tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65003330861471713532024-03-05T03:41:30.631-08:00A Girl And Merlecaseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-55612306879572268532015-03-18T07:00:00.001-07:002015-03-18T07:00:47.319-07:00Remember me?I know. I'm a bad blogger. And it's not really so much that I'm a bad blogger, it's that the past year dealt some punches that were doozies. When life throws sixteen heavy things at you, it takes some time to muddle through them.<br />
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As I am currently eating a spinach salad and watching Scandal, I'm thinking about how two years ago, I was a gym rat. I had lost 40 pounds. And then divorce helped me gain some weight. And then falling back in love helped me gain some too. Because those date nights and good food, actually having someone to eat supper with, that's a lot of food. </div>
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A couple of months ago, my sister's best friend Lori (and who used to cheer with in high school), invited Jamie and me to do Zumba at the local gym. Jamie and I trepidatiously showed up. Thirty minutes early like we always do. One very sweaty hour later, we were hooked. I love Zumba. I can't shout it enough. But it also made me realize how much I actually missed working out. Which is something I never thought I would say. Sure, I like being lazy and watching Netflix. But I hate missing Zumba and I hate that it's only twice a week. I also decided to try a couple other classes and forced TJ to get a membership so we can go together and stay healthy. I also got us FitBits and found out I'm very competitive. Which helped me find out that I don't sleep well, either. </div>
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The fun thing is, if we work out at home, Wilder copies us. He likes to "work out". He's barely three and we're teaching him to be active. And my sister! She used to groan about how often I was working out and how she didn't get it. But she gets it now! I have friends inviting me to do 5ks but I haven't done a 5k since the mud run and before that it had been two years. I did two miles earlier but it took me 33 minutes of walking and running. I want to be a distance runner, but I'm a better sprinter for now.</div>
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So, I'm on the fitness wagon again. And I hope you help hold me accountable. Mainly through Instagram, maybe? You can find me @agirlandmerle. Or add me on FitBit! My email is caseylee610@yahoo.com </div>
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Here's to the rabbit food. </div>
caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-76344833176887761592015-02-09T10:49:00.001-08:002015-02-09T10:49:28.198-08:00WeekendingThis weekend we went to the local trade days, Second Monday. Ultimately, I was looking for a dresser to refinish but we ended up just walking around and eating some yummy food. There are vendors from all over and the weather was perfect. We hadn't been since November when we were looking for up pies and ultimately ended up with CiCi. We passed the roasted corn vendor three times before we finally broke down and stopped to get one. TJ also insists on getting an onion burger when we're there, even though it barely 10 in the morning. <br />
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Looking at the animals has always been one of my favorite parts of Second Monday, I remember doing it as a kid. <br />
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There's so much to see and do and it can take you all day if you have that kind of time. There's games, any and every type of food, clothing to buy, anything your heart desires. While I didn't find what I was looking for, we still had a fun Saturday. I would really love to go to Canton one of these weekends. I can't even imagine what it would be like.<br />
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Sunday, however, Wilder and I had some sort of stomach bug and we're still recovering today. I hope y'all had an amazing weekend!caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-81702939314086228472015-01-22T05:30:00.003-08:002015-01-22T05:30:49.602-08:00.Purpose.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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In Hope Floats, one of my all time favorite movies, Birdie's (played by Sandra Bullock) mother, Ramona says to her, "Look at me. My life has no real meaning or direction or purpose, and I'm happy."<br />
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I think when we, as women, become mothers, we just assume a motherly purpose because we want to raise decent, hard working, kind human beings. Our purpose to ourselves gets pushed to the back burner or even completely off the stove. I am one of those believers that thinks time to myself as a person greatly and positively affects my child. Because Wilder's father's schedule has never changed in the three years he's been alive, I now can tell every time when Wilder and I need a time out from each other. Which was hard for me to admit. I wanted to take on everything when it came to Wilder. I didn't leave him alone with anyone until he was almost 11 months old. I didn't trust Clint alone with him. I dealt with it all. Then, it came to a point where Wilder didn't trust anyone but me. He would flip out if I left the room. Mother was my purpose. But, I saw the detriment. I had offers to have some time to myself, from Clint, my mom, friends. It wasn't fair to me or Wilder that I wouldn't give anyone else a chance to prove themselves, or give Wilder the chance to trust anyone.<br />
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Clint supported my blogging when I started. It was a way to get me out of Mommy-mode and just be adult Casey. He kept Wilder so I could go to meet-ups. Gave me time to help plan a get together last year. My mother would offer to keep Wilder overnight, just because that's what grandparents do. All these factors got me to loosen the reins. To remember that Casey, pre-motherhood, was lurking under the surface somewhere in there.<br />
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Divorce, though it sucks, has given my son more opportunities to spend with my sister. She, her husband and daughter are watching him Saturday so Tj and I can go out. It will be the first time they've watched him. That might sound mean but really, it's just that I know sometimes he's crazy and he's doing the tantrum thing now and I don't want to put that on anyone. Integrating a new man was a smoother transition than I expected as well. He and Tj get along swimmingly, which has allowed me to try new things, like Zumba and going wine tasting, knowing that he's in excellent care. <br />
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I turned 27 last June. I realized that it took me 27 years to take chances and say yes to new experiences. To realize that I don't have to cut myself down to having one friend in case no one likes me, that I can have a community of multifaceted women I can call my friends. If I get invited to try a new restaurant, I'm doing it. Renovating a kitchen because I know I can, I'm doing it. Raising a decent, hard working, kind human being, I'm hopefully doing it. I don't think motherhood is my soul purpose. I think experience is my purpose. As many opportunities to experience whatever I can. I think that's a good purpose.<br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-40053272532765633842015-01-08T06:23:00.002-08:002015-01-08T06:23:54.949-08:00Girls Who Wine & DineOn Saturday, I loaded up my sister and her best friend, Lori and we headed to Burleson to the Lost Oak Winery for the wine tasting and tour I won a couple of months ago at the Texas Women Bloggers Farm to Table event. There we met my blogging girlies, Becky (The Java Mama), Michelle (Mind Of Meesh), Adrian (soul sister/Revelry Beauty) and Taylor (Pink Heels Pink Truck).<br />
