slight obsession

we have basic cable. local channels. sometimes it sucks. sometimes it doesn't. we do have netflix streaming through the wii, so every once in a while we find something good to watch on there.



i found this show weekend before last. and i am obsessed. i have picked the "wives" over ELLEN three days straight.

maybe its a good show or maybe i am just so tv deprived that i love anything that doesn't come on ABC, NBC, CBS, or PBS! either way, i really love this show. and netflix has 4 seasons! i am on season 2 and it is heart wrenching!

real pictures. from a real camera.

the card reader has been found. it was hiding behind the desk.

besides elle louise's birthday party, these are the only pictures that were on my card. they are from papa wray's (aaron's dad) birthday party a couple weekends ago. it was so beautiful outside.









oh, beautiful springtime weather, come back to me! i miss you dearly!

tasty tuesday {sour cream noodle bake}

i can honestly say that this is the first time i have ever prepared a meal using ground chuck. but when the pioneer woman says to use ground chuck, you use ground chuck. even if it is super fatty and super greasy. pw knows best. one thing i learned is you have to drain and drain and drain the heck outta the ground chuck. i didn't drain it well enough and my bake is a little runny. but it is still very yummy!

tonight i doubled the recipe and am taking one half to some friends and keeping the other half for my family. the next time i make this i will use ground turkey, low fat sour cream, and low fat cottage cheese with the hopes of creating a lighter version. but for friends, i wanted to make the real yummy version!





doesn't this just look so yummy? anything with noodles, sour cream, ground beef and cheese is bound to be delicious!

i really wanted to take a picture of it on my plate but since i didn't drain the meat as well as i should of the whole bake is a little runny, so the picture on my plate doesn't look as appetizing as it is...

here is the recipe from the pioneer woman's blog:

Ingredients

* 1-¼ pound Ground Chuck
* 1 can 15-ounces Tomato Sauce
* ½ teaspoons Salt
* Freshly Ground Black Pepper
* 8 ounces, weight Egg Noodles
* ½ cups Sour Cream
* 1-¼ cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese
* ½ cups Sliced Green Onions (less To Taste)
* 1 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown ground chuck in a large skillet. Drain fat, then add tomato sauce. 1/2 teaspoon salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Stir, then simmer while you prepare the other ingredients.

Cook egg noodles until al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese. Add plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Add to noodles and stir. Add green onions and stir.

To assemble, add half of the noodles to a baking dish. Top with half the meat mixture, then sprinkle on half the grated cheddar. Repeat with noodles, meat, then a final layer of cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until all cheese is melted.

Serve with crusty French bread.

ENJOY!

dallas {in a nutshell}

i took my camera with every intention of taking REAL pictures but my iphone is just so much more convenient (especially with an active little elle louise) than my big ole canon! i decided, on this trip, that i'm going to start carrying my point-and-shoot again!

so here goes.



after our LONG trip there we went to my cousin's soccer game. since elle louise had been cooped up in the car for 6 loooooooooooong hours, i decided it was best for us all to get some fresh air. elle had so much fun swinging. as she always does. and it was even better to be swinging with rachel (my cousin) and nana!



thursday we headed to the dallas world aquarium with my cousins, rachel and garrison. it was great. elle louise loved it and had so much to look at. over stimulation at its finest! thank goodness for that. she needed and took a long afternoon nap.



friday we did a little shopping! we went to ikea and the mall in frisco. i didn't get anything worthy of blogging about. except for elle some carter's clothes. they were having a big 50% off EVERYTHING sale, so we stocked up on some cute good play clothes.



friday night we headed to garrison's baseball game. at the game elle louise's face and the concrete did the tango. saddest thing ever. but, she only cried for a moment. now its scabbed and yucky and she keeps picking at it and it keeps bleeding. i'm sure this is the first of many. my sweet little girl is a little rough and tumble!



we spent lots of time in the car. it takes at least 30 minutes to get anywhere when you live in a big huge city. elle louise did exceptionally well. the trip to dallas was rough and the first night was rough, but the rest of the week and the trip home was just fine. she was a trooper! p.s. anytime you give the girl an iphone or itouch, she is HAPPY! she is a lover of all things technology. just like her daddy. ha!



