The Christmas Tree Disaster

I am a fan of fake trees, Coy of real. Hence our first real marital disagreement. Wanting to please my husband, we opted for a fake tree last year. We made a day of it...went to the Christmas tree farm, Starbucks in hand, walked through the acres of trees, and finally found the one...already precut! We had little to no trouble getting it in the stand. No mishaps, no disasters. It was so easy and enjoyable.

This year's hunt was doomed from the start. Earlier in the season I started nagging about buying a fake tree, Coy refused. (I dropped it, because in my mind I was already planning on buying a fake tree after Christmas that was on sale). Christmas is my favorite season, so whenever there is something Christmasy to do, it is a big to-do. This year started out the same...we headed out to a Christmas tree farm, grabbed out saw, and took the walk to the field. There were three seperate fields at this particular tree farm...all of which had less than slim-pickings. The precuts were not much better. Finally, after hunting for well over an hour we found one! Not the ideal tree, but an acceptable one. When everything Christmasy is a big deal to me, I hated settling for one less than perfect but in this case, there was little else we could do! Coy started cutting and was not making much progress. I walked back to the barn and got a different, and hopefully sharper saw. Not the case. Thirty minutes and seriously dirty clothes later, one of the workers came along and cut the rest down with his electric saw!

The next problem arose when we got the tree home. While we had paid attention to the straightness of the trunk, we didn't notice that there were two seperate branches coming out of the large trunk. Anyone who has put up a real tree before knows...this is a major problem!
We attempted to make do...set it up as best as could and started decorating. (This was after about an hour moving the tree around,screwing, rescrewing, and very bad attitudes. By the time the lights were on I said that I couldn't do anymore. I was in such a foul mood. This was supposed to be one of the best parts of the season and it was being ruined but this DUMB tree. We quit for the day and picked up the next day right we started.

This started out as a much better experience. Christmas music blaring in the background, decorations up, and the tree looked great. Well, that's a bit of an overstatement. The tree looked embarrasing. So crooked, so many different holes; but it was done.
Thirty minutes later, while siting and watching tv our fully decorated tree fell to the floor. Not only had the tree fallen, but I had wrapped multiple gifts and put them under the tree - when the tree fell all of the water drained out and ruined gifts! Well the wrapping anyways. This was not one of my proudest moments. Luckily Coy was the only one there to witness. We got it back up and decorated for the second time. I wrapped the same gifts - for the second time.
Thinking it was stable, we didn't think anything about.
Until yesterday.
Coy came home after work to find our tree toppled over again! Instead of relaxing after work last night we decorated AGAIN (for a third time)...only this time, after sawing off the two extra branches.
This plan should hopefully be fail proof.  However, the two extra branches missing have added multiple extra holes.
While it might be one of the ugliest Christmas trees we will ever have...it encouraged my husband to become a family with a fake Christmas tree! This is a success in my book!

I was going to post pictures but my computer is having some technical difficulty...so you'll just have to use your imagination!

Oatmeal Scotchies

Baking cookies is probably one of my favorite domestic activities! For some reason, it has a relaxing effect on me! I randomly got into the mood to bake yesterday and opted to try a new recipe because I was craving butterscotch! This recipe ended up being amazing...such good cookies, so soft, and so delicious!

Before I give you the recipe, I just wanted to highlight one of my favorite cookie companions. The Pampered Chef cookie scoop might just be one of the reasons I love making cookies so much. If you are someone who makes homemade cookies, I would highly recommend investing in one of these!

Back on track...

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats

1 2/3 cups butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in small bowl and mix together.

In a seperate bowl mix together butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture.

Stir in oats and morsals. 



Drop spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 7-8 minutes.

Cook on cookie sheet for 2 minutes.

Move to wire rack to cool completely.

Honey Mustard Pork Chops

My mom gave me this recipe a few months ago and it has been used readily since I received it! It is easy, good, and a meat that is one of Coy's favorites. So it's a win-win for all parties. The other thing I really like about this is that you can cook it in various ways...depending on how you are feeling or the season or...the list goes on and on.

I'm going to give you the amounts for each ingredient but just know that I never measure anything out for this recipe so it does not need to be perfect!

1/4 cup dijon mustard (I usually just use regular mustard because it's what I have on hand.)
4 tsp honey
1 tsp apple or white vinegar
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 (5 oz) bone-in porkchops (or as you can see below I only used three and they were boneless - we don't do bones around here!)

To cook:
- Cook in broiler on the rack. 6 minutes on each side.
- Cook in the oven at 350 for 25-30 minutes.
- Grill.
- Cook in the crockpot on low all day (just know this makes the pork just fall apart).

Enjoy!