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Roxanne gave us an amazing tour, even though it was the dormant season, showed us through the 8 acres of vineyards, how they make the wine and then we got to sit down for a tasting.<br />
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I've never done a wine tasting before and I picked the best women to do it with. We had amazing book talk, girl talk, blogging talk and just flat out laughing. After we got our tipsy selves to Olive Garden, we continued our talking over carbs and more carbs. Saturday is what I loved most about being a woman. We all came together, supporting each other, hearing each others stories, bouncing ideas off each other, planning future get-togethers. Lost Oak was so beautiful and I'm so glad they gave away tours as a prize at the dinner. I will definitely go back. Hopefully around harvest time.<br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-39110727326872043012014-12-31T09:25:00.001-08:002014-12-31T09:25:42.116-08:00In 2015....<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The last day of the year and it starts with snow. I can appreciate that. I don't appreciate us all being up at 5:30, but Wilder and I did lay back down from 7:30-9. I'm also sick AGAIN, and I don't appreciate that either. I just got better and now I'm sick again. At least it's now instead of ON SATURDAY WHEN WE GO TO THE WINE TASTING I WON AT LOST OAK WINERY. Oh yes. Very excited about that. Keep a lookout for that recap on Monday. </div>
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You know what I love? Or who, I guess. Lauren Conrad. Yep. LC herself a la Laguna Beach/The Hills. I want to be Lauren Conrad when I grow up. I want to fill my closet rack full of her clothes. I want to be her best friend. I digress. I'm constantly stalking her site and I saw her New Year's Resolutions. Jumping on it!</div>
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Bad Habit I'm Going To Break // Hmm...avoiding laundry? I'm very bad about that. Trashing my vehicle. Bad about that too. Not budgeting. Gotta learn how to do that. Not shutting my brain down so I can get a good night's rest. Being lazy. My list is abundant.<br />
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A Destination I'd Like To Visit // Tj and I discussed going to Maine this coming fall. I've wanted to go to Maine since I was a little girl and I don't even know why. I've never really been anywhere but that's my continental dream. Driving to Kentucky last summer was a trip I will never forget and I got to see so much.<br />
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I'm Going To Work Harder At // Being a good mother and partner. Just all around better person. This year has taught me a lot and shown me a lot. I've seen where I've failed in certain areas and I know I can do and be better.<br />
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A Project I'd Like To Finish // Our kitchen!!! We're about halfway through with it. In the middle of the month, I'd hope we will have the ceiling done and the floor installed and my sink will arrive around that time, as well. An apron front one! -cue hearts for eyes-<br />
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A Class I'd Like To Take // I love to learn. I would take any class. I saw a pin online where you can take one of a multitude of varying classes which would be the easiest for me. Otherwise I would have to drive to the Metroplex.<br />
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I'd Like To Spend More Time Doing // authentic writing. Laughing. Cooking new things. Being present in conversations. Encouraging my creativity instead of stifling it.<br />
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A Food I Want To Eat More Of // anything I haven't tried. I want to try lobster but I want it fresh out of the ocean. Preferably in Maine. I just know in this area we're pretty landlocked and I don't know any lobster being fished out of the local lake. I would like to try to be vegetarian one day a week which sounds easy, but it's not if you're not conscious of what you're eating.<br />
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I Want To Wear More // flattering pieces, preferably smaller pieces as I, like many of women, are fixing to vow themselves to get healthy. In roughly 12 hours. <br />
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What are your answers?? Happy New Year's, you beautiful bunch of readers. <br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-88719983379072187382014-12-29T07:36:00.000-08:002014-12-29T07:36:34.242-08:00I Don't Like ReviewsI've been a bad blogger since Merle died. I'll do better in the new year. Jamie and I were discussing this past year and while it's had its ups, it's definitely had it's downs. It almost seems like more downs than ups. actually. And I hate that. I'm not a negative person, generally. Reviews almost always bring back bad feelings or reminders of things we don't want to rethink about. Let me tell you about it.<br />
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-In March, Clint and I decided to divorce and I moved home, leaving all my new friends and experiences behind. Leaving behind half my dogs and both my cats.<br />
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-In May, Arnold went missing. The dog I had from a puppy when Wilder was a baby. They grew up together. Wilder was the only person Arnold cared about and then he was gone. The first dog I lost this year.<br />
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-In September (I think), my father called to tell me first that he had throat and lung cancer that he decided not to seek treatment for. Still not over the grief of my parents' divorce, I had to learn to process that too.<br />
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-My mother was struggling to find herself as well. She stopped cooking which she loved to do and we were all just sad and struggling to find our places with her.<br />
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-In October, Merle was hit and killed. He died in my arms. Just as I had rebranded my blog around him. <br />
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But then I wanted to think about the good things.<br />
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-I met a man that has been nothing short of amazing to Wilder and me. He's home every day, something I've never been used to, and he's jumped in right with me on renovating his home. Plus, he got me an apron front sink for Christmas!<br />
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-Wilder is almost potty trained! And he turned three!<br />
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-My mother is happy and cooking again.<br />
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-We got two new puppies, CiCi and Dixon. Or Cinderella and Prince Charming as I call them.<br />
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-We went from barely seeing my sister the first two years of Wilder's life to spending every Sunday with them.<br />
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I felt like this year kind of knocked me around. Some of it I asked for, and some of it completely blindsided me. I've never been scared of the dawning of a new year. I love a fresh slate. A new year full of new memories, new milestones, new adventures. And I can't wait to see you in it. Thanks for plugging along with me. I'm glad I have you, too.<br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-66902305154348956532014-12-08T11:13:00.001-08:002014-12-10T05:21:02.406-08:00Recently // CurrentlyHi. Remember me? Your friendly neighborhood ginger? Things have been a rollercoaster since my last post. Some family drama happened the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and that post about how I loved having Thanksgiving at my mom's didn't happen this year. Instead, a last minute switcheroo led to us hosting Thanksgiving at our house, even with our kitchen in mid-demo. My mom came to help me and we pulled it off without a hitch. I still got to make breakfast, watch the parade, dog show and football and eat to my heart's content.<br>