and, this picture was just too cute not to share. she looooooooves my brother. finally. for the longest time she wanted nothing to do with him but now she loves him so much. i think its because we have been seeing so much of him lately. elle louise cannot get enough of her uncle cracker. i named him uncle cracker. perfect. only because she can say "cracker". sounds more like "kacka" but still she says it. and it is the cutest thing ever! thier relationship really is so sweet and so special! my bro is a great uncle to bean!



saturday we spent the day at a baseball game and a soccer game. it was beautiful outside. a little windy and once the sun started setting it got cold. but, beautiful nonetheless. seriously, how cute does elle louise look in her NEW jean shorts? just, precious!

dallas was fun. a lot of fun. it was so good to see my family. we don't get to see them often enough. which makes me sad. and, the weather in dallas was fabulous the entire time we were there. has me so ready for summer. bring. it. on.

happy monday! elle louise and i are headed to the grocery store. i hate the grocery store. especially on mondays. but this trip is inevitable! we are out of everything. elle had edamame and rice pudding for lunch. yummy! ha!

random a-z

saw this on live. laugh. love. blog and thought it would be fun to do. since i don't really have anything to blog about anyway. besides, that i was sick throwing up all afternoon yesterday (no! i am not pregnant!) and we leave on our mini-vacay tomorrow and have yet to pack. that's where the excitement ends, folks. so here's a little random a-z...

A. Age: 27 (i turn 28 very soon)
B. Bed size: queen.
C. Chore you dislike: cleaning toilets. gag me with a spoon. and, unloading the dishwasher.
D. Dogs: peggy a rat terrier mix and peaches a goldendoodle. they are both idiots.
E. Essential start to your day: COFFEE! followed by a shower....
F. Favorite color: green
G. Gold or silver: gold and silver. love both. love to mix metals.
H. Height: 5'7"
I. Instruments you play(ed): played piano for 9(ish) years and don't know how to read music. if we could afford it, i would take lessons again. i had a great teacher and didn't take advantage of her, i really missed out.
J. Job title: full-time stay at home mom. part-time work for our family business. best of both worlds.
K. Kids: one, most-precious, little girl. elle louise.
L. Live: northwest arkansas
M. Mom’s name: kim
N. Nicknames: kb and my mimi calls me kare bear
O. Overnight hospital stays: i ruptured my kidney when i was 12 and stayed in the hospital for a week and then stayed one night after giving birth.
P. Pet peeves: when someone orders food at the DRIVE-THRU at sonic. when people talk on their phones way too loud in public.
Q. Quote from a movie: gosh i don't even know...i'm really bad at quotes...the only thing that comes to mind is "get in mah belly!". that's terrible...
R. Righty or lefty: righty
S. Siblings: one bro. do in-laws count? because i have a ton of those...
T. Time you wake up: between 6:00 and 7:00.
U. Underwear: gross, old, and saggy. need new undies bad.
V. Vegetables you don’t like: hmmm...my least favorite is probably cooked broccoli. i love raw broccoli. i really love every single vegetable....
W.What makes you run late: myself....its always me.
X. X-rays you’ve had: i guess just the mri when i ruptured my kidney. can't think of another time.
Y. Yummy food you make: maybe quiche and chicken pot pie.
Z. Zoo animal favorites: giraffes and monkeys. and, now elephants. honestly, i can't remember ever going to a zoo. i've been to a safari, but that's it...

and, because i can't do a post without pictures, here are some iphone/instagram photos from late...


we've reverted back to chewing on our toes. oh dear...


last friday was elle's first time to ever really play on a playground. she loved it! and, she took a really good afternoon nap!


niece, taylor. glob of chunky goodness. so sweet. so laid back. the sweetness oozes out of her every pore. love her! and want to eat her up! gosh.


jessica cut elle's hair 5 weeks ago...giver take a couple days...and its already long enough to pull back. girl has got some lucious locks!

happy tuesday. i'll be on a blogging haitus while we are in dallas!

talk soon...

something sweet saturday

yesterday was aaron's dad's birthday. today we are celebrating. hot dogs & hamburgers of course... because it is beautiful and sunny outside. perfect grilling-out weather.

