Summer time is here.

June is already in full swing and so goes our summer break. I must say the first two weeks were rough as I woke up and packed Avery's lunch then woke her up only to remember that schools over! She wasn't happy about that either as she dearly loves her school as well as her friends, so adjusting to no longer seeing them as much and not having school was hard to handle. I think we're over that hardship though as now she continues to write and draw me pictures and stories about her new friends at her new school. 9 weeks to go....

We've grilled a lot, slept in a lot, had a few play dates

Avery and her BFFS (Anna & Sophia)

A fun day at the Dallas world Aquarium

We went to the movies and yesterday finally busted out the swimsuits on a low key Fathers Day.

   It's officially summer. Nothing big planned like last year (thankfully). We have VBS in 3wks, then a girls road trip to Georgia the week after that and possibly a trip to Galveston for a fun weekend but we may bypass that for a stay-cation.

Otherwise I don't have much to update on, which is weird. 

What are fun things you do in the summer time?

-Britt

YAY!

Life is busy.

December usually is, I know, but still...WHEW.

As we speak my sister and sweet baby niece are on a plane from North Carolina headed to DFW. Avery and I are excited to pick them up although not in this rain we're currently having but meh. It's going to be so weird having a baby in the house. Glad I kept Averys infant car seat and pack n' play!

Then tomorrow Avery has her class Christmas party and I'll be bringing cupcakes to celebrate her birthday as well. Friday I'll be in NM with Gary for the day, Saturday is prepping for Averys birthday family dinner and last minute Christmas shopping, Sunday is church followed by a lunch to celebrate Avery. Monday is her 3rd birthday and we're treating a few friends kids to free Chuck E. Cheese for a bit but it's not a party. Then a few days to pack and organize for our trip to NM and CO. Then I take Desi to Austin to be with her dad, Avery goes to NM with her Nina, Pawpa and Great Oma while Evan has to work the 23rd (boo) then Evan and I will be getting on the road for NM around 12:30am on Christmas Eve.

Again WHEW.

It's a Texas thing...

Saturday I'll be a busy, busy bee. I'll be enjoying a lovoly 5k/1 mile walk with THIS AMAZING WOMAN bright and early. Then it's off to the TEXAS STATE FAIR. Where not only will I walk my booty off, but I'll be eating some of the most bizarre fried foods known to man.

Like some of these things:
Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack BEST TASTE - A buffalo chicken strip is coated in flapjack batter, rolled in jalapeno bread crumbs, deep fried to a golden brown, skewed, and served with a side of syrup. Crowd pleasing appetizer or a meal in itself! inside the Automobile Building and in the Thrill Way.



Fried Bubblegum MOST CREATIVE - You’ll swear it’s bubblegum! A light as a feather bubble gum flavored marshmallow is dipped in batter and lightly fried to perfection. Decorated with a swirl of icing. A final sprinkling of powdered sugar completes this treat! It will blow you away! Granny’s Funnel Cakes on Coliseum Drive.
Deep Fried Pineapple Upside Down Cake - Fresh and sweet pineapple rings are delicately dipped in cake batter, fried, and coated with a caramel, sugar, and cinnamon glaze. What tropical treat is complete without a cherry on top? Fun Way across from Guest Relations and Nimitz Avenue by the Embarcadero.

Deep Fried Texas Salsa™ - This spicy medley of jalapenos, roasted garlic, onion, tomato, and pepper is rolled together, dipped in masa, and covered in crunchy tortilla chips. Into the fryer and served with warm, deliciously creamy queso. Located on Cotton Bowl Plaza at the Taste of Cuba stand and the Beer Garden.

El Bananarito - In case you are wondering, it’s a deep fried banana rolled in a flour tortilla, topped with whipped cream, powdered sugar, a dusting of cinnamon, and a touch of vanilla extract. Top it off with your choice of smooth, hot caramel or decadent chocolate syrup. Funnel Cake stand on Fun Way.