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Shortly after that, I got the stomach flu that hung around for almost a week. And then last week, we got some form of the actual flu in our house and everyone but Tj was down and out. I had to take Wilder to the actual doctor for medicine which I've never had to do.<br>
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We did find time to have Becky from The Java Mama take the boys' pictures and she got some great shots, even if we weren't feeling too hot. We got all our Christmas shopping done too. Well, almost.<br>
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I'm hoping to start on kitchen cabinets this week and then trying to measure the ceiling so I can buy the panels I want. Wilder's 3rd birthday is also in 12 days, and Clint will have him during that time but I'll get to drive down and spend the day with him. <div><br></div><div>I also thought I would jump in with my friend Nicole I met at the TxWB dinner and do her "Finish This" link up. </div><div><br></div><div>~My Ideal Winter Weekend....is eating good food as inches of snow falls down, snuggled under a blanket watching The Family Stone. </div><div>~My Favorite Song Lyric... Changes a lot. Right now it would have to be...All of these line across my face tell you the story of who I am. So many stories from where I've been and how I got to where I am. By Brandi Carlile. </div><div>~I Smile Because...Wilder says "whatever" now and it's usually at the weirdest moments. <br>
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I'll try to get back into the swing of things soon. If not, you'll certainly see more of me in January. My mum should be here in the morning to help with my cabinets. Eek!<br>
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</div>caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-40796739432832681282014-11-24T06:16:00.001-08:002014-11-24T06:16:19.323-08:00A Dinner with strictly Women OnlyLast Saturday, I put my brave -my name means brave, hello- panties on and drove to Dallas with my friend (who blogs!) <a href="http://amyleetales.blogspot.com/">Amy</a> so we could have dinner with a community of Texas Women Bloggers. I was super pumped about the menu and just the whole idea in general. It took place in the <a href="http://www.urbanacresfarmstead.com/">Urban Acres</a> warehouse which was beautifully set up for the occasion. <br />
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Amy and I arrived 30 minutes early, which was great because it had just started misting and my hair loves to freak out at the tiniest bit of moisture. We got cute name tags (which is dutifully hanging from my rear view mirror) and we got to check out the setup before things got hopping. <a href="http://www.busybeingjennifer.com/">Jennifer</a> and <a href="http://www.pinkheelspinktruck.com/">Taylor</a> were so on top of things.<br />
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I got to see some of my great girl friends from the last meetup that I cohosted, Amber, Adrian and Stephanie. The one thing I was concerned about what when Taylor said we couldn't sit directly with anyone we know. I'm not that great at small talk. I feel like I get louder, and I knew I was turning red. I did manage to sneak Adrian in the seat next to me and I had Amy caddy corner to me. I got to meet some great girls due to Taylor's rule and I couldn't be more thankful. I met a girl named <a href="http://www.brittaneypenney.com/">Brittaney</a>, who graciously gave me her kale salad after I scarfed down my own, which was followed by some amazing brisket from <a href="http://marketstreetdfw.com/">Market Street</a>. Each course (soup, salad, entree, dessert) was followed with delicious wine pairings from <a href="http://www.lostoakwinery.com/">Lost Oak Winery</a> and then I had pumpkin spice ice cream from <a href="http://ilikelick.com/">Lick Honest Ice Creams</a>. They had vegan ice creams, too, but when Jennifer said pumpkin, I didn't hear anything after that. I think Adrian got coconut, which I know Tj would love because he's coconutty.. brb laughing at my clever joke.<br />
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At the beginning of the night, they made us fill out an info card because three women in attendance would win a 10 person wine tasting to Lost Oak Winery. And guess what? I WON!!! Now I have to find 10 people I want to get tipsy with to go with me, which I scheduled for January, if you wanna meet me in Burleson!<br />
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Taylor mentioned more plans for Texas Women Bloggers in the future and it's such a great community, I can't wait to see what happens next.<br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-50804109904802896402014-11-17T08:45:00.001-08:002014-11-17T08:45:29.822-08:00Zuppa That ToscanaWhat? Two recipe posts in a row?? Since when do I do that? Oh yeah, when I remember to take pictures as I go. I've varied this recipe both times I've made it, but the results are pretty much the same. When I can't go to Olive Garden, I make this soup. Plus, it's Tj's favorite. Ok, second favorite. His dad makes this soup which I want to call "12 Day Soup", because you have to chop each vegetable into these tiny little squares and it seems like the chopping takes 12 days.<br />
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Here's what you need:<br />
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<li>a package of Italian Sausage - I used Johnsonville mild Italian, with 5 links. </li>
<li>4-6 Russet potatoes</li>
<li>one large yellow onion</li>
<li>two cloves of garlic </li>
<li>3 slices of bacon, cut into pieces</li>
<li>1 cup heavy cream</li>
<li>32 oz chicken stock</li>
<li>1/2 bag of kale - I used mixed kale, spinach and chard</li>
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Remove the sausage from the casings. I just take a paring knife, slice down the skin and peel it off and throw it into a hot skillet, crumbling as you go. <br />
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While it's browning, chop up your bacon, onion and garlic. Once your meat is brown, remove it from the pan and throw in the bacon, onion and garlic into the skillet. Sautee until everything is tender.<br />
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In a big pot, pour in your chicken stock and then I also added another cup of water. Bring it to a boil. While the stock is coming to a boil, I used my mandolin on the middle setting and sliced the washed potatoes.<br />
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When you've reached the boiling stage, throw EVERYTHING you've cooked into the pot. At this point, I tasted my broth and added some crushed red pepper, some Italian seasoning and a bay leaf, but you may not think it needs anything. Cook until your potatoes get tender. Mine were sliced pretty thin so it only took 15 minutes. I then add in the cream and stir. Now, here's the thing. The first time I made the soup, I rinsed my sausage after it was browned to rinse off all the grease. I really hate seeing the oil floating at the top of the pot. I forgot this step this time around. I let the pot sit still for a minute and then took a regular piece of white bread and swam it around the top of the soup to absorb some of the grease. Turn the heat off, and gently stir in the kale. Put in a bowl and eat like crazy!</div>
