WHAT?? It's a rainy day in Vegas!

HAPPY RAINY SATURDAY VEGAS!!

This doesn't happen often so today I am taking full advantage of the yucky weather!  All three soccer games are cancelled today so this means WE DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR ANYTHING!  

I am listening to the wonderful sound of rain fall outside, the smell of bacon in the oven and I have a delicious cup of warm coffee in my hand!  We've already talked about what we are going to watch on Netflix today & what we are going to order for lunch and dinner later (delivery only of course).  

I love rainy days & in Vegas we do not get them as much as we did in the mid-west so I am one happy girl today!  The boys don't seem to mind that soccer was cancelled, even Matthew is a little happy to be able to sleep in and have a free day!

I would love to tell you that I have big plans for today but the only thing I am going to do today is cuddle with my family and watch too much Netflix!  I will let you know what's worth watching and what's not!  =)

Have a wonderful Saturday!!

-paula

Matthew's Pinterest Recipe!

Garlic Bread Meatball Sliders!

This week we have been experimenting with new recipes from Pinterest.  Matthew found this delicious recipe that we will for sure have again!

INGREDIENTS

Makes 12 Sliders

1 lb ground beef
1 egg
1/2 Tbsp. salt
1/2 Tbsp. pepper
1/2 Tbsp. garlic powder
1/4 cup grated parmesan
2 Tbsp. chopped basil
1 Tbsp. canola oil
1 jar San Marzano marinara
1 package King's Hawaiian Butter Rolls
6 slices mozzarella cheese
4 Tbsp. melted butter
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
2 Tbsp. grated parmesan

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, salt, pepper, garlic powder, parmesan, and 1 Tbsp. basil until thoroughly mixed.  Take a golf ball sized amount of the beef mixture and roll it into a ball.  Repeat with the rest of the beef mixture, setting the meatballs aside.

Heat oil in a pan over high heat.  Sear the meatballs on one side about one to two minutes, then flip.  Cook for another one to two minutes then remove the meatballs from the pan and drain any fat.  Pour the marinara sauce into the pan and place the meatballs in the sauce.   Cook for about eight to ten minutes, flipping the meatballs in the sauce, until the sauce has reduced to a think consistency.  Remove from heat.

Cut the dinner rolls in half lenghtwise.  Arrange the bottom half into a baking pan.  Place the on meatball on each of the dinner rolls.  Add a little sauce to each meatball.  Layer the mozzarella evenly on top.  Cover with the top half of the dinner rolls.

In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, garlic, 1 Tbsp basil, and parmesan, stirring until evenly mixed. Pour the garlic butter mixture over the top of the sliders.  Bake for 20 minutes until the rolls are golden brown and the cheese is melted.  Cut into individual sandwiches and serve!  

I cooked half a package of mini penne and covered with the leftover sauce and parmesan cheese as a side dish!

These were so yummy!  I have my own meatball recipe that my family loves but I will for sure keep this recipe and change up our meatballs, delicious!!! The butter mixture was so yummy as well, I will use it the next time I just make garlic bread!

Thanks Matthew for finding this one, it's a keeper!

-paula

My first Quinoa recipe!

Cajun Shrimp Quinoa

This week my family is trying new recipes from Pinterest!  Last night I made my first recipe using quinoa.  Everyone loved it!!  Of course, I made a few changes to the original recipe to make it even better!    

