If you really knew me...

A favorite Columbus blogger Shannon posted this on her blog the other day and I thought it was great! So, let's roll.

If you really new me...

You know I'm scared to death of sharks and planes. I know that if you were to show me a picture of a shark it would jump out off of the page. Because all pictures do that.

You would know that until you get to know me I'm very quiet. Some people have taken it as me being a bee-ach, true story. But I promise I'm not and once you get to know me you will not be able to keep me quiet. #Iwarnedyou

You know that I have an enormous love for animals. I will cry at the drop of a hat if I hear something sad about an animal. They can't speak! We don't know how they feel! It crushes me see how poorly some people treat them.

You know that Oliver is my dog child.

You would know that I was a bandie in high school. Yep, I said it and I loved it. However, I was in drumline so I consider that to be much cooler.

You know that while I was a bandie, I was also in every club known to man. I was basically an oxymoron of a typical high school student.

You know that I can only eat chocolate pudding with a plastic spoon. It tastes so much better that way. Don't dis it 'til you try it!

You know that Wednesday is my favorite week day because it's trash day. Who doesn't love getting rid of their trash!?!

You would know I love to color code. Everything.

You know that J and I often have dinner conversations that discuss topics of school law. I never said we were cool.

You know I hate scary anything. But I enjoy dressing up at Halloween and passing out candy {or a healthy snack} to the kiddos

Before I was married my initials spelled B.A.D. J's initials spell J.A.G. After we got married I made my maiden name my middle name, so now I'm B.D.G. 

You would know I big, pink puffy heart love shoes, coats, and purse. 

What girl doesn't?!

House Projects: kitchen

J and I have been back and forth about when is the right time to move. It's a tough decision and a lot of things went into deciding what to do. I think we have come to the conclusion that we are going to stay where we are for another year or two. While I'm a little bummed about the decision (who doesn't want to find the home that you will love for years), I understand the reasoning and know that it's just not meant to be right now. So, since we will be here for a while longer there are so things I want to do to this home. We've done a lot already {thank you parents and inlaws} but there is still a lot to be done.

First up, my wonderful father put up the tile in our kitchen. We had new counter tops installed last summer and it definitely took a whole year before we put the back splash up. Now that it's up we have to paint the entire downstairs...all the walls are connected and they're all the same color (but one). Confusing? Yes. I'll show pictures soon.

Anyways, the first small order of business is to replace the kitchen curtains. I bought pretty cheap ones when we moved in five years ago thinking I'd replace them shortly after. Yep, they're still there. They look very dated now that we have nicer counters and tile. Now I just have to decide what to get!

Here is what I have now. I'm not sure if I like the topper because it gives off a lot of light or if I want something longer. I think I'll do a floral print of some sort. Not sure yet. {ignore the blind...Wembley got stuck in the string and messed them up...tile still drying and need finishing pieces}

 Here are a few options I like:

*Note: Most of these I like for the style

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Love these curtains but I think they're too fancy for the house we live in now.

Next home!

What kind of curtains do you think best suites a kitchen?

Oh, How Pinteresting!

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Olympic Schedule

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Menu Monday

Mexican Stuffed Peppers with Quinoa and Black Beans

First, let me tell you that before this meal I had absolutely no idea what Quinoa was. I still really don't. I read about it and found that it's a type of grain. It is found in the rice section and the best place I found to purchase it was at Target. A few twitter friends told me they have purchased it at other stores such as Costco. Overall the meal turned out great! I wish it had a little more flavor but I added some of my minute-salsa on top and it was delicious. J wasn't a fan since it's basically all vegetables (he doesn't like most vegetables), so I cooked him some salsa chicken. P.S. This is only 275 calories per serving!

Thai Peanut Noodles

Oh my gosh. This was delicious!!  J even ate a second serving, which he rarely does especially when I cook. The only thing I changed was when making the sauce I used chicken stalk instead of water {I read it in the comments}. Also next time I would use whole grain noodles. I normally do but was so focused on getting linguine noodles, I didn't even think! Unfortunately this is not the healthiest meal. You can add more veggies and use less sauce but it's just one of those meals that tastes great!

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

I made this a few months ago, but changed it slightly this time. Instead of making an entire pizza I went for the healthier round. I used low-fat cheese, a little olive oil (instead of butter), and English Muffins instead of pizza crust. This time around, it wasn't great. I don't think it was because of the substitutions, I think it was just that I wasn't in the mood for it and my other meals were much better. It is quick and easy to make but very spicy!! I'm guessing one whole english muffin is about 250 calories.

Black Bean Fiesta Burgers

So, after I baked these they still looked like mush. Thankfully I made J two turkey burgers...one became his and the other mine. I put the black bean burgers in the fridge so they could harden up. I have not tried them yet but J's friend said they were delicious! Now they are in the freezer so I can warm them up throughout the week.
I will let you know how these taste!

The turkey burgers were amazing! I used ground turkey, plus most of the ingredients in the black bean burgers minus the sweet potato and black beans. I also cooked them on 375 for the same amount of time. The rice was Uncle Ben's Wild Minute Rice...yummy!

Don't forget to link up with Rachel

Friday Letters

Dear Sister,

Are you really going to college? I'm pretty sure that you're still in middle school...or maybe in 5th grade. I blinked and you just grew up. What am I going to do without here? I know we argue a lot but seriously, who is going to make ridiculous jokes with me or completely confuse mom and dad with millions of questions? I guess since I left you for college it's your time to leave me...what goes around comes around. But you're at a fun age now, so it's just not fair.

Let's hope mom doesn't make us take an embarrising picture at your college.

ps. I'm so excited for you and happy for you. "How are you going to phone your mother?"