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-40453162532735454462014-11-12T08:50:00.001-08:002014-11-12T08:50:28.069-08:00So Stew MeYou'll have to forgive the lack of pictures in this post, but I didn't decide to do a recipe post until I got asked for it on Instagram (yeah you Kristina :D). I knew the weather was fixing to get cold so I grabbed some stew meat at the store. I knew I wanted leftovers and would be feeding at least three of us, so I chose the two pound package.<br />
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I pulled out my trusty, beautiful orange crock pot and got to work. I usually don't brown my meat before but I decided to this time. I used salt and pepper and garlic powder on the meat, then I put olive oil in a hot skillet, tossed my meat in a package of brown gravy mix and just cooked the meat until it was brown on the outside. In the mean time, I chopped two onions in pretty big pieces, six potatoes into smaller pieces and threw it all in the crock pot with a small bag of baby carrots. Then, I put the meat on top, a little more salt and pepper and three bay leaves because it's my favorite herb ever. I poured a can of chicken stock, a can of water and a packet of Au Jus mix, stirred it all about..wait... that's the Hokey-Pokey... Normally, I shy away from chicken stock in beef dishes because I feel like it will be too chicken-y but you can't really tell a difference.<br />
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I cooked mine on high for 6 hours, stirring occasionally. It didn't get really thick like some stews, though, I did add a cornstarch/milk/Worchestershire sauce slurry to mine to give it a little more body. I served it along side some individual French loaves that I buttered and put under the broiler. We had plenty of leftovers, Wilder went crazy for the carrots and we full and happy.<br />
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You can obviously add the seasonings you like, but I play down my spices when I know I'm feeding children.<br />
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<ul>
<li>2lbs stew meat</li>
<li>6 Russet potatoes</li>
<li>1 bag baby carrots </li>
<li>1 packet of brown gravy mix</li>
<li>1 packet Au Jus mix</li>
<li>bay leaves</li>
<li>salt</li>
<li>pepper</li>
<li>chicken stock</li>
<li>Worchestershire sauce</li>
</ul>
You can also cook it on low for 8-10 hours, I always just test the vegetables as I go. Enjoy!<br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-1715503268590258442014-11-04T11:23:00.001-08:002014-11-05T06:20:53.256-08:00NovembernessIf you know me at all, you know I live for the holidays Thanksgiving and Christmas. As soon as November hits, I get all...antsy. The cooler weather, soups and stews, blankets and holiday movies. I thrive on it. Things just seem to get better this time of year, although our house did burn down in mid-November when I was 13, but that doesn't really mar my opinion. <br>
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I am so THANKFUL (ha, get it?) that I actually get Wilder for Thanksgiving. It's the first holiday this year that I get him and I'm excited. My routine for Thanksgiving has always been the same. Usually, because we were driving far, I would show up in my pajamas, discuss the parade with my family while drinking coffee and eating my mom's sausage balls. That was an awkward sentence... Anywho. Then, I would start helping my mom by chopping any veggies I can get my hands on since I love to chop for some reason. I would rush back and forth between the kitchen and the dog show on TV because we always root for our breeds we have in the show. Plus, my mom thinks John Hurley is so funny as the host. I always get to taste test the gravy which is my most favorite part of dinner. Then I have to argue about wanting to watch the football game and I get outvoted and usually just have to flip back to it on commercials. <br>
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I also have the privilege of getting to attend an amazing dinner in less than two weeks! in Dallas. I consider myself a foodie and I can't wait to be a part of it. Although, driving in Dallas makes me a bit anxious. I think I found the perfect dress with Jamie's help, too, but you'll have to wait to see it. I'm really hoping since November kicked off so well, that it stays on an upswing. We're figuring out our lives again, our routine is thriving and we're getting happier every day. <br>
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Also, I'll be taking over The Blog Baton tomorrow thanks to Mason from <a href="http://www.masonlikethejar.com/">Mason Like The Jar</a>! You can follow along on Instagram @theblogbaton to get a glimpse into my life. Eek!! <br>
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-20723032906888348962014-11-03T06:05:00.002-08:002014-11-03T06:05:38.728-08:00Bob Ross Called...Do you know who Bob Ross is? Just type in Bob Ross on Pinterest and you'll have your answer. Bob Ross really has no place in this post except that it's about paint. But as a bonus fun fact, my mom also loved Donna Dewberry. She does cool things with acrylic paints.<br />
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Saturday was Tj's birthday and after dinner and a movie, we did what any kid-free couple does on a Saturday night at 8:00, we went to Lowes. We went to look at ceiling tiles and price drywall for the kitchen, but with my parents being house painters, I'm always drawn to the wall of paint chips. I love paint colors so much, I have a <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/caseylee610/paint-colors/">board</a> on Pinterest dedicated to it. I was looking for paint for the lower kitchen cabinets and here's what I found.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaWX4FUKBYvrE0KRLuUi-bixJarSwSLKIOC90JUatwRIJSagFng3r9_XUj9Lcu2vIibhxQZ6EFfP4MyS6xEiO0Un9mfYHbZHp_5lKlLQ74uwqLPyEJamsamficEDd-y9yPjnoi2aDpKES/s640/blogger-image--441845753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaWX4FUKBYvrE0KRLuUi-bixJarSwSLKIOC90JUatwRIJSagFng3r9_XUj9Lcu2vIibhxQZ6EFfP4MyS6xEiO0Un9mfYHbZHp_5lKlLQ74uwqLPyEJamsamficEDd-y9yPjnoi2aDpKES/s320/blogger-image--441845753.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I realize they're all in the same color family, but I have a hard time settling on just one. I've even considered chalk paint, but I am a little intimidated by the whole process.<br />
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In the next few days, I'm going to start taking down cabinet doors for cleaning and sanding. Hopefully, I'll have one part of the kitchen completely done. Everyone keeps saying we're going to have a rough winter and I'm counting on some snow days to get things really done.</div>
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I bought this sign at Hobby Lobby months ago and it's just been perched on top of our hutch in the dining room. This sign is my kitchen inspiration. Any thoughts on my colors? Or chalk paint?<br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-23461023807694372042014-10-27T16:34:00.000-07:002014-10-28T05:16:59.293-07:00My (Hopefully) Dream KitchenSo, I showed you the current progress on our kitchen. I'm now going to show you some elements that I really hope will be in here after we're done with it. I have expensive taste on a tight budget, so I'm not expecting every picture I show you to be in here. But, I'm going to try my best to get everything I want, no matter how long it takes. (Hopefully not very long, because I'm wildly impatient.)<br>
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I was watching an episode of I Hate My Kitchen and they showed this amazing beautiful turquoise sink. Let me show you.<br>