happy birthday papa wray!

and here's a sweet video of elle rockin' out to a sweet beat...


it's a little shaky...
we were in the car. aaron was driving and i was trying to keep my hand steady.
didn't do a very good job.

happy {sweet} day!

fashion friday {my bookmarked pages}

sometimes i browse, but i rarely ever buy myself anything. unless i have a gift card and then i can't get to the store fast enough...

i do shop for elle. lots. it's a good thing that i can find her stuff on sale for less than $10 usually! i won't spend more than $10. not saying i haven't, but that's my general rule of thumb...

if i do purchase something for myself, i always figure up $1 for each time i will wear it. so if a dress is $35 dollars, i won't buy it unless i think i'll wear it 35 times. tends to help me keep my purchases in check and buy less trendy things.

one thing i do love to do is browse online stores and bookmark pages and go back every so often and check to see if the item has gone on sale. and then if i think its a reasonable price i will purchase it. either go to the store or purchase it online...

my favorite online stores to browse are target, urban outfitters, jcp (now after discovering their awesome dresses), delias, anthropologie, lulu's, j.crew, and modcloth. as much as i love anthro, jcrew and modcloth i don't ever purchase from there. way too expensive for my pocket book. but, i love the sites for inspiration!

i do this at night when i lay in bed. this is how i unwind. i kid you not. i am a little obsessed with pretty things!

here are some of my most recent bookmarked pages:

(oh and i usually take a screen shot and save it in my iphone library...don't know why...my cousin taught me how to take a screen shot and now i am obsessed...)


pants are from forever 21. love love love the floral denim. a must have! i wear denim year round and these are perfect for the spring and summer. i do love the cropped baggy jeans too. those would be great dressed up for date night with my man or church! and, dressed down with a cropped tee and tom's.
shorts are MNG by Mango. sold at JCP. i have never heard of this line but pretty much love every single piece. it is pricey (for penney's) and a little trendy. looks well constructed and boutique-worthy!


pretty obsessed with rompers but it is hard to find them not super short. i got one last summer from NY&Co and LOVE it and wore the begeezus out of it. the chambray jumper and skirt (love love love!!!!) can be found at forever 21. guarantee those won't be there for long.
seriously am i too young to wear an open back shirt? i just LOVE this top. i think i could pull it off with a high-waisted shirt or even a tank top underneath it. it is so sweet and romantic. can be found at urban outfitters!


nude sandals - target. black sandals - urban outfitters. cross-body bag - jcp.
love all 3. actually scored the nude sandals. i asked my momif she would buy them for me (well sent her a text actually) and she said yes. so i did. she loves me that much. thanks mom!


summery. simple. perfect. get in mah closet!
dresses on ends are from jcp. have you ever checked out the i {heart} ronson (charlotte ronson) brand? LOVE!
dresses in middle are from urban. loving the drop-waist look. need to try it on though. i have a super long torso and short legs so it might look funkalicious on me.


and...the...dreaded...bathing...suit!!!!!!!!
so, tell me, what do you think about the about the cutaway monokinis (far left). see the deal is i have a scar. a big scar. goes down the center of my belly. right under my "girls" to right below my p*nty-line. its large and in charge. i love one-pieces but sometimes i'm more comfortable in a 2 piece because, like mentioned before, i have a super long torso and sometimes one pieces pull in all the wrong places. but thinking the monokini might be a happy medium. but is it skanky? is it something that i would find snooki wearing on the jersey shore?!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the red skirtini bikini (sounds like a cocktail)! too bad it is $190. i don't think it will ever go on sale enough to be able to afford it..
Left to right: f21, urban, jcp, urban

this post has gotten me really jazzed about summer! hot days. warm nights. long days. swimming pools. one specific chubby little toddler in bikinis, rompers, and ruffle bloomers. jellies. ponytails. skirts. summer tea. the smell of fresh cut grass. garden-fresh veggies. strawberries. picnics. maybe the beach.

i am ready! are you?

13 random thoughts on a thursday {AND A WINNER}

1- i lost my card reader. or aaron lost it. or elle louise hid it. so, for the time being you are going to have to get used to my iphone photos until the card reader can be relocated or we purchase a new one.



