Jalapeño Cheddar Bacon Burger

Looking for something great to make this weekend?

Caleb and I are always up for trying new recipes. Sometimes I even like to think I'm inventive and attempt to create my own recipes. Sometimes the result is yummy {rhubarb compote} {sweet and spicy French toast} {spinach quiche} and sometimes the result is awful... like the eggplant parm episode of 2008... YUCK!

So Tuesday, when I told Caleb I was going to try something new he bravely went along for the ride. I didn't try anything too crazy and the result was one of my better attempts at culinary independence.

Jalapeño Cheddar Buffalo Burgers

Indredients:

1 pound ground buffalo

1 jalapeño pepper

1/2 cup shredded cheddar

1/8 tsp salt

Ground pepper

Garlic Powder

A couple dashes of hot sauce (or more depending on your taste)

Directions:

1. Prepare the grill or preheat a pan to medium high heat.

2. Cook bacon until crisp and set aside to use as a topping.

3. Finely chop pepper and grate cheese if using blocked cheese like I did (I think this tastes better)

4. Mix together all ingredients and form into patties.

5. Cooked until desired "doneness" (is that a word???)

6. Top with bacon and serve on a bun with desired toppings!

They were absolutely delicious!!! And obviously you could substitute ground beef or turkey, but I love that buffalo is low in fat. I served our burgers with an avocado, black bean and corn salad.

Yum!

Current Crush Thursday: Travel

This week for my current crush I decided to go in a different route. I didn't pick a favorite product or Pinterest pin, but my recent obsession is with planning and taking trips.

Everyone in my personal life knows how much I love to travel. A day trip, a weekend trip, a weeklong vacation {even better!}... all perfection! If I get to stay in a nice hotel it's a double bonus. If it involves an airplane... I think I've won the lottery!

The past month or so I have found myself dreaming about all the travel opportunities that I have coming up. At the end of September I'll be traveling to Massachusetts to Martha's Vineyard for the wedding of mine and Caleb's wonderful friends Lauren and Derek.  See... Aren't they cute!

Unfortunately Caleb won't be able to go so it will be my first solo adventure! How exciting?!?! I can't wait to see Lauren in her dress and to spend a little time on a new England beach!  

Of course I have also been dreaming about what I'll wear to the wedding.  And on the plane.  And on the beach should I have the chance.  I've pretty much been thinking about what I'll wear the whole time I'm there!  Hey, if a girl is going to Martha's Vineyard she wants to look her best doesn't she?!

Maybe something like this for the plane?

Source: The High Heeled Hostess via Kelsey Perry on Pinterest

Or this maybe??

Source: Polyvore 

But I'm really obsessed with white button ups right now... so maybe this??

Source: Fashionista Trends

Lets not even begin talking about what I'll wear to the actual wedding!  

Yep, current crush is definitely travel.

Oh, How Pinteresting

Hi!  I hope you all are having a wonderful Wednesday!  

I'm linking up again this week with The Vintage Apple to share some of my favorite pins from Pinterest.  I have been adding Fall ideas, Fall recipes, and Halloween costume ideas like a mad woman, but by far my favorite things to pin lately are home decor ideas.  

So far I have redone the guest room and our master bedroom, but I've been at a stand still with the living room almost since we moved in!  Its just too big of a decision, you know?!  I've also been dreaming of a new sofa, but Caleb and I recently started a budget so that might have to wait a little bit.

Heres what I have so far for Pinspiration!

Perfection.

Source: LaylaGrayce via Blue Skies and Apple Pies on Pinterest

This is pretty close to the actual color of our walls in most of the rooms of our home.  We went with Valspar Gray Ghost and its perfect!

Source: The Nest via Blue Skies and Apple Pies on Pinterest

I need a framed map.

Source: Sillyblog via  Mas era feita com muito esmero at Pinterest

And a teal door...

Source: The Cottage Nest via Lisa Leonard on Pinterest

Last, but not least....

Source: Petrella Designs via Brassy Apple on Pinterest

LOVE LOVE LOVE this striped wall.  I fee like I've been talking about painting a striped wall for months... don't worry... its in the works!

Ramblings from My Weekend.

Weekend of 1,000 projects has officially drawn to a close. {Well, it actually drew to a close two days ago..}  Don't let the title deceive you.  I did not actually complete 1,000 projects ;).  I did, however, clear the clutter out of our office/craft area, unpack the last of the boxes, paint a desk, and create several wall hangings based off of ideas that I saw on Pinterest.