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Can we all just collectively sigh over this? The actual color is Palermo Blue and it's by Kohler. On the episode, the sink was......$1,800! For the sink!!! I searched online and it's currently not available, but the price on it was $1,300. I'll just have to dream about this sink.<br>
<br>After my friend, Rachel, moved into her new house, I helped her turn her dining room chandelier into a mason jar chandelier. We replaced the globes on the chandelier with turquoise mason jars and it was awesome. I searched Pinterest for DIY mason jar chandeliers and I found this guy. <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Mason-Jar-Chandelier/?ALLSTEPS">With STEPS</a>! I've already looked into making it. There's some funky things going on with our current ceiling that are driving me crazy and this would help a lot. I found comparable ones on Etsy for at least $250 and with the project list and costs on the link, it would cost around $100 to DIY.<br>
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I love color, and with all the wood, I think I need a good counterbalance. I found this picture on Pinterest and with my mom's help, we're going to do separate colors on our uppers and lowers, like this.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowbyZUJG1clbZJ6JRBfOxLyfSi6ZDVwYhvs3wE6FWg628CbhsVdMeW2G-3pMvY_NQIbPxlbC4Qhk2zMfWy6kBJXqlJMaJvGH8-cdkQVulZ2uBIQ2rTMvgDFNIyTCoxU_K5q6zqSIV3nIn/s640/blogger-image-1769703895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowbyZUJG1clbZJ6JRBfOxLyfSi6ZDVwYhvs3wE6FWg628CbhsVdMeW2G-3pMvY_NQIbPxlbC4Qhk2zMfWy6kBJXqlJMaJvGH8-cdkQVulZ2uBIQ2rTMvgDFNIyTCoxU_K5q6zqSIV3nIn/s640/blogger-image-1769703895.jpg"></a></div><br>
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</div>caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-64296421326267615302014-10-26T18:30:00.001-07:002014-10-27T05:24:28.794-07:00Getting To Know Me...Today, I'm joining a link-up with the Texas Women Bloggers. It's a really amazing network I'm lucky to be a part of and they want us to tell a little more about ourselves to help spread the word of our blog. I love questions or finish-the-sentence so I'm ready to do this.<br>
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1. What is your name, blog title, and URL link?<br>
- I'm Casey, I blog at A Girl & Merle and you can find me at <a href="http://agirlandmerle.blogspot.com/">agirlandmerle.blogspot.com </a><br>
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2. How did you come up with your blog’s title?<br>
- I didn't want to do this question. My title involved my dog, Merle, who recently passed away.<br>
3. How long have you been blogging?<br>
-I've been blogging over a year now. I used to blog at Real Suburbia but I recently switched to AG&M. <br>
4. When we visit your blog, what can we expect to discover?<br>
- My musings on life, being a boy mom and our current house renovation. <br>
5. Share the link to your favorite or most popular blog post(s).<br>
-I've only had this blog this month, but so far my most popular is <a href="http://agirlandmerle.blogspot.com/2014/09/hello-october.html">Hello October</a>. <br>
6. What are three goals you have for your blog next year?<br>
- I would love to network more. Do a giveaway with some of my favorite gals. Manage Twitter better? <br>
7. Tell us about your family. Are you married or in a relationship? Do
you have kids? If so, how many and how old are they? Do you have pets?
You know, the usual stuff.<br>
- I'm in a relationship with the guy I had a crush on in high school. I have one boy, Wilder who's almost three. He has two other sons that I spend a lot of time with, too. No pets as you can see in question two but hopefully that will change soon. <br>
8. What part of Texas do you call home?<br>
-A tiny little one stop light town in North Texas, an hour north of Fort Worth. <br>
9. How do you make a living?<br>
-I'm lucky enough to be a stay at home mom. I keep that guy living. <br>
10. Have you attended blog conferences or social events in the past? If
this is your first time, what are you most nervous about?<br>
-I've been to a few meetups and hosted one myself with my friends Stephanie and Adrian in Waco this February. It was such an fun experience. I would love to do it more. I'm nervous about making a good impression and making new friends. I always think I pale in comparison to most. <br>
11. What are you looking forward to the most at the TWB dinner event?<br>
-Food and meeting the women who run the blogs I follow. <br>
12. Finally, share your social media links so we can connect online!<br>
- You can find me here?<br>
- Instagram: @agirlandmerle<br>
- Pinterest: @caseylee610<br>
- Twitter: still @realsuburbia<br>
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-19893793497569085792014-10-22T06:30:00.002-07:002014-10-22T06:30:33.837-07:00I Hate My Kitchen, but I'm Starting To Love ItSorry, I've been MIA. I'm trying to get out of the no dog funk and it's hard. Really hard.<br />
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I'm going to show you our kitchen in its current progress. And you can't judge me. Because we're doing it all ourselves. Slowly but surely. Our house is almost 100 years old. I've painted the living room. A nice greystone, my painter mother would say, and then the wall of paneling in here, I painted a navy blue. The fireplace bricks were an odd color so I painted those white. I left all the built ins and trim how they were since almost all the trim throughout the house matches. I painted the dining room a shade darker, our bedroom is grey with maroon accents.<br />
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And then there was the kitchen.<br />
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Let me explain what's happening here. I ripped up the linoleum, and all this adhesive was stuck to the floor. So that's what you see there. There was hideous paneling on the wall. We ripped them off and found planks running behind it. We also uncovered a transom above the door. There was sheet rock flush with the cabinets so when we beat through it, we found they just framed all around the cabinets and hid all that space on top of the cabinets. There was also a drop ceiling I ripped down in the very beginning. The drop ceiling was hiding florescent lights you can kind of see up there. Oh, and a sea foam green ceiling. I painted the backsplash with chalkboard paint because it was what I was able to do at the time, but now I hate it. And I hate the golden oak cabinets.<br />
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I have the floor bought, we're just waiting on all the demo before we install it. We've sanded that far wall. Here let me show you. What you should know is that the walls were also covered in cheesecloth and wallpaper which is what they did a long time ago. AND it was all stuck up with nails. Tiny little nails, hammered all over the walls.<br />
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Here you can tell the difference after sanding. You can follow my progress on Instagram @agirlandmerle. I've had followers raving over the planks which totally helps me feel better about leaving them exposed. I'll be doing some more shopping on Friday and tomorrow, I'll show you what I want it to look like in the end. Which hopefully will be in the near future.<br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-56476251517975028422014-10-17T06:31:00.003-07:002014-10-17T06:31:40.977-07:00Goodbye MerleTragically, two days ago in a chain of events no one could have predicted, my Merle got out and was hit by a truck and killed. Our neighbor's son came to tell me and I got to sit out there with him and hold him and talk to him until he finally died.<br />