Green Chili Stew

I came across this soup online and have had it in my pile for weeks, but the weather is finally cooperating enough to make it soup season! I am obsessed with soup in the winter. They are my staple meal.
So easy. So good.

This was extremely easy recipe. Took me a total of about 10 minutes to throw it all in the crock pot. This time mainly consisted of cutting up potatoes, beef, and opening cans!

Ingredients:
2 lbs of stew meat (cut to bite-sized pieces)
1 can green enchiladas sauce
1 can green chilies
1 can rotel
2 large potatoes (cut to bite-sized)
1 can corn
1 can pinto beans
8 cups water (I used less because I didn't want it to have that much liquid)
Salt and pepper

Add together in the crock pot. Cook on high for 2-3 hours OR on low for 8-10 hours.

Serve!

I forgot to take an after picture but this is in before I mixed everything together

 (minus the potatoes)

10 Years Ago

This is Coy and I at our first photo encounter. Although he doesn't remember this moment as well as I do, (because he was such a pimp-daddy in high school and was apparently taking pictures with different girls all the time) I was in love from the moment I laid eyes on him and probably taking this picture was one of the best moments of my life thus far.

There is a vague recollection before this time of meeting in junior high and hanging out briefly, but that is a blur and could be disputed because we don't have proof, like we do here!

I had seen Coy at various state youth activities and was immediately smitten. You recall those boys you liked in high school, who you only saw periodically, but when you did you could focus on nothing but them? This was how I felt about Coy. This picture was taken at Indiana State Youth Convention, a convention for youth from the Church of the God that meets every year in November. I was a junior and Coy was senior. Even though we had this picture together neither of us really remember hanging out extensively, however, I have to believe that we did hang out at least a little and didn't just randomly pose for a picture together! And in case you were curious, I did crop out two other people from the photo...because really, the important people are still showing : )

Little did we know that 10 years later we would be madly in love...and married! It's crazy the way that life works...I guess crazy isn't the word when God is involved. So rather, it is a miracle to look back and see how God wove each of our lives individually and then brought us (back) together in a way that only He could orchestrate.

Last weekend we went back again to the Indiana State Youth Convention with our church youth group who we both now work with. It made me stop and think about the fact that there could be teenagers in that crowd eyeing someone from across the room who they could years later be married to. You never know what God can do! It's weird to experience something as an adult that you are used to experiencing as a teenager...at least this time around Coy will actually remember me being there with him!

Here is the group that we took to convention, and they are AWESOME! They are kids that seem so much more mature and open to the Lord then I was at their age. They amazed me throughout the entire weekend and I am proud to be their leader and their friend.

Watch out kids...you could be married to the boy or girl beside you one day!

Fun-day Friday

Hubs and I have been in dire need of some quality one on one time! We got some of it this weekend (although in the end the time we do get never seems like enough)! Hubs took off half a day on Friday, and since I never work on Fridays, we were able to start our date night early! We spent a few hours in the afternoon around the house (we, well I, had planned on doing some much needed housework, but the majority of the time was spent snuggling on the couch). We then headed to Bloomington for the first Hoosiers game of the season.
On our way down we made a stop at Oliver Winery. It was SO beautiful there! The grounds, the pond, the vineyeard, etc. We didn't get to spend as much time walking around as we wanted because we took a tour that took up most of our time before we had to leave for the game. But, it was a great time and I can't wait to go back again sometime! Even hubs was impressed.
Luckily, the Hoosiers won their first game so that we could have an enjoyable drive back home. In case you didn't know...my husband is obsessed with Indiana basketball. This is no understatement. While at times it's annoying because I am be an overly needy wife who pretends I get neglected during basketball season, the majority of the time his passion for his team is inspiring. He loves it, lives for it, and devotes the majority of the winter/spring to it. Instead of fighting it, I do my wifely part to be a part of it. We go to games together, I work hard at memorizing the players and their numbers, we watch games at home on the couch together or out with friends, etc. Although I am not always 100% engaged with the team, I love being a part of something that he loves so much.

Veteran's Day

Today I am thankful for the many, many men and women who have

served this country. Without them the world that we are living in would be a completely

different place. Because of them we have freedom. We can experience a lack of fear that many others in this world do not have the gift of.

Today, I am thankful and I remember all of those have

 sacrified so much to serve each of us. 

And I am especially thankful for my grandpa.

A to Z.