Ingredients

• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 4 medium tomatoes, cut into chunks
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
• ½ medium chopped sweet onion
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2tbsp tomato paste
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2½ tsp McCormick Gourmet Cajun Seasoning 
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2½ C cooked quinoa
• 1 C shredded fontina cheese (this cheese smells so bad but it taste fine!)
• Fresh cilantro for garnish (jordan, you can leave this off)

Instructions

1. Toss the shrimp and 1 tsp Cajun seasoning together, set aside.
2. Toss the tomatoes with 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, set aside.
3. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat in a cast iron skillet (or any oven-safe skillet.) Cook the shrimp until opaque, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and set aside.
4. Add the remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil to the pan along with the onion, jalapeno and garlic. Cook until the onion and jalapeno are tender, stirring often. Mix in the quinoa, tomato paste, ½ tsp Cajun seasoning and tomato chunks. Top with the shrimp and then sprinkle with the fontina cheese.
5. Place in the oven and bake at 350 for 15 minutes. During the last 2 minutes, turn on the broiler to high and broil until the cheese is slightly brown and bubbly.
6. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Enjoy! -paula

DOING NOTHING AT ALL & FEELING WONDERFUL ABOUT IT!

IT'S CALLED RELAXING!

This past weekend I got to spend three days with just my little guys!  We had so much fun watching their movies together, playing dinosaurs, and doing nothing productive all weekend.  We had two soccer games, that we won't talk anymore about!  I did a few crafts while the boys played games in their underwears (how they spent most of the weekend!).  I finished reading "Me before You", a great book & I got to watch some "LOST" but somehow I'm still only on season 5!!  I watched two movies of my choice once the boys were in bed...I had wine and ordered take out every night!  

I didn't cook, I didn't clean, I didn't even do laundry!  The house was a hot mess by Sunday afternoon when I finally decided that I should pick up and start a load of laundry!  I usually feel terrible when I sit around and do nothing all weekend but this was different, I needed to do this for me!  I was out of town the weekend before so I loved being able to spend time with my little BFF'S!  

The weather was so nice, a little windy but nice & we didn't even care to go outside.  The boys said they didn't want to go anywhere except the soccer games (we had no choice) other than that we were hermits!  

On Monday I started the laundry that I neglected and started cleaning up the house!  We had no food so on Tuesday I finally decided to go to the grocery store and make a home cooked meal which I had not done in 5 days!  I have to admit that I missed cooking, cleaning not so much, but after a nice long relaxing weekend, it's good to get back at my routine & have a clean house with food in the refrigerator!  
Take time to relax, it's a wonderful thing!

                              

-paula

BURLAP BANNER!

IT'S A CRAFT!

Today I made my niece Allison a burlap banner for her graduation party.  I think it turned out so cute & it is perfect for her party theme!

SUPPLIES:
BURLAP
TWINE
WHITE PAINT
LETTER STENCILS (I MADE MY OWN)
SCISSORS
PAINT BRUSH
HOT GLUE
2 FLOWERS
PINS

DIRECTIONS:

CUT THE BURLAP TO THE SIZE AND SHAPE YOU WANT.  I PRINTED A 4X6 IMAGE OF THE SHAPE AND PINNED IT TO THE BURLAP & CUT!  YOU CAN FIND BURLAP BANNER'S READY TO CREATE BUT I COULD NOT FIND THE SIZE I WANTED SO I JUST MADE IT MYSELF.

USING THE STENCILS THAT I MADE ON THE COMPUTER, I CENTERED THE LETTER ON EACH FLAG AND CAREFULLY PAINTED IN ONE DIRECTION HOLDING THE STENCIL AS I PAINTED. I LET THEM DRY FOR 24 HOURS!

HOT GLUE THE FLAGS TO THE TWINE SPACING THE FLAGS EVENLY.

GLUE THE FLOWERS TO THE END FLAGS AND HANG YOUR BEAUTIFUL BANNER!

HAPPY CRAFTING & HAPPY HANGING!

-paula

April is flying by....

IT'S ALREADY MID-APRIL?!?

Wow, this month is going by so fast!!  I have been so busy that I have not had a minute to just sit down and do nothing, which isn't a bad thing I guess!! 