2- my favorite iphone apps right now are instagram for photos and my fitness pal for calorie counting. both are free. instagram is so much fun and creates vintage-looking photos. and my fitness pal is an easy way for me to keep up with my daily caloric consumption. now, that i'm not nursing much, i've got to watch what i eat. don't want to gain a whole lot of weight back. so to maintain my weight, it suggested 1500 calories. i've been counting for about a month now and i haven't lost any weight or gained any weight. perfect.

3- we are really enjoying and taking advantage of this beautiful spring weather we are having here! it makes me so ready for summer. and the pool. and route 44 raspberry limeades (and not diet either)! but not bathing suits, i will never be ready for bathing suits.

4- my cousin is getting married at the end of may. elle louise is a flower girl in the wedding! its going to be a fancy, big, huge wedding. they've already had 2 showers (1 for him. 1 for her. yea, when did dude's start having showers. aaron thinks he really missed out on something!) and a blessing dinner. like i said. big. deal. so, i need a fancy dress. i'm having fun looking, but have yet to find anything that i just love. but, to my suprise, i looked in the jcpenney circular on sunday and found a cute dress, so i went to their website and found quite a few really cute dresses. i'm really picky. can't be halter. can't be strapless. can't be too short. can't be past my knees. can't be too tight in the armpit area. i make it really hard on myself to find the perfect dress.



5- elle louise and i are getting out of town with my mom and bro while they are on spring break next week. pretty excited about this. just me, my mom, my bro, and my baby. good. times. we'll miss daddy and dad (big pops) though!

6- i am getting the itch to paint and re-do around here. itching to paint every room of our house besides the guest room/office/craft room and elle's room. we are for sure going to repaint the kitchen and our bedroom. hoping i can talk aaron into the living room and guest/elle's bathroom. some days i like the living room. some days i don't. and, i'm just plain ole sick of the black wall in the guest/elle's bathroom.

7- last week i went through my old maternity clothes to give to my 3-month pregnant cousin (praise YOU Lord!). only to figure out that i have no clue what i wore the entirety of my pregnancy because all i could muster up were 2 pair of jeans and 3 shirts. interesting. anyway, while going through the clothes, i came across this little number. i bought this at a buffalo exchange or something like that a couple of summers ago. no, it is most certainly NOT maternity. but it is hideous in every way, shape, and form. what was i thinking?



8- yesterday i sat on the couch for the entirety of elle's afternoon nap and i didn't feel bad about it. not one bit.

9- i LOVE burlap.

10- last saturday we went to a bridal shower (see #4). for the gift, i embroidered the couple's monogram on a piece of burlap (see #9) and framed it. it turned out so perfect. i've got a project for our bedroom. same concept, but a little different.



11- tomorrow is friday. can i get an hallelujah?!?! we are going to spend lots of time loving on daddy this weekend. since we will be gone the following week, we won't see him for a while. we will miss him terribly.

12- aaron was casting for his next photo shoot while we laid in bed night before last. lots of pretty, skinny girls with the most perfect hair and complexion. yea, i felt a little insecure. then i reminded him that thing about lusting. ya know, that's it is considered adultery in the eyes of our Heavenly Father! not that i have to worry, but i felt better reminding him.

13- AND THE WINNER IS:::::::::::::
cindy at hellcat vintage!



thanks to everyone for playing! it was fun. i hope to post another giveaway sometime soon!

contact me if you would like to do a giveaway on my blog! i would love to host one for you!

oh yeah, and HAPPY ST. PATTY'S day! i almost completely forgot it was saint patrick's day. i am going to get pinched a lot today. i'm wearing orange (and i have no time to change)! oops...

oh, glorious day

happy HUMPTY HUMP day!

it is beautiful in northwest arkansas! highs for today are supposed to be in the upper 60's lower 70's...



yesterday elle louise and i took a little stroll around the park. the weather was perfect. i think we might stroll again today. t-totally toddler lasted about 45 minutes and then she wanted to be carried. no way. i couldn't carry her, push a stroller and walk all at the same time so we left then. it was a good amount of time.