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He was my fresh start and he's gone much too soon. I lost Arnold on Memorial Day and now Merle. It never gets easier for me. After Tj got home, I ran to the shower and sat in there and cried. This isn't the way things are supposed to happen. That's what we're supposed to say right? It's hard getting used to a dogless house. If I dropped an ice cube, he would chase in there and steal it. If I didn't want my crust, I would give it to him. If I had to use the bathroom, he would follow me in there. He would bump around under the bed at night and I would be content knowing he was there. Now, I have to stop myself from calling out to him.<br />
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I stayed at home the past two days just dealing with it. Tj and I have talked about another dog in the future, there are always going to be dogs who need a home. My blog will stay the same. He gave me the hope to start over and I'll carry that with the blog. It'll just be a little harder to look at for a while.<br />
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To everyone who reached out on Instagram, I appreciate it more than you know.<br />
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Merly, I'll see you at the Rainbow Bridge. Until then...<br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-27190421699344040852014-10-15T04:23:00.000-07:002014-10-17T06:18:32.415-07:00In Other Words...I have patiently waiting for day 15. <b>Favorite Quote and Why.</b><br />
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I love quotes. I love quotes so much that I have three tattooed on me. "Out the ash I rise with my red hair and eat men like air." "She is hotter than a thousands suns, an elegant whirlwind of golden-red. A ginger tempest." "It seems my soul is a gypsy."<br />
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It's honestly so hard to actually narrow down a favorite quote. As an avid reader, I come across so many lines that really speak to me. <b> </b>Then, one night scrolling through Pinterest, I came across something along the lines of "15 YA Books To Read Before The Movies". There I found The Fault In Our Stars, which killed me. I cried through the whole book and then through the movie. I loved John Green so much and he had so many good lines that I immediately bought Paper Towns, which I loved almost as much. Looking For Alaska is next on my list.<br />
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I said all of this, leading you to believe that my favorite quote is a John Green quote. It's not. Before The Fault In Our Stars, I read The Perks Of Being A Wallflower. This book fit squarely into my soul like a puzzle piece. I loved EVERYTHING about how Stephen Chbosky wrote this book. I started crying in the first few pages because it felt like I was writing it. It, to me, is a true coming of age novel and is so spot on, on how it feels to feel like you're going through life unnoticed. And then I read this line.<br />
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I read it, and immediately shut off my Kindle and cried. I cried because the line is perfection. It completely encompasses this emotion that everyone has felt but hadn't been actually able to say. I have lived this two sentences so often in my life. And I am still trying to figure it out. Charlie is a piece of me, well written into an amazing book. I made Jamie read it and she had every reaction I did. I even loved the movie which is rare.<br />
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I want to be responsible for a few chosen words that hit someone in the exact way it's supposed to. What's your favorite quote? <br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-19634984493074182932014-10-14T05:43:00.001-07:002014-10-14T05:43:33.184-07:00The Funny Thing Is..Monday's prompt was <b>Your Favorite Fall Recipe</b> and really, I don't have seasonal recipes. I'll make soup if it's 100 degrees out. I did find a cider recipe on Pinterest the other day where you cook 1/3 of brown sugar and heavy cream together and then add four cups of cider and cook it through until it's warm and it was amazing. I topped it with homemade whipped cream and caramel syrup and it tasted like apple pie in a mug. And I don't even like apple pie.<br />
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Today's prompt is <b>Your Funniest Childhood Memory.</b><br />
<b> </b>I'm a pretty funny gal. Not to toot my own horn or anything. While my childhood was scattered with moments that were not so funny, I remember laughing a lot. I don't know if I could pick one funny memory to define my childhood.<br />
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One of my mom's friends gave us a baby wild hog once. We named her Chloe and she was our pet pig. She thought she was a dog and one time she knocked over a can of Surge, drank it and went crazy. It was pretty hysterical, and probably was a testament to what was actually in Surge. When Jamie and I were like...5 we drug all our dad's tools out and tried to take our swing set apart. He didn't think that was too funny. One time, I was like dead sick and I fell asleep in the recliner with toilet paper shoved up both nostrils, snoring my face off. That's more mortifying but is that funny?<br />
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I'm kind of glad I can't really single out one memory. We just laughed a lot and we still do. Usually because of me. I think I should feel some kind of pressure to be funny, but most of the time, it's purely accidental. I like making people laugh. Guffaw. Chortle. Chuckle. I think a good belly laugh can cure a multitude of ails. I do remember one time, we got off the bus and walked into the house. Our aunt Sondy was living with us at the time and we were all hollering for my mom and Sondy because we couldn't find them. Jamie, Tonee (my little sister) and I walked into her bedroom and my mom and Sondy came barreling out of the closet with pantyhose over their heads screaming. Jamie didn't stop running until she hit the pasture. Tonee and I were screaming on the front porch. They thought it was the funniest thing in the world. Us, not so much. I brought that memory up to my mom the other day and she still laughed until she cried.<br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-40225428820589747132014-10-12T07:25:00.002-07:002014-10-12T07:25:26.356-07:00The Thing About Advice...Ok, so for Day 12, I'm supposed to tell you <b>The Best Advice I've Been Given.</b><br />
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As dorky as this sounds, one of the best pieces of advice was given to me by my twin sister, Jamie. <b> </b>She moved an hour away from me when we first graduated and I had never driven to where she lived and I was always scared I would take the wrong road or end up on the freeway. She told me, "Casey, don't freak out if you take the wrong exit. <u>For every exit onto the highway, there is an exit off.</u>" Now, after that, I used to work in Irving by the airport in the heart of traffic jam city + ongoing construction. I lived and drove all around Austin. But every time I take the wrong exit, I hear Jamie telling me that.<br />
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But in all reality, the two best pieces of advice came from my mumsy. Duh.<br />
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<u>Always be observant of your surroundings!</u> Any time we were going to do something remotely new, she would tell us this. When we decided to go to Vegas, she preached it. It was her mantra. That along with, "Casey! Did you ever watch CSI?! It's in Las Vegas!" I think it's why I remember my way to places so well, because I'm always watching what's around me so I know if anything looks familiar.<br />
