconditional love, I just have to share some of my favorite photos of him. :)

The night we brought him home...8 weeks old
9 weeks old...

Enjoying our favorite dog park...
Enjoying his pup friendly birthday cake for his 1st birthday...Helping mom decorate the last Christmas :)
That little white sidekick is Mackenzie, our 1 year old little girl.Cheers, baby. Momma loves you. :)

If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
This beloved memorial to St. Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland, has been drowned in green beer.
Mostly by people who would like to be Irish.
I'm Irish. And I'm not angry.
I enjoy my heritage and the great stories it has afforded me- I enjoy shamrocks, wearing green, and most of all, I make a mean corned beef.This year I took corned beef to a whole new Irish level.

I cracked open two 14.9 oz Guinness at 7am. BOOYAH.
Then I promptly rubbed my 4 lb brisket down with 1 cup of brown sugar, set it in the crockpot, and poured both of my beers over it. I added 2 cups of water. Then I set it on HIGH for 6 hours.
Set it and forget it.
After six hours, I added 2 pounds halved russet potatoes, 6 peeled carrots, and half a head of cabbage. After 2 hours on low, the potatoes weren't quite finished, so I boiled them on the stovetop in the liquid from the crockpot.

and then? FEAST. Dad was working so Mom joined Josh and I.
All I can say is YAY. The corned beef came out fantastic. Another successful low key evening at home.

To simplify, the recipe is as follows:

Extra Irish Corned Beef
1 4lb beef brisket
30 oz Guinness Draught
2 cups water
1 cup brown sugar
2 lbs potatoes
6 peeled carrots, cut in chunks
1/2 head of cabbage

Rub brisket with 1 cup brown sugar. Place the brisket in a crock-pot pour 30 oz of Guinness over the brisket, followed by two cups of water.
Cook on high for 6 hours.
Add potatoes, carrots, and cabbage. Cook on low until the potatoes are cooked through.

and of course...enjoy!

I'll finish with one of my favorite Irish blessings:
"May your home always be too small to hold all your friends. "

Chicken Tamale Casserole

I love to cook. I love to eat. I love to try new recipes. Lucky for me my husband is receptive to trying something at least once. To appreciate my husband's love of casseroles as well as my interest in eating healthy, I looked up Mexican (hubby's favorite) and came across this recipe. It's quick, SO simple, satisfying and so much easier than homemade tamales.
Now it's a household favorite :o)

Chicken Tamale Casserole
from Cooking Light

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup (4 ounces) pre shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese, divided (or any shredded cheese we may have...monterey jack, cheddar...both...)
  
• 1/3 cup fat-free milk
• 1/4 cup egg substitute
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
• 1 (8.5-ounce) box corn muffin mix (such as Martha White)
• 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
• Cooking spray
• 1 (10-ounce) can red enchilada sauce (we often use homemade enchilada sauce)
  
• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
• 1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. Combine 1/4 cup cheese and next 7 ingredients (through chiles) in a large bowl, stirring just until moist. Pour mixture into a 13 x 9–inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.

3. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until set.

Pierce entire surface liberally with a fork; pour enchilada sauce over top. Top with chicken; sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese.

Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until cheese melts. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Cut into 8 pieces; top each serving with 1 tablespoon sour cream.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 354 (36% from fat)

Fat: 14.1g (sat 7.1g,mono 3.3g,poly 1.2g)

Protein: 18.9g

Carbohydrate: 36.3g

Fiber: 2.5g

Cholesterol: 58mg

Iron: 1.7mg

Sodium: 620mg

Calcium: 179mg

For Karly

In August, we celebrated my dear friend Karly's bridal shower. Newly married, it was SO EXCITING for me :o) I wanted to give her a special gift. I love making jewelry, all girls love pretty jewelry... it seemed like a natural fit :) Here's the finished product!

Swarovski crystals + sterling findings + freshwater pearls = something blue! I made the links, strands and hooks all from sterling silver wire with a pair of rounded edge pliers.All of my tedious time squinting at tiny intricate patterns was SO WORTH IT. Once my bracelet was finished, Mom couldn't resist trying it on. I was happy to oblige.
Once we were done goofing around, it was time to get down to serious bridal shower business. I love parties. I love wedding parties. Bridal shower? WIN-WIN. Since Karly and Sean's registry included lots of practical necessities (LOVE IT) the three of us (my sister Crystal, my mom & I) decided to make baskets. This way, we incorporated unmentionables (such as a very necessary plunger) into adorable final product! Karly was extra excited when she showed up (probably because it was a SURPRISE!!!!) and I was sincerely touched when she thanked me for her gift. She was BEAMING. So adorable. So ready to get married. YAY. I had to include this photo of Karly. Her bridesmaid, Jen, deserves an award for the incredible ribbon bouquet she made. That darling turned a paper plate and some ribbon into a masterpiece. See?

Cookie sheets, a shower curtain and a plunger? What more could a girl ask for? All in all, it was an amazing day.

Here We Go, Again...

Today marks the beginning of something new...kind of.

I enjoyed a 40 minute walk with running intervals. I enjoyed it once I brought the dogs back home and started over. They couldn't walk together, or separately and Kenzie was startled by every noise, large and small. I brought them back home (lucky we live so close to the bike trail!) and started over. Call it the start of something familiar. :) I haven't seriously exercised since June when we started moving and life got a little more complicated. It was wonderful to be outside in gorgeous 70 degree weather with nothing but my thoughts. I met small defeats, like a shorter endurance and shortness of breath, totally expected. It will get easier!

I figure if I blog about my endeavors to be healthier, exercise more and eat better then I will be more focused! :) I'm considering starting the Couch to 5K. I'd like to complete a marathon eventually and I think starting with a regimented program will help me get back to running. (Not that I don't enjoy a nice nature walk....)

Bring on the challenge!

A New Beginning.

Everyone has to start somewhere, right?
I'm Karen. I'm young, educated and married. I love to cook, exercise and spend time with my family. My life is something else- between a wedding, a new puppy (now we have two!!) and buying our first house in two short months, my dear husband and I are awfully busy. What better place to chronicle our escapades than in my very own blog?

A blog is a powerful tool.

And I intend to use it. :)

Cheers to my first entry as 'Mrs. Mischief' !!