Fried Autumn Pie - Fairgoers will fall for this hard to resist puff pastry infused with a scrumptious combination of pumpkin, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and fall spices. Deep fried and rolled in ginger, cinnamon, and sugar. Chicken on a Stick stand located on Nimitz Drive, near the entrance to the Embarcadero.

Hans’ Kraut Ball - A conglomeration of taste: browned pork sausage, onion, garlic, a zing of sauerkraut, mustard, and tasty seasonings all rolled into a mouth-watering ball of delight. Covered with seasoned bread crumbs, deep fried, and served with your choice Spicy Mustard, Raspberry Chipotle, or Ranch. Hans Mueller tent next to the Main Stage, in Cotton Bowl Plaza, and at on Nimitz Circle.

Walking Taco - Stroll down the Midway with this concoction of seasoned hamburger meat, lettuce, onion, fresh tomato, grated cheese, sour cream, and tasty salsa. Inventively served up in a Nacho Cheese flavored Doritos® bag! Darn Good Corn stand across from Gateway Pavilion tent on Coliseum Drive.


Yeah....prepare for one awesome photo entry this weekend.  Did I mention I haven't been in 3 years and it'll be Averys first State Fair and train ride?! (We're taking the train rather than driving) Soooooo excited.

How To Make August Awesome

My sweet friend, Therese posted this as her blog entry earlier today and I fell in love with it. So with her permission of course, I'm stealing it and sharing it with you lovolies.

This summer has seemed to fly by and although we haven't done too much we have still been very busy. Thanks to Augusts arrival though, I am suddenly aware that we're running out of time to enjoy Summer.  Then again it's between 105*-108* this week so how anyone can "enjoy" that is beyond me!

10 Ways To Make August Awesome
(In no order and made up as I please)

1. Have something to look forward to:  For me, I think I will have August speeding past be the thing I look forward to most, haha. Seriously though, not much is planned for August and yet Sept-January is full of fun events we've been planning for 6 months! I will just throw out a last minute something..... I'm looking forward to Avery starting her new school and fitting in well. I've been getting some negative feedback for putting her in a Pre-preschool type program when she can be home with me and honestly I understand where these people are coming from but at the same time....it's not like she has to go everyday and I can have her home whenever I feel like it. I just think she needs the socialization in a bad way and this school has a wonderful regime I like rather than sending her somewhere and paying lots of money for her to finger paint and watch TV. I'm aware she's not even 3 and this is in no way enforced, if she doesn't like it, she will not have to keep going.  We just feel she will get more out of this rather than being home with mommy 24/7. Sorry, that turned into a rant...moving along....

2. Create A Goal For The Month: I have 2 goals for this month. One is to lose 10lbs. Seriously, since we've moved back to Denton and Evan is now working nights, I hardly cook at all, we eat out way too much and it's starting to show on me. Thanks to Evans job, he is in the best shape he's been in. EVER. So yeah....I'm on a mission. My second goal, is to go from running 2x's a week to 4-5x's a week. I seriously am enjoying my morning runs but I need to do more and I need to start legitimately pushing myself more to get geared up to doing a 5k or even a 10k (which the thought of that alone sends me in a panic and laughing at myself).

3. Plan A Dinner Party: I've been wanting to do this since we moved into our new home. We have had a few people over to BBQ outside on the deck but I'd REALLY like to have a few people over to enjoy some wine, board games and an all out feast made by myself. However, for this to happen I have to have a number of other couples free on a Saturday night (the only night Evan is home besides Sunday) and we also need to finish up a few house projects and buy a dining room table and chairs (on my to-buy list since April).

4. Buy New Clothes For Fall: Evan and I have a closet full of clothes but we can not wear over half of it. Evan has lost 40lbs in the last 8 months!! He needs new duds. I am still stuck in Maternity clothes and HS t-shirts. Yeah can we say upgrade needed? I'd like to own more than one pair of jeans for once in my life. (Sad, I know) Good thing is though, Evan and I have had this conversation twice in the last week and I'm pretty sure the end of the month is looking good for us to go shopping just the 2 of us for a new wardrobe.