I got to visit Jordan in Ohio and watch a live college track meet!  I took a plane to KC and went on a road trip to Ohio with two of my sisters and my mom. I had the most amazing time!  We laughed so hard & yes we shed a few tears as well.  That's what happens when you are around people you truly love!  Back to the track meet....it was sunny, snowy, windy & very very cold but I was so happy to be there for Jordan & watch her win!  It was senior day so I got to escort her and her lovely friend Rebecah.  It was a wonderful moment! Jordan of course, took us out and I got to meet the boyfriend's mom, who is just so sweet!  Everyone in Springfield, Ohio is so nice it's unbelievable!  I know why Jordan wants to call it home after she graduates!

The weekend before Ohio my family went on a road trip to California for Matthew's soccer.  He had three games in two days & it was fun as always!  I love going on road trips with my family, we watch movies, eat food we don't usually eat and listen to music that is for road trips only, like Garth Brooks!

Today I am making banner's for my niece Allison.  She is graduating high school the same day as Jordan so I will sadly have to miss it.  I was honored that she asked me to make her a couple of banners.  She lives in a small town & her party theme is perfect.  I am excited to share the banner and pictures of her party with you all!

I am also STILL planning Jordan's graduation party!  I have the weekend alone with the two little ones so I will be crafting away!  I can't wait to share!

Max & Madden have started their soccer season and it has been crazy!  Maximus wants to quit, soccer is not for him but I don't think we will let him quit in the middle of a season so he has to tough it out.  Madden loves it, he is having so much fun & might just be another Matty!  It's insane having three kids in sports, a lot of time is spent taking them to and from practice and games, thank goodness Matthew can drive himself.  Speaking of Matthew, he had a game a few nights ago and got kicked in the heel, not broken but really sore.  He is going to Portland this weekend to attend a soccer camp at the University of Portland so he needs to be healed as soon as possible.  So we got him a pair of crutches to keep him from putting pressure on his heel.  He has always wanted a pair of crutches and after using them for four hours he was sore and tired of them. Too bad he has them for the next four days!  

Happy be-lated birthday to my sisters who were born on April fools day!  Every year my mother tells this story of how she went into labor on April fool's day and my father called everyone and told them that she had twins and no one would believe him because it was April fool's day!!  She laughs so hard every time she tell's this story and I know I have heard it at least 30 times!!  

When in KC I got to spend the day visiting family.  I miss not seeing them on a weekly basis...Anyway, I got to meet my new great-nephew and spend time with his older brother which was nice!  I got to see my sister and my niece Fishy& her daughter!  I had a blast watching my great nieces and nephews ride quads or and my niece Danielle who is such a kid at heart, it's crazy how much they grow every time I see them!  I had lunch with my nieces and got to spend sometime with my namesake & great niece, Anna on her 2nd birthday which meant so much to me!  I love my nieces like sisters and they are all such beautiful people!  I'm smiling just thinking about all I got to do in one day!  Oh & I went to quick trip as much as I could...I got my favorite caramel doughnut, coffee, pepperjack cheese taquitos & lottery tickets....there's no place like QT!


Thank you so much for reading our blog!  We love hearing feedback so please let us know your thoughts!  I got a very nice verbal compliment about the blog and the worm craft ;)  this made me want to get back to writing and sharing so if you are reading this...thank you!!

-paula

 I heart QT!

Baby A, Miss Anastyn the birthday girl!!  Happy 2nd Birthday Anna Banana!! 

I forgot to mention that I got to watch my nieces and nephews (not pictured) learn kick boxing!

 Taking pictures is what I do so I had to get a picture of the kids after the track meet!

 Road trip with my sisters & mom!

Healthy tips for millennials in a 21st Century Relationship

With technology and social media at the center of our universe, it can really get in the way of our personal relationships, but we don’t have to let it! I am in no way a relationship guru or know it all, and I don’t ever want to claim to be.  These are just some helpful hints people have told me and I have read that have really added meaning and helped mine and kyles relationship and I think we could all benefit from outside perspectives! 