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After I had Wilder, I was for sure I wouldn't need help. And she told me, <u>"There's going to be a point where you are at your wits' end and you're going to need help. Ask for help. I'm only a phone call away."</u> In my head, I was all, "<i>Psh, whatever Darla, I got this down."</i> And then, when Wilder was three weeks old, I had sauerkraut at lunch. Wilder subsequently had the worst case of colic I had witnessed in my three weeks of motherhood. By the time 5 AM rolled around, I had called my mom and was begging for help. She was awake and came right over. <br />
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What's the best advice you've received? <br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-42802952996827729752014-10-10T14:18:00.000-07:002014-10-11T07:34:38.772-07:00Gingers For PresidentThis prompt makes me a little queasy.<br>
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<b>If I Were President...</b><br>
Look. Let's face it. I'm just not equipped to be president. The thought of some really outlandish scenario that would in turn lead me to be president makes me sweat profusely. I'm a Gemini. I'm too wishy washy to be president. Any immediate idea I would have to rectify any current problem would probably set off a chain of events might really screw things up.<br>
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I don't discuss politics. I just don't. I did vote in the last election. I didn't brag about it. I won't discuss it with anyone. If people bitch and complain about anything politcal, I just stay polite and don't mention anything. My thought is, once people get riled up over a hot topic, someone is bound and determined to say something disrespectful to someone in the room, or just say something stupid or ignorant in general. And I try to avoid doing both of those things.<br>
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Can you imagine how stressful being president is? I wouldn't assume to judge anyone in that position. I wouldn't assume I could do a better job than the current president, regardless of what "information" you want to throw at me. I think if the people who bitched about politics put as much energy into doing good deeds or supporting a good cause, the whole country and world would be a better place. Instead, we want to point fingers and look at every bad thing that's happened and not give ANY credit to anything good that has come out of ANY president, Republican or Democrat. Instead, we want to sit on our asses and talk about all the "bad laws" being passed, but never get up off our asses to vote and make our voices heard. You can't hold everyone else accountable and not hold yourself accountable. OF COURSE, you could always have better or worse presidents. We could have a dramatic shift and fall under a dictatorship. It's this strange case of people always thinking things can get so much worse, instead of thinking how things could get so much better.<br>
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I write all this, not expecting to have meant to say so much. And what it boils down to, is:<br>
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<b>If by chance, I happened to be the President, I would immediately resign and hand the job off to someone more suitable than a Ginger in the middle of nowhere Texas who has a dog named Merle she sometimes calls Meryl. With the exception that NATURAL Gingers receive free sunblock and skin cancer screenings. Well, how about free cancer screenings for everyone really...</b><br>
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-85885316362565520872014-10-10T10:26:00.000-07:002014-10-10T10:26:16.858-07:00I Never Thought Blogging Would...I never thought blogging would lead to so many people. In real life or on the interwebs. Honestly, the blogs I read and the people I follow, secretly, I'm begging to be their friend. I relate to the ones I read and follow and when you read a sentence they wrote or see a picture they posted that resonates in you, you want to get to know that person more.<br />
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I think I've always written better than I've spoken. Even with my high school crush (awww yeah), I had the courage to pass him notes but never really speak to him. Most people hide behind their words but mine really show who I am. In blogging, you find people who can appreciate that. They share that same passion. I was always teased in school for my love of reading and writing and in the blogosphere, that is the norm. I've never had a core group of women who I wasn't related to. I feel like I have that now, just in the one year I've been blogging. <br />
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Blogging has taught me so much about myself, it's made me more confident, more courageous when it comes to trying new things and meeting new people. I think some people think that "likes and comments" on blogs and posts is a little narcissistic, I don't. I think every little blip that someone takes the time to click or show, means they get what you're saying. They care about what you care about. I never thought blogging would create a network that I would be so lucky to be a part of.<br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-65115547403094713932014-10-09T06:16:00.000-07:002014-10-09T06:19:05.718-07:00Arrr'nt You Glad It's Almost Halloween?I have to pick: <b>My Best/Worst Halloween</b> <br>
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Ok, so Halloween used to not be a big deal for me because I just didn't like dressing up. But when I had Wilder, I knew I was going to dress up with him his first year. The best thing about Halloween with kids is that you get to learn their personalities and what they like so you know how to dress them up. His first year, we were pirates.<br>
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We didn't trick or treat since Wilder was only 10 months old but we handed out candy in our subdivision and Wilder got to see all the cool costumes and we totally overbought candy so we were a really popular house.<br>
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His second year, he was Mike Wazowski. We went to a local community gathering and Wilder loved it. But his costume was a little warm and it was hot that day so we didn't force his hood on him. He got to play games and run around.<br>
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This year he's gonna be Luigi and his dad is going to be Mario and they'll probably go back to the community gathering. It sucks, because you don't ever think about splitting up holidays but I'll take what I can get.<br>
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But when Jamie and I were kids, I remember Jamie wanted to be Snow White so bad. And my mom colored her red hair with black shoe polish to make it look more authentic and that took FOREVER to wash it.<br>
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Got any better stories for me?? <br>
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-15698642787012818322014-10-08T05:45:00.001-07:002014-10-08T05:48:53.715-07:00Dear 37 year old CaseyToday, I'm supposed to write a letter to myself in 10 years. This shall be interesting.<br />
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Dear Casey,<br />
I'm sure you're probably panicking for a number of reasons. You're almost forty, your son is going through puberty (eek, this thought scares me to my very core) and you're just a panicker. Maybe in ten years, you won't panic so much.<br />
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The forty thing shouldn't scare you. If you're aging according to plan, you probably look barely 30. Hopefully. Please don't cut your hair. Even if Jamie says long hair doesn't look good on a 40 year old. Please find a style and stick to it. And hopefully we've kept some weight off. Even if you've had a second baby. If you didn't have a second baby, I hope you went to school and you have a career that you always wanted. But really, I hope this blogging thing has made you famous and your career is just living your every day life.<br />