if you haven't enter the WHITE WASHED COMFORT giveaway that i'm hosting, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do so sometime in the next 12 hours. today is the last day. winner will be selected this evening. sometime, not sure when and i will announce the winner in the morning. get excited, people!!!!..................





have a great day! make. it. count.

tasty tuesday {pot o' beans}

elle louise enjoyed her lunch while i prepared dinner. the baby toddler always has to be confined while i cook. i'm terrified of hurting her....i am so sloppy in the kitchen! so she is either in her high chair eating lunch/snack or in her bed napping!


oh my heavens...she just melts my heart! i cannot believe that she is mine! does the feeling ever subside?

"the pioneer woman cooks" is by far my favorite cookbook. and her beans and cornbread recipe i make on a weekly/biweekly basis. it's cheap. it's fast. it's tasty. it's easy.





rinse beans and throw them in a pot along with your choice of pig. i usually choose a ham hock. only because its cheaper than bacon. cover beans and ham hock with water. PW recommends filling water about 2" above beans. i go a little more. i always seem to cook the water out and have to add more.



bring beans to a rapid boil over medium-high heat (this takes a little bit. about 30 minutes. it could just be my crappy stove.). once they are boiling rapidly, cover and reduce heat to low and simmer for 2-3 hours. or longer. i don't think that cooking them longer messes anything up.

they need to simmer until beans are tender with a little bite. once they are to desired tenderness, add salt and pepper and whatever other seasonings you like, and cook for a little longer. tonight i added some cayenne pepper. about a tablespoon. glad i did.

this is about the time that i whip up PW's skillet cornbread. while the beans are cooking a little longer, i mix up the cornbread and pop it in the oven for about 20 minutes. just long enough for the spices to settle in nicely with the beans.



yum yum. beans and a side of butter with a little jalapeno cornbread.



elle louise LOVES beans. it is, by far, her favorite meal. so thankful she is such a big eater. and, so thankful she loves healthy foods. and, please, don't be that person that leaves me a comment telling me that it all soon will change. i will figure it out on my own! and, i'm hoping she's always an easy-going eater. although, i must add, i made a side of broccoli with velveeta and she was not a fan. i think that might be the first food she has refused. oh well. i didn't like broccoli until like 3 years ago, so i don't blame her! its an acquired taste. i still really don't like it much. but, i'll eat anything. like a human vacuum. except for sushimi and bugs. i won't eat those two things!

go HERE for the beans and cornbread recipe!

happy EASY cooking!

i dedicate this post to my DEAR friend jessica! she has never made a pot o' beans and she laughed at me once when i asked her if she made them. then i laughed at her when she said "like beans out of a can?". no silly! here is the recipe for you my dear. and, you better comment that you plan on making them this week or i'm going to send you a bowl your way!

ONE MORE DAY TO ENTER THE WHITE-WASHED COMFORT GIVEAWAY!!

laundry day

every monday is "laundry day" at the high household.


elle louise is such a big help!

i used to love doing laundry. and when i say love i mean LOVE. i would look forward to loads. and to have a day like today, where there were 8 loads waiting to be cleaned, would be the highlight of my week. not even joking a little bit. but, i never had more than a load or two at any given time because i stayed on top of the laundry and did a load or two every. single. day.

oh to love to do laundry again...

the sweet smell of clean clothes. warm clothes straight out of the dryer. neatly folded laundry put away on nice organized shelves....

...i wish those things excited me these days.

don't get me wrong. i don't HATE doing laundry. its BY FAR my most favorite chore but i just can seem to stay on top of it.

so, i've started a "LAUNDRY DAY". for the last month or two, i've deemed monday "laundry day" and it works out pretty good. no matter how many loads i have from the previous week, i will get every last load done before i go to bed.

i separate all the loads. wash a load at a time. fold a load at a time. separate the clothes on my bed and put away at the end of the day.

it works out great. don't get me wrong, i do not look forward to monday's "laundry day". mondays are never good, so why not just add laundry to the list of reasons why mondays just kind of stink!...

here's to a happy-laundry-filled monday.

PS...have you entered my first ever giveaway yet? if not, go here and enter today! please! the last day to enter is wednesday...