5. Get Crafty: Thanks to my obsession known as PINTEREST, I have fallen in love with so many DIY crafty ideas for a home. I'd love to get into it and start making things for the Fall/Winter season to make my home "Pop". Like a Wreath for my front door, a new color of paint in the entryway, Antique hunting for a nice Old lamp to bring the living room together or even dare I say, busting out the Sewing machine and making Curtains for Averys bedroom, my bedroom and the living room.

6: Sign Up For A Fitness Class: The Rec center is literally a 4 minute walk from my home and SUPER cheap. I think I will sign up for a Zumba class or something along those lines so I can have some alone time while also meeting other ladies. I truly do not get out hardly ever.

7. Have a Ladies Night: I think my last paragraph hit on something. I need a good Ladies night. A few friends, some margaritas, a movie or some dancing....and perhaps not in the same town we live in. Any reason to put make-up on and heels works for me. Whose in?

8. Buy a Random Cookbook & Try Every Recipe: Or maybe start an email Recipe swap with friends and get s little book going. I also have several recipes I want to try thanks to Pinterest, so maybe that can be a nice treat to help with some other mentioned items on the list. Try something new and share it.

9. Invest In Some Travel Books: I'm a huge reader, I read all the time, but I think it may be a good idea to buy some travel books on the places we have planned to visit in the next 3 months to a year (Colorado, Oregon, England, Louisiana, etc) to make the best out of these trips no matter how short they may be. It would also help me with the budgeting for them and getting the most out of the money we get saved up. Ideas?....

10. Look Into Spring Programs For COLLEGE: Um...yeah. It's time I seriously got my rear in gear. I have 2 test to take this month (another reason Avery is going to school and I'm getting more free time (AKA-study time) and I need to start looking at the 4 area places I can go to school in the spring and sort out what it is I actually want to pursue for a career and start my PLAN. I need to start making calls, setting appointments and getting to know a few people who can help me with this. Not to mention figuring out financial aid, I seriously doubt it's ever to early to start planning for that!

Wow.... and now August suddenly looks BUSY for me.

I don't mind. How about YOU what is in store for your August and what are some ways you can make it Awesome?

-Britt

 

Can it be?

Hold on tight, this is an actual update with 7 topics to discuss! Thanks for the input by two of my loyal stalkers.

First and foremost I hope you all enjoyed the Father's Day weekend. I will admit it's not my fave of holidays what with my family background and all as I have struggled for years with mixed feelings over it but with the help of Evan being a daddy and by his dad stepping up to the plate and filling in some holes and cracks of my heart with lots of love we had a really great day with family at the lake all day! So much fun and possibly a new tradition.

I'm pretty sure the majority of our "Summer plans" will revolve around the lake. for only 5$ we get an unlimited supply of beach, water, lounging and fun and without the big hassle of swarms of people, chlorine and Avery seeing lots of fun things to play with but not being big enough to do at water parks. We've been a few times and we have also hit up "Charles E. Queso" with Avery since during the week it's pretty empty and it's 20$ of air conditioned fun for a few hours.
 No big travel plans for us this summer...the fall and winter is full enough of that :) plus next year is looking busy too!

Our schedule has taken a bit of a dip lately with Evans work schedule. The past 3 weeks he has worked 6 days a week with little home time, but the extra pay is both ridiculous and helpful. when he isn't working an extra day or an extra hour or two during his shift he has also been going in at noon to help train people on 1st shift. Needless to say he is LOVING Peterbuilt and in return they are loving him too. I can't complain or gripe too much because I have way too many other friends who rarely get to see their spouses and in our case it's all volunteered by Evan but it has been a small adjustment and although I know it's to help with a few upcoming events,I just feel a little more overwhelmed with Avery lately without having my tag partner in the wings if you know what I mean...