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Remember the day, October 6, when you heard your mom talking to her friend on the phone and she said that you're a good mom, whether you're divorced or not. I know you have these moments in your life when people have said things to you that really stuck in your mind, and hearing that really made a difference because sometimes you don't think you're doing a good job. You can raise a child strong in himself and knows the difference between right and wrong because that's how mom raised me, even if I did stumble a few times along the way. <br />
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In ten years, maybe you'll have yourself figured out. Maybe you'll have written a novel. You will be multifaceted. Maybe you're married again, this time you did it right and you learned from the first one. You better have seen Maine and decided to stay there. You'll see your family grow, you will be proud and all the things you think define you now, won't leave a tiny little scratch on who you are in ten years.<br />
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Chin up darling, no one likes it when your mascara runs. <br />
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-53688808497222236272014-10-06T18:47:00.000-07:002014-10-07T02:02:52.859-07:00Vacation All I Ever WantedIs that song stuck in your head now? I hope it is. Because it's stuck in mine. Today's prompt is: <b>Best/Worst Vacation.</b><br>
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I don't really have a worst vacation so my best would be the time Jamie and I went to Vegas. It was my anniversary trip to go see Garth Brooks' show at the Wynn right before his run ended. It was our first time on a plane, our first everything really. We walked for miles in Vegas up and down the strip. We saw Spider-Man, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Elvis and Edward Scissorhands. We were actually more a spectacle than all the other weird stuff in there. Drunk people on Fremont Street kept asking if we were twins.<br>
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We spontaneously decided to zipline across Fremont Street. Jamie talked me into riding one of the Stratosphere rides. We found a murder mystery dinner that Jamie got pulled into and I totally suspected she was in on the whole thing, and she slapped me real hard. In public. We had a fancy dinner at the top of a hotel at a restaurant called Alize, where Jamie experienced duck for the first time, and I, lamb. Such an amazing meal. Then we hoofed it back to the Wynn to see Garth. We even had a taxi driver that looked like Stephen King. You know, we never gambled once. We splurged on getting our hair done and ordering room service once we got back from crying our faces off over Garth.<br>
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Garth Brooks was an experience I'll never ever forget and I'm so thankful Clint gave me that gift. Jamie and I initially had seats away from each other but the woman sitting next to her had a panic attack and I was able to steal her seat and move back so we could soak the whole thing in together.<br>
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We're the kind of people when we've had our fill, we're ready to go home and this was my first time to be away from Wilder. We had the best time, not a bad word about it. Except, Jamie got allergies badly as soon as we landed in Nevada and she snored the whole freaking time and I almost slept in the bath tub. But it was worth it. <br>
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caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518562283144098474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500333086147171353.post-42829761357826923592014-10-05T18:44:00.001-07:002014-10-06T04:54:05.241-07:00Bucket Lists and BloggingI realize I didn't post yesterday, but in my defense, we are currently in the middle of a kitchen over hall and we didn't have Wi-fi. You can see a few shots of our progress on my Instagram @agirlandmerle and tell me what you think. Neither of us have done anything like this, but Tj doesn't doubt me and we trust each others' opinions so it works well for us.<br>
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I missed Sunday's prompt which was: <b>Your Fall Bucket List</b><br>
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I know, it's your basic white girl bucket list, but I love this time of year and I try to do all these things when I can. I do live for seasonal TV specials, and It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! is one of my all time favorites. I just love pumpkins. I currently have seven pumpkin nicknacks in our living room. Side note: technically, I didn't miss a day, as I am writing this Sunday night.</div>
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Monday's prompt is: <b>10 Things You'd Tell Yourself When You First Started Blogging.</b></div>
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Ok, I love this one. Here goes...</div>
<ol>
<li><b>At least one person out there can relate to you. </b>I learned this when I posted about my divorce.</li>
<li><b>It will indulge your inner pen pal. </b>I loved pen-pals in grade school and between all the social media that you get involved with, you can talk to people all over the country.</li>
<li><b>It will be very cathartic. </b>From divorce to weight loss, I've been able to share some stories I would be too scared to talk about in person.</li>
<li><b>Don't worry what other people think. </b>When I first started, I was constantly doing link ups and crafting/DIY to be able to join link ups, that I got burned out fast. I wanted to blog for myself and forcing all these daily chores didn't help me do that.</li>
<li><b>Be honest. </b>I wrote on Real Suburbia about how I used to hide in my bathroom and binge on Taco Bell. Because that sh** really happened.</li>
<li><b>Practice your selfies. </b>I will freely admit that I am one of those girls who takes at least seven pictures before I find one that I can kind of work with. Know your angles.</li>
<li><b>Give credit where it's due.</b> Using other people's pins or pictures can be a little tricky. I used a marshmallow recipe I found on Pinterest and linked back to the original post and she immediately thanked me and was glad I used her recipe. I didn't step on any toes. Whew.</li>
<li><b>Go on your own. </b>I'm bad about not having faith in myself. When I lost Sarah, I immediately replaced her with Jamie. I just didn't think I could do it alone. But I can, obvi.</li>
<li><b>You don't have to have a Twitter. </b>I'll admit, Twitter is still confusing to me. I don't like it and when I switched to AG&M, I ditched it. I have enough going on.</li>
<li><b>You will make the most tremendous friends you would have never gotten a chance to meet. </b>I have so many friends via social media, but I've gotten to meet some in real life, and....I'm tearing up just thinking about it. I met Adrian, who is the most true blue friend. She's everything my life was lacking and she filled this positive void that I didn't even know I had. Stephanie, who I got to experience her first pregnancy with, even though my life kind of got in the way. Laurie and Jess from Ruthie & Rose, who have checked on me and supported me and talked me into my first pair of Tory Burch shoes. The expanse of a blogging network has been so instrumental in giving me an outlet and a place to rest my words and experiences. And as a last bullet point, <b>You Will Not Regret Blogging.</b></li>
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