1. DONT internet stalk. Now I loooove insta creeping as much as the next girl, if not more, seriously my skills are scary.  But in my experience it is NEVER beneficial to stalk your boyfriends ex girlfriends.  The only thoughts or conclusions that ever come of it, is the conclusion that damn, they are all beautiful.  Then if you are a normal person, the insecurties come flooding, or you get angry at him for his past and paranoid…. NOT GOOD!  The past is the past and you have to remember that he is currently with you for a reason, and all those beautiful girls’ selfies you’re looking at, are in his past for a reason.  It also helps to remember that you have a past too, and it makes me laugh imagining kyle looking at my ex boyfriends and having the dark thoughts i do because I am so obsessed with him he would never have anything to worry about with any of my exes. And Im sure your man feels the same way!
2. Keep your phones away on dates.  I know this is a hard one but nothing irks me more when I am serving, or out and about and I see people at the table, all on their phones!!! Not looking at each other, not talking, seriously on their phones even when they're eating!  It is so ridiculous now a days, and honestly I don't want to sound like some self riteous hippy.  I am so addicted to instagram its really sickening. Seriously, I will close it, read an email, and open it again and nothings changed! It is awful, I also am obsessed with checking my email, that is my first move when I unlock my phone, and I get notifications, like Jordan nothing has changed you would know. But anyway, me and Kyle really make it an objective to keep our phones away on dinner dates or movie theatre dates, and it really feels like a first date all over again I LOVE IT!  I love dating him lol.  We went to a new italian place last friday, I left my phone in the car I don't know where he put his, but we talked the entire time the waitress had to come back 3 times and we hadn't looked at the menu yet! It could've been embarrassing or annoying but we really were enjoying each others company so much talking about our days, and the future, and the food, and everything!  I really feel so grateful that we can put each other first for those special times.
3. Read in bed instead of watch tv.  This advice I actually got from a magazine and I really enjoy it.  There is something so intimate, and “old fashioned" about reading a good book, and even if you and your partner are reading different books, the pure act of doing it together and exercising your mind is so beautiful.  Me and Kyle have read next to each other and it made us feel so good about ourselves and we really bonded telling each other about our books and doing an activity as we lay next to each other, rather than mindlessly watch a show one person might not even be enjoying as much as the other.  This way you both enjoy something personal, while doing it together.
4. Cook Together.  Cooking can also be a really intimate activity.  When you cook with your partner, you are working together to create something you both can enjoy.  Cooking is also an investment you can make in yourselves, learning to cook can help your economical future, and it is a skill that can be enhanced.(Kyle actually gave me this hint, he read it in Forbes hehe)  The bonding that Kyle and I do is so pure when we try a new recipe together, we talk, we laugh, we play our favorite songs in the background, and really enjoy the time we are spending and it is so beneficial.  And we LOOVE the compliments we get when our meal tastes good.  Seriously, we eat it up lol.
5. Go on walks.  Me and Kyle really need to do this more, but we went on one sunday stroll together at our local reservoir and it was so calming and peaceful.  We talked a little, with no outside technology getting in the way, but we were also very calmly coming together.  A lot of couples and families say walking together allows them to physically bond and come closer together, even if they say nothing.  I truly believe this! Any activity you can do together that betters yourselves will really help your relationship come together, I really wish me and Kyle did this more.
6. Have a bedtime for your phones.  Me and kyle are soo bad at this and I really want us to make an effort to change it.  Have you ever been laying in bed next to your partner and realized you haven’t talked in a half hour because you both have been mindlessly staring at god knows what on your phone?!?  Seriously, I am so guilty of it and it is SO annoying that we are addicted to our phones, social media, and literally just tapping on whatever we can.  Sometimes I am on instagram or snapchat just scrolling through things I really don’t care about and I get so mad at myself for wasting all of that time!!! My suggestion, and something we have talked about but haven’t held ourselves too accountable, is putting your phone completely away at a certain time.  Me and Kyle go to bed relatively early so ours would be 9:00 so we can spend at least an hour fully engaged on real life, and each other.  