A. Age – 27...28 in less than 2 weeks!!
B. Bed size – currently a queen. However, we are debating upgrading to a king...just can't decide if I can tolerate having that much space in between hubs and I!
C. Chore that you hate – folding the laundry. I choose any other chore over this! I don't mind doing the laundry, but I despite having to fold it!!
D. Dogs – Sophie and Murphy aka the loves of my life. Best friends and brother and sister.
E. Essential start to your day – Coffee. My day does not start with coffee. This is then followed by catching up my daily news, Facebook, Twitter, Words with Friends, and blogs.
F. Favorite color – I don't really have one anymore. It used to be yellow and orange, but I am a little partial to purple shades these days.
G. Gold or silver – Silver! Or White Gold. You will never or rarely find me in gold...
H. Height – 5’5"
I. Instruments you play – None! I once attempted the piano. But, other than the recorder in 2nd grade, I have no instrumental talent!
J. Job title – Match Grant Coordinator. I am not a fan of this title because it doesn't incorporate all that I do. But I'll just leave it for now!
K. Kids – Not yet! Someday :)
L. Live – Indianapolis, more specifically, the historic neighborhood of Irvington!
M. Mother’s name – Debra Jean. Jean, has been passed down from my grandma, to my mom, to me, and hopefully the cycle will one day continue!
N. Nicknames – Missy. Mi. Dreger.
O. Overnight hospital stays – Once when I in college. I had some sort of infection in my tonsils and had a low white blood count that had to be figured out!
P. Pet peeves – When people return a phone call with a text. If I or someone else called you, there is obviously a reason a call was made instead of a text!
Q. Quote from a movie – Actually, this could be a pet peeve...quoting movies!R. Right or left handed – Right.
S. Siblings – Two sisters, both older. Love being the youngest and loving having two amazing sisters!
T. Time it takes you to get ready – Depends. But typically 30-40 minutes.
U. Underwear – Nothing, except Victoria's Secret.  
V. Vegetable you hate – I don't think I hate any vegetable, but I'm not a huge fan of asparagus.
W. What makes you run late – Getting up late. My morning routine is typically a consistent time frame. However, when I wake up, even five minutes late, it throws my whole morning off! Oh that, and my husband usually doesn't help with timeliness.
X. X-rays you’ve had – At the dentist once a year. Also, I broke my middle finger in the third grade!
Y. Yummy food you make – I love cooking almost anything. I love soups, cookies, casseroles, dips, etc. However, I love dips in general so this is one of my favorite things to cook because it is one of my favorite things to eat. Hubs might vote for my banana or zucchini bread though.
Z. Zoo animal – I just went to the zoo over Labor Day and was obsessed with all of the animals! If I had to narrow it down though, my favorites are monkeys, gorillas, giraffes, and elephants!

Halloween

It was a busy Halloween this year! Saturday afternoon and early evening was spent at a friend's new house doing fall like things (this ended up mainly consisting of chatting for hours) but I will still put it in the fall like catergory because of the food we had. One of my favorite friends then came into town to visit and we set out for the evening as three blind mice.

 Coy wasn't festive this year (or any year for that matter) but he still made it in a pic!

We later met up with our friend Ashley who joined us as our farmer.

Coy and I then spent Halloween night with our neices and nephews. Not all of them, but you have to take what you can get sometimes! My sister's neighborhood is very festive, so despite being cold, it was a fun evening!



Carmel Apple Cider Cookies

I recently found these on Pinterest and was dying to make them! Although, they were a little more difficult than I was anticipating, the extra time it took to make these as opposed to your typical homemade cookie was well worth it!
I would recommend always serving these hot!

Ingredients:

1 cup softened butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 box (7.4 oz) Alpine Spiced Apple Cider Instant Original Drink mix -not sugar free- all 10 packets (I found this in my grocery store near the hot chocolate mixes.)

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 cups all purpose flour

1 bag Kraft Caramels (14 oz)

 

Directions:

In a small bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon.

With your mixer cream together butter, sugar, salt and all 10 packages of apple cider drink mix powder, until light and fluffy.

Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and mix well.

Gradually add flour mixture to butter/egg mixture. Mix until just combined.

Refridgerate for about an hour (This is very important step because without it the dough is too soft to use for later steps.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line cookie sheets with parchment (Also very important).

When you are ready to bake, unwrap your caramels. 

Scoop out cookie dough ball about the size of a walnut.

Flatten the ball of dough slightly in the palm of your hand. Press the unwrapped caramel into the center of your dough and seal the dough around it, covering it completely. Place on parchment covered cookie sheets 2 inches apart.

Bake 12-14 minutes, or until very lightly browned around the edges. Once the cookies are done, slide the parchment off of the baking sheet right out onto the counter. Allow cookies to partially cool on the parchment. When cookies are cool enough to be firm but still slightly warm, carefully twist off of parchment and allow to finish cooling upside down (either on the parchment or on a rack.) If you forget about them and they cool too much and stick to your parchment, put them into the freezer for a few minutes and they'll pop right off.

This recipe makes around 4 dozen cookies! Since we couldn't eat them all at once I heat them up for about 10 seconds in the microwave before eating one!