I can't wait to show you what all I got done, but thats for another day.

These two are finally getting along.  Thank goodness!  I has been exhausting following them around, constantly redirecting them away from each other, and separating them at night and while I we went to work.  Poor Splinter didn't know what to do with Cinderella jumping all over him.

And this one came home on late late on Sunday.  Exhausted from his weekend with friends.  I missed him.

This was my first weekend alone in our new home.  I might have been a little scared of the basement... Shhhh!  It gave me time to reflect on how much our life changed over the summer.  Caleb got a job as a director, I switched from working with kids to working with older adults, we went from a loft apartment to a 3 bedroom house, and we moved 8 hours from the place we called home for the past two years. Although sometimes change is difficult, I believe that change is good.  I just know that the opportunities that we have here will be great.  It has already been great.

I'm thankful to be able to share our Tennessee life with you!  Sometimes the simple things are the best things.

I linked up with Sami's Shenanigans for this weekend update!

Current Crush Thursday

I'm getting geared up for Weekend of 1,000 Projects.  I'm going to shut myself inside my house and lock the doors.  I'm not going to leave until I have completely organized our office/craft room and finished a minimum of three Pinterest projects.  

Does this even sound possible?  Because I'm skeptical.  And I really want to go back to IKEA.  And I just learned about some new antique stores in the area.  Sheesh, people!  I have no self-control!!

BUT... on a more serious note... I have been gathering supplies and getting organized to minimize the number of side trips I take to Lowe's and Joanne's after I actually begin my projects.

Oh the things I have in mind for these...

Moving on...

So maybe you are starting to wonder why I titled this post "Current Crush Thursday."  In addition to updating you about my "Weekend of 1000 Projects" I am also linking up (yes, one last link up this week... I'm a linking up fool lately!) with Danielle at Framed Frosting for Current Crush Thursday!

I'm definitely crushing on getting things in the mail.  The first thing I do when I get home is run to the mail box.  It probably has something to do with my recent increase in ETSY orders and housewarming gifts I have been receiving.  My friends have been so thoughtful in sending me wonderful little gifts and cards in the mail to congratulate me on our newly purchased home and new adventure in Chattanooga.

I've also been spending hours scouring ETSY for unique decorations and handmade ideas.  Recently I contacted an old friend from high school who is an awesome photographer.  I've really been wanting some original art for our house and I wanted a piece of Indiana in our Tennessee home.  

So Brittany listed one of her prints on ETSY for me and I was super excited when I saw that it had arrived!

Perfection!  An Indiana cornfield by an Indiana artist!

If you would like a print like mine check out Brittany's ETSY shop.  You can also check out some of her work on her website, Britography or "like" her on Facebook!  I can't wait to show you all where I display my new artwork!

So yes, this week I am crushing on getting the mail.

And Moon Pies.  But mostly the mail.  :)

Oh, How Pinteresting

Hi!

Today I'm doing another link up with a great new blog that I found called The Vintage Apple.  I've been on the hunt for some new and interesting blogs to read.  I love coming across other ladies who have 9-5 jobs, but also find time for their passion of blogging!

Anyway... on with the link up!

Favorite Quote.

The Wheatfield via Urban Farmgirl on Pinterest

Fabulous.  I am sooooo doing this.

BHG via Jackie Koerner on Pinterest

I need to remember this piece of advice more often.

Tumblr  via Layla Grayce on Pinterest

Intimate Weddings via Urban Farmgirl on Pinterest

What fun things have you been pinning lately?  You can follow me on Pinterest here!

Speaking of Pinterest, this weekend is going to be known as the weekend of 1,000 projects.  I'm feeling ambitious and am staying home to give my house some much needed TLC.  Stay tuned for what I get accomplished... and for that striped wall I've been talking/dreaming about!

  

Me, Myself, & I

I'm linking up with Shane, Breanna, Kristen, Danielle, Jenna, and Amanda for the Me, Myself, & I link up party!
Basically, the deal is that the 3rd Tuesday of each month there will be a new set of questions to answer and share!  I love this months questions and they really got me thinking!
1. What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? Ooohh tough one!  If I knew I couldn't fail I would quit my 9-5 job, open up a bed and breakfast, and blog everyday.