These are just a few things I have found that make me and Kyle really great together.  I love learning and growing with him by my side and really feel that we are in a healthy relationship because of our efforts in these areas.  We have so much room to grow though which really excites me!  I would love to hear more relationship tips for our Millenial state of minds!  Happy Wednesday!

XOXO JC21

Division III Week!

Hello beautiful readers!

Part of the reason I have been so busy is because I have been putting together my Division III week promotional video for my internship at my University.  I attend a small Division III school, and I kind of chose it by accident.  People think its crazy hilarious that I didn't visit my Ohio school before I came and looking back it is very crazy!  But it was the perfect fit for me I have always wanted to be in a small town, and my high school was so big it made it hard for me to really find the place I fit in, and make a difference.  My DIII school really allowed me to do everything I ever wanted, while being a competitive collegiate athlete.  I am so passionate about Division III after my four years and making this video was a perfect way for me to show it!!

Division III athletes really are special because we have really high expectations in the classroom, and through athletics, and we hold ourselves to really high standards in all that we do.  We also are active in campus organizations, a lot of my friends are in sororities or student senate, I like to get paid for what I do so I work for a lot of different departments in my school like my internship with the communication department, or being a tour guide for the athletic department, and I really feel like I make a difference on campus.  I also participate in the community as a soccer coach to my own little youngins, and I serve at a local restaurant as well as my internship with the local baseball team!! I wouldn't have been able to pursue all of my interests and passions, and represent my school as a top track athlete if it weren't for Division III and I am so so grateful I found this beautiful place!! Check out my video and see how amazing it truly is :) Thanks for reading && Happy Division III week everyone!

XOXO JC21

https://youtu.be/HZ0UsAB3b0Y

I'm Back!!

I have seriously been slacking on the blog posts lately, I have just been so busy with my conference meet, then spring break, then traveling to some big out of town track meets, its so nice to be back in a routine!!!  Another reason I haven't been blogging is because my mom has been on a roll!! Seriously she is so cool, I feel like I have nothing interesting to follow up with.  And to further prove how much cooler my mom is than me, I shall show you my first little party me and Kyle through together.  NOTHING compared to the extravaganzas you've seen my mother throw, but I have 20 years to get to her level ;)

Two weekends ago we had 60 degree weather in Ohio, which is a blessing when that happens before May, so me and Kyle decided to throw a barbecue for our friends to celebrate!!  We invited all of Kyles close friends from high school and a couple of my track friends for a cookout and a bonfire... it was SO FUN!  Very last minute, but it came together rather nicely and I really enjoyed doing it with Kyle he is so great about being thoughtful and he is such a great host!  He had so much fun grilling and catching up with his old friends it was so cute.  I say it was a success!  I promise to blog more and more and I will try to be as interesting as my mom... no promises though!
XOXO JC21

IT'S THE SMALL THINGS!

Life is good as long as you have dinosaurs!

On Easter we had our traditional Easter egg hunt.  My husband hides eggs full of money! Hunting eggs is always fun & exciting but this year I thought it would be more fun for the little ones to get a little surprise in their eggs since money isn't really exciting for a four & five year old.

I found a bag of small dinosaurs that believe it or not Max & Madden did not have so I bought two bags, one for each boy!  I put the dinosaurs and one quarter in each egg.  The boys had no idea! When they found all six of their eggs they got to open the eggs & it was like magic happened in front of their eyes!  They absolutely loved opening the eggs this year and they of course knew every type of dino that came out of each egg!  It's the little things in life that make life so wonderful & I am so glad I got to give the boys that moment!  

Giving them two $1 bags of dinosaurs instead of ten one dollar bills was the best decision I've made in weeks!  I love this photo & you can see that I didn't need to put the quarter in the eggs because they were tossed aside, the dinosaurs were so much more important!  

-paula