The house is coming along. Slowly but surely. I promise once I get the empty boxes out of the empty dining room and the other boxes unpacked and out of our bedroom I will get a new video up so you can see some of the changes we have made/ how it looks not being so empty. I have planted some Lavender bushes in out backyard and they are doing good. I still plan on paying my brother to come in and take out a few bushes for me and to help clear out so flower beds so I can get either a fall veggie garden going or some annuals up. Still haven't decided yet. :)  Our Landlady is still the most amazing person we have ever had to deal with when it comes to rent or issues with a place. She is so laid back and gets stuff done ASAP. She is planning on painting the outside of the house this summer so that'll be fun to see what she decides on.

Gus and Paris are doing good, I got to hold them and love on them a few days ago and although it breaks my heart to have to leave them at the clinic I know it's not for too much longer. We plan on paying anywhere from 500$-700$ this Friday to demolish a huge part of the bill and if we can make 1 or 2 smaller payments in the next few weeks the Office manager has said he would let us take them home while paying off the last part of the bill. This is partly why Evan is taking on the extra work to help get the money faster and he also got a new card with low interest so we can max it out on the bill and then pay it off (and build credit). The staff at the clinic have to follow policy, I get that, I do. But they also know we're not horrible pet owners and it was the best option we had other than re-homing them when we were homeless and down on our luck. With that said I am thankful that they have been so sweet and loving and gracious to Paris and Gus and to Evan and I. It may have been frustrating for awhile but if we truly get them back once we pay half the bill and are allowed to make payments I will take back everything negative said about them. I can't think too much on having them with us, it's been a lonely 4 months and I know I have so much to make up to them and it just makes me cry so moving on....

I have something to share with you guys and gals who read my blog......a new recipe....and for the best brownies I have had in a lonnnnng time. I posted a few pictures on my FB of the finished product but here's the recipe.

Here's what you'll need:
1/2 cup vegetable oil


1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 large eggs

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup flour


1. Preheat oven to 350°.


2. Mix oil and sugar until well blended.  (I only used 1/3 oil)

3. Add eggs and vanilla; stir just until blended.

4. Mix all dry ingredients in a separate bowl.

5. Stir dry ingredients into the oil/sugar mixture.

6. Pour into greased 9 x 9 square pan.

7. Bake for 20 minutes or until sides just start to pull away from the pan.

8. Cool completely before cutting.

9. Note: I usually double the recipe and bake in a 9 x 13 pan. If you double the recipe, you will need to cook longer than 20 minutes.

I cooked mine for 30min and they turned out crispy and chewy (my fave way to enjoy them).

sooo sooo good, lemme know what you think about them after you make them. Trust me, they are too easy to pass up.


Well, I think I have run out of things to blog about. Ha. Or maybe not...while I think of some things here's some update pictures of the cuppycake and all her cuteness.....

Having fun at Charles E. Queso!

 Cousins who look way too much like siblings.

Krystal 1, Chevy 2 and Avery 2.5

My brother and Chevy.

Oh yeah, I may not have shared this on Blogger but...I have a niece (Stella Elayne aka- StellaBella) on the way come October 30th! I also have another niece or nephew on the way come January or Feb of next year. I will keep my opinions closed for now on the latest news but I am happy to have some new little ones to spoil cause we all know I'm a pretty cool Auntie.

In conclussion I am going to ask for some ideas, tips, etc from you about things to do and see on our future trips we have planned. Here's what's solid and then what's in the works for next year!!! I'm so excited about all of this.

September- Camping in NM, probably Red River again.

December 21-January 2nd- Staying in a cabin in Evergreen, Colorado for Christmas and to see family in Arvada, followed by a detour to Missouri to see family in Grant City and then to celebrate our 6th Wedding anniversary and NYE in Kansas City.

March-Spring Break trip to Port Aransas.

May/June- Week Trip to Portland, OR to visit Jarrod and Sarah!!!

August or September- LONDON! I have a very close friend who is stationed with her husband and kiddos in Lavenhearth, England which is 70miles North East of London and we plan on seeing them in the fall! (Or once we have enough saved for airfare)  :)

See! So much to look forward to, especially when so much of it is already sign, sealed and ready for delivery.

Love it.

-Brittnye