Source

2. If you had only six months left to live, what would you do with that time? I would quit my job (is there some sort of pattern here??  Hehe!), take a vacation to Maui where Caleb and I honeymooned, eat fatty fattening fried food and sweets everyday, and spend gobs of time with family and friends.

Source

P.S. I have totally been to this beach!!!
3. If a front page news article was written on you, what would the title be? "Social worker connects elders in community with resources."

Source

                                 

4. What is your biggest pet peeve? My biggest pet peeve is definitely when people don't take others' feelings into consideration.  Also when my husband leaves out his toothbrush and razor on the sink.  Also when people don't pull their weight at work.

Source

5. What is your favorite chick flick movie?

Another tough one!  Does Pretty Woman count as a chick flick?  How about Dirty Dancing?  If those don't count then I choose How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days!  

Source

So fun!  How would you answer these questions?  Link up and check out some new blogs!

Happy Birthday Surprise Celebration!

Saturday we celebrated my Grandpa's 80th birthday with a surprise party.  If anyone deserves a great surprise party its my Grandpa!  My grandma, cousin Lindsey, and I have been scheming for months to make the day special.

I think we definitely pulled it off.  My Grandma, Aunt, and Uncle told him that they were taking him out to eat for his birthday.  When they drive close enough to see the crowd my Grandpa said, "Someone's having a big party down there!"  It took him a minute to realize that all of the people were his family and friends who had all come out to celebrate!

He got out of the car and was all smiles when we yelled "SURPRISE!"

We enjoyed a lunch of pulled pork, potato salad, slaw, baked beans, and green beans.  Mmmm!  And the weather was absolutely perfect.  

The celebration was complete with a cake with 80 candles.  

I love my family.  If there is one thing that we know how to do its celebrate.  And love each other.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!!!  You're one of the most amazing men I know!

Master Bedroom Reveal!

Our house is really starting to feel like our home.  My latest project has been transforming our bedroom from a dumping ground for the things that don't have a real place into somewhere that we can wake up in the morning feeling rested and relaxed (and not have to worry about tripping on junk when we get out of bed!).

I finally put the finishing touches on the this room yesterday and have been so anxious to share these pictures!  I can actually feel the difference that finishing this room has had.  In the morning I actually like waking up in here...

Upon moving in, this was one of the spaces that was not too terrible.  The paint job was fairly well done, but as you can see it went with their theme of yellowish toned paint colors.  Speaking of paint... there was white paint ALL over the floor.  When we looked at the house the owners had hidden it with a big rug.  And removing paint from the floor is an ongoing project.

Before:

After:

Much better wouldn't you say?  I love the combination of gray and turquoise and wanted this room to be a little more on the fun side.  I got these amazing pillows from this shop on Etsy and I LOVE them!  They are put together really well and I was pleased with the quality.  I have two more covers and I will eventually put one more on the bed and the other on the chair in the corner.

My main tool in decorating this room was a can of spray paint.

This curtain rod (excuse my ill adjusted curtain...) was actually in the room when we moved in to the house.  I saw the idea of painting curtain rods on Pinterest and have been dying to do it since the day I saw the pin.  

For those of you who are fellow Harry Potter fans/geeks, I think you will appreciate this little ode to   Harry.  For those of you who do not like Harry Potter... you have no idea what I am talking about.  Caleb had no idea what I was talking about when I told him this was from Harry Potter.

So what do you think of empty picture frames?  This is also an idea that was made cool by Pinterest, but that my mother and grandmother have been doing for years.  I love it.  Caleb hates it.  Well, I don't know that he hates it, but be thinks it is silly.

One more look at the finished project!  So refreshing!

Finally, I want to bring attention to that fact that the only things I bought for this room were the pillow covers, the letters on the wall, and the silver tray.  Oh, and two cans of spray paint.  Valspar makes the best spray paint I have yet to use.  I think I think I spent a total of $50 on this room and spray paint made this possible (and the reuse of old items).  

I gathered up a bunch of items that I otherwise would have taken to Goodwill because they didn't have a spot in my home.  Either they didn't match or they felt old and dingy.  I put down an old sheet in the yard, spread out all my chosen items and spray painted to my heart's desire.  Caleb said I was ruining good wood, but I know that even he was pleased with the end result!

I can't wait to go buy some more paint!  Stay tuned for my attempt at a striped wall!