where's my makeup brush?!

Ever have THOSE mornings?  The ones where you can't find ANYTHING.

This particular morning, it was my eye make-up brush.

So, in usually manner, we are in a RUSH to get Briley to school ON TIME, and so I head out the door eyeshadow-less.

I happen to look back at the little VT dressed girl in my rearview mirror to find this:

My make-up BRUSH in full use.

Unbelievable.  No, NOT REALLY. 

MY valentines

I am afraid there is some of my mother in me.  That is actually not a bad thing, just a figure of speech. :) 

When we were little (like through college little :), we would come home to doors decorated, banners hung and cards galore.  My mom loved to decorate for any and all occasions - she was the 'bmw' as we referred to her - 'best mom in the world'.  And the title is still hers.  

After a weekend of celebrating Valentines with my babe, it was time for Travis and I to celebrate with our little babe.  

We had flowers sent to her kindergarten class.  She was the only one to get them - spoiled little thing.  

 

I surprised Daddy and Briley with a little table decor I rounded up. 

 

 

i love shopping for her. (a little too much - nah!)

And even made a little treat.  Oh my gosh!  Is there hope for me in the kitchen?  Here is a another prime example of a HUMOROUS HAPPENING.  I gave up icing the other half.  

 Until next Valentine's Day. <3

bee mine, valentine.

Sleepovers are FUN.  

Especially when you are 5 years old.  

Meet Krislyn, one of Briley's very best friends.  They have known each other since they were 2 and are all too quickly growing up.  *bittersweet*

I've never really been a Valentine's girl, but ever since joining the blogging world (oh, who am I kidding, I am not really a blogger as in actually making a freakin' post, but definitely a blog reader), I have become super obsessed with all things holiday and a reason to go 'all out'. (except for on the blog - sorry people). 

So we embarked on a sleepover to indulge ourselves in all things red and pink. :)

 First up - a yummy treat.  Of course, I saw this on a blog and for the life of me, can't remember where, so I can't give proper credit.  Oppsie! 


This is my kind of melting - in a plastic tray in the microwave.  Ya'll know by now that I DO NOT DO STOVES. 

Next - a little homemade crafty delight (with daddy's help of course...) 

Bee Mine?  
I would be Babe and Briley's valentine any day of the week any week of the year.  
Love em' both. 
xoxo

valentine delight

There.  I did.  Found time to click on NEW POST.  Once I start typing away on the keyboard, I fall in love with the sound of the keys and get more than excited to document yet another story from the Loan family.  This one happens to be from the other night at 9:00pm (!) when it was decided to make 'valentine delight', which of course I found from another blogger friend, here.  Yes, I realize that most family's with a 5-year old are winding down for the night or maybe even most likely already in bed.  But, no, no, not here.  Not the night-owl Loan's house.  NOT US.  

I had bought the ingredients for this fun treat a couple nights before when there was 10 inches of snow on the ground and we were snowed in.  The reason escapes me, although I am sure it was a good one, of why we didn't make the treat that night.  But we didn't.  Sooo, on our way home from new members orientation at church, I thought that little nugget 5-year old would fall asleep.  But, as soon as we pulled into the garage, she hoped out of the car saying, "time to make valentine delight",  then looking up at me, "you said we would make it tomorrow night, which is tonight."  Oh, yeah, maybe I did say that. :/

Here is a very sad little girl in her daddy's t-shirt, who usually loves having her picture taken, but at this time was very anxious to get started on the task at hand and did not want any parts of the camera. 

 Just hold on pumpkin, I have to take one of our little set-up here before we begin.  {pictured below on the screen, one of my newest favorite blogs this blessed nest and the directions for putting all this together.}

And here is one of a very patient and scarcastic (if you can be those two at once) husband, who said "oh, are these pictures for the bloooog?" (include accent and drawn out syllables on blog). 