Dear my precious Oliver,

We have a lot to learn over the next TBA years. Mommy and Daddy are not getting any younger which means sooner or later there will be a baby in the family {not today or this month soon}. When I say baby, I'm talking real life, crying, pooping, eating baby...oh wait, you do all that too. This pouting of yours that you do when I hold, talk to, or even look at Wembley can not be happening when there is a real life human baby. You will always be my first born sweet baby boy, but at the end of the day you are really a dog. We both need to work on this. I think you need to take some pointers from Sheepie.

Dear Wembley,

Even since we returned home from vacation you have loved me. You stopped biting me (for the most part) and you sit in my lap several times a day. Am I dying? Do I have cancer? I know animals have a sixth sense about these things, but you're really starting to scare me. Maybe we can go half way and you can sit on my lap and bite me at the same time? Or maybe I should just a full body scan so I don't freak myself out. #hypochondria

Dear Bridier Baubles,

Thank you for making beautiful jewelry. I'm so excited to wear my new bling in Chicago!!

Dear weekend,

I'm so excited that you're here. Emily and I have been waiting for you and are ready to hit the road to Chicago in a few short days! Please let us have a fun and safe trip. Also, if you could not flood Chicago this time {unlike the last time I was there, my first trip} I would greatly appreciate it!

How Pinteresting!

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Also Linking up to Welcome Wednesday to "meet" some new fabulous bloggers!

Also be sure to check out my Pinteresting Education Style!

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PS. How do you get the Pinterest Pictures to center in the middle of the page if you use the embedded code??

Education Blog

Enjoy reading Teacher Tuesday? Want to know about more ideas for the classroom?

Check out my education blog...

Giveaway on Jackson Family Five Blog

Jenna, at The Jackson Five Family Blog and EasyDoughFundraising.com are giving away a Kitchen Aid Mixer of your color choice.

I'm beyond excited!!

Check it out here to enter!

411 on the blog

Linking up with Becky for a little blogger 411 today!

How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed?
I started blogging about three years ago. I had this blog, which I rarely touched, then I had one that was just for me. It's a private blog that I rarely go on anymore because I have this one now that I love!



Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?
I went to a small private college in northern Ohio. I studied Middle Childhood Education and have my minor in music.



Where have you traveled?
I've traveled a lot on the east coast. I haven't been west past Illinois and have only been out of the country once--to Canada. J and I have been talking about taking a cruise for sometime now, which will get me out of the country again! I want to travel everywhere but I have a horrific fear of flying! Seriously. Just thinking about the process of getting on the plane makes me tear up!



If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?
The first thing I would do is pay off my student loans. Period. If I just won enough money for that alone I would be a happy camper. Then I would pay off the house and J's car. I would definitely help out our families and donate a big chunk to the animal shelter and my school.



What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?
1) White socks with black shoes
2) When someone takes the laundry out of the dryer and puts it right into the basket without    folding it--who does that?! ;o)

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What is your favorite movie?
I posted this a while back on Social Sunday.



What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?
I drink water about 99% of the day. If I'm not drinking water then it's probably coffee (decaf) or flavored water. I rarely drink pop. I love tea but I don't like to make it.



What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?
I have a lot of me time, especially in the summer since I'm off. I enjoy me time for the most part but sometimes I just get bored! In the summer I spend a lot of time cleaning things out. During the school year when I have me time I usually catch up on DVR. It will be completely weird this school year not being in grad school. I'll have a lot more fun me time!


If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?
Right now I'd probably pick IKEA. I would love new bedroom furniture or I could redo my kitchen cabinets!

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Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.
Oh my gosh--I have way too many. The shortest story would probably be the time (before I started driving but pretty close to it) when I had just learned that the counties were located at the bottom of the license plate. So I was out with my mom one day getting ready to go through the car wash when asked my mom where Dealer county was located. It's a logical question!! I still hear about it today.



What day would you love to relive again?
My wedding day. Can I make some changes too?? hehe

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What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?
I worked at Dairy Queen for 3 years in high school. I left there and worked at Limited Too. Huge mistake! I hated it!! In college I gave campus tours and worked in my campus center. I also taught piano and percussion lessons. I was pretty busy.



Show us a picture from high school or college.

high school with three of my besties!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?
Well, if I had enough courage to actually get on the plane, I would go to Spain to visit our exchange student Angela. I miss her so much this summer (she had been here the past 2 summers). I also would want to go to Italy, Greece, and Poland.



Show us the most current picture of you or you and your family.

Here is a picture of my sis and I at her graduation at the end of May. I have a few pictures from vacation but they still need uploaded and edited!

Where do you see your life 5 years from now?
Good question--I hope that J is finishing up his doctorate, we have a child (maybe a second one on the way?), I'm teaching at my same school, we are in a different house, my sister is home from college (crazy!!), and we are enjoying life!

Menu Monday

Linking up with Rachel today for Menu Monday. J and I have really been focusing on eating a lot cleaner. We've always been pretty healthy eaters {me more than him} so this hasn't been too difficult, however we have to read the ingredients a lot more if it's not homemade. All of these recipes are under 400 calories (chicken serving size at 4oz).

We were out of town Thursday night, so we didn't cook.

Click on the title to find recipe!

English Muffin Pizzas

{I forgot to take a picture, so you get this yummy photo!}

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Chicken Gyros

*made extra for lunch the next day*

One Minute Salsa

{I put this on the gyros and it was great!}

Cilantro Lime Pesto Chicken Tacos

{note: I cooked the chicken in the Crockpot}

{I was so excited I took a bit before I took a picture}

BBQ Chicken

 with half wheat pita

This was found on one of my favorite blogs, 

The Glamorous Life of a Housewife!

*Note: all sauces were homemade except for the BBQ sauce. Also any wrap/pita/bread was wheat or whole grain. Both the sauce and bread choice helped cut calories too!