First Step.  Pop the corn!  [check]

Second Step.  Drink sprite straight from the two liter. [check]

3rd Step.  Melt Chocolate.  (IN MICROWAVE....my days of trying to melt on the stove top are OVER!)  [check]

4th Step. Pour melted chocolate (thank GOD I had seen our small group leader and great

friend Debbie melt chocolate in the microwave a couple days before...so I knew to add some oil to make it more 'meltable' and therefore 'pourable'. [check]

5th Step.  Spill half the bag of M&Ms on the floor. (Even the simplest of tasks become complicated in the Loan kitchen). Good thing I bought two bags ;) [check]

6th Step.  Mix M&Ms in with popcorn and chocolate. YUM! [check]

7th Step. Spread out on cookie sheet to let cool.  

 

8th Step. Fork in and Enjoy. :) 

Happy Valentine's Day (You should be proud I am actually early) <3

feeling inspired...

...and a little jealous. ahahah. 

I want a book like pioneer woman.  I want my blog to become famous like hers.  I am the most transparent person you will most likely ever meet.  Just being honest.  

A couple of weeks ago, my very best friends from college and I had a reunion and I was introduced to "the" pioneer woman and I have been addicted ever since.  Like bought her cookbook the next day addicted and I don't even cook.  I read the cookbook in it's entirety.  Then decided to brave a recipe.  I am TERRIBLE in the kitchen (below you will see the proof - I couldn't make this stuff up if I wanted to).  Actually, I told babe he could pick out a recipe or two (no more) that he wanted me to give a whirl. 

I am not married to Marlboro Man, as she refers to husband, but I am married to a good ole' country boy so to speak.  You know what he picked?!  COUNTRY FRIED STEAK WITH HOMEMADE GRAVY.  What?!

Here goes.  

I was just getting started in the kitchen and here comes the little pitter patter of tiny feet.  "Can I help?"  I love that little girl more than a kid loves being in a candy store, but at that point in time with this recipe when everyone's hungry for dinner...not exactly what I wanted to hear.  And then I remembered just a couple days ago, she was here....having cat scans from falling off daddy's shoulders. 

And feeling blessed that she was not hurt at all and is as healthy and happy as she has ever been (and still quite the daredevil), remembering that these are the moments to cherish...I said, "hop on up here punkins - just dig right into this raw egg mix" :)  And daddy did what he does best - starting capturing the moments with the good ole' cell phone camera. 

It's starting to get messy here people and I'm getting a little stressed out...time to break out the matching aprons.  Daddy!  Help us!  (please)

 

The whole process was going pretty smooth until it came time to 'fry' the steak.  The pan was too hot, the oil was the wrong kind, the meat wasn't cooking all the way through - just burning on the outside (way embarrassed to admit I had to stick it in the microwave to cook - oh well, I NEVER claimed to be perfect OR healthy).  I don't have pictures of this process, but I do have one of babe waving a towel in front of the smoke alarm that went off after a paper towel went up in flames. 

*You can't tell it in this picture, but I just know he is thinking, "I'm so proud of my wife..."  (or maybe the exact opposite - whatever that may be)

Then I was supposed to make gravy out of the leftover little bits in the pan.  Wellllllllllll, mine looked like this (which for those of you who have not read the cookbook is a far cry, a FAR cry from what they are supposed to resemble).

I did end up adding lots of milk and whatever else the recipe called for (like I know how to make gravy off the top of my head - this was 2 weeks ago).  And apparently too much salt, according to Travis.  But, he ate it anyway.  And so did Briley and I.  She thought it was the most delicious meal.  Seriously, she really did.  She melts my heart.  She helped me clean up for a bit and then I found her in the living room.  Do we have a future blogger on our hands?

I will have everyone know that I have since redeemed myself by making The Pioneer Woman's lasagna which was the very, very best lasagna babe and I have ever tasted.  He commented for the first time that I should have made extra of this and froze it.  He commented that he couldn't wait to take some to the guys at work tomorrow.  WOW!  And since I didn't want to disappoint after that, I haven't cooked a meal since.  He is so proud.  <3