Lucas Corner Farmhouse

I've been MIA in Etsy & my blog since we moved.  This is largely due to the fact that we don't have the super-fast, unlimited internet that we had in the Residence Hall on campus.  This is also partly due to the fact that I work "normal part-time" hours now (unlike when I was on campus, when I worked nights...so I had all day to craft! :) )  But, I'm determined to make time to craft! :) I have all morning and weekends, so why not, right?? Therefore, I'm slowly re-opening my Etsy shop! I've got two things listed right now, and I plan on adding more things soon! Once again, I have Passport Covers.  They'll be made-to-order because I sold out of the pre-made ones I had at the house. (They were a hit! :) )Here's a link! http://www.etsy.com/listing/69389144/handmade-passport-cover-with-elastic-and I'm also listing something new: Digital Cards for you to print for announcements, holidays, weddings, moving, or just whatever floats your boa...

This is a little belated, but Merry Christmas!!! Hope you all had a great Christmas!

Adam saw a recipe for Corn Flake Chicken on the box of Corn Flakes at my parents house, an he's been craving it ever since. The boxes at my grocery store didn't have the recipe printed on the side, so I googled it and found the recipe on Kellogg's website (http://www2.kelloggs.com/RecipeDetail.aspx?id=1058). Of course, we made changes... I made some delicious bake ranch chicken a few weeks ago, so we sort of mixed the two recipes into one. Here's the final (healthier!!) recipe! • Chicken (I had 2 chicken thighs, so roughly a pound of chicken...since I was I only cooking for two people. • 1 1/2 cup corn flakes • 1 egg (I recently heard that flax seed and water can be an egg sub..let me know if you know anything about that because that would make this even healthier!) • 1/2 cup milk • 1/2 cup white wheat flour • pinch of salt, pinch of pepper • 1 1/2 tbs Ranch dressing powder (the kind that comes in a packet. I bought a big bottle of it at Sam's and I...

On a plate, layer the following.... 1.Graham cracker 2.Un iced chocolate cupcake with the wrapper off 3.Chocolate fudge (I had some Ghiradelli peppermint chocolate fudge in the fridge...perfect) 4.marshmallows! Minis would probably be easier to stack, but I just had regular sized ones, so I only needed one. Put in the microwave and microwave at 5 second intervals for 20 seconds. If you do all 20 seconds at once, you might be cleaning out your microwave later... Eat with a fork!!! Or, if you're going to embrace the stickiness, just eat it! :)

I found a new site I like....Polyvore. I thought you could just look at outfit ideas there. No. You can design them too! Here is one I was playing with based on what I wore today... The only thing that is EXACTLY what I wore are the boots from Target and the shirt from Old Navy. My scarf is a different design, but this one was pretty too!  And I paid $14 for my Silver brand jeans at TJMaxx last December...and my jacket is actually from Wal-Mart ($30..with a hood too!).  The nail polish I'm wearing is Ulta brand, and the ring I'm wearing is a Zales ring my parents got me for graduation. Anywho, what do you think? Have you played around designing clothes on Polyvore? http://www.polyvore.com/12_11/set?id=40403583 12/5/11 by wendyamarie featuring tahitian pearl rings Old Navy fitted tee $15 - oldnavy.gap.com American Eagle Outfitters flannel coat $90 - ae.com Silver Jeans straight jeans $70 - buckle.com Boots target.com Tahiti...

If you're not on Pinterest...you should be, and if you need an invite, just let me know! :) If you're on Pinterest...check out my pinboards!!  http://pinterest.com/wendyamarie/

Raise your hand if you've made this before!! I've heard of it a lot, and never remembered to actually buy the squash while I was at the store....well that changed today! :)  I made this (and sauce to go with it), and it's PERFECT without sauce! So...I'll be saving that for another day! :) The recipe I found was from Emeril Lagasse, figured I couldn't go wrong there! :) (The link is embedded in the picture below if you want to open it in a new window! :) ) And....to help you out, I've included pictures because I had NO IDEA what this was supposed to look like while I was cooking it!! :) Spaghetti Squash, ready to be cut! :) Cut lengthwise! (Looks like a pumpkin inside!)   Placed facedown in a baking dish. (I put about 2 cups of water in the dish and it was perfect). After baking facedown, flipping, baking some more, and taking out to cool, scoop out the seeds just like you would a pumpkin or a butternut squash.  This is what it looks like whe...

Eight years ago today I went to the Shades Valley High School Band Banquet with a cute trumpet player and by the end of the night, I had myself a boyfriend! :) Both of our hair has gotten shorter...we've gotten taller...and Adam doesn't have those strawberry blonde curls anymore hehe! I saw two shooting stars that night! One while we were dancing on the porch of the Country Club, right after he asked me to officially be his girlfriend (this was before Facebook was even official haha)...and the second in the car on the way back to my house! He had already met my family, but that was the day I officially met his family! I met his sister on the lunchroom one day, and I had met his mom a year earlier at tenth grade registration, but I didn't know who her or her kids were! Needless to say, I'm quite glad he invited me to go to Band Banquet that night!! It's been a good 8 years with my bestest friend!! :)

I've been meaning to make this for days...and finally remembered to!! :) They're cooking in the oven right now, and they already smell great!! The original recipe is from a book my in-laws gave me for my birthday: 1 Mix, 100 Muffins. My friend Callie and I changed up the recipe a little to make it healthier....here's our version!! • 2 cups white whole wheat flour (by the way, I was very happy when I saw that this was the same price as regular white flour!!) • 1 tbsp baking powder • 1/8 tsp salt • 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice (see below for how to make your own) • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 2 large eggs • 1 cup milk • 1/3 cup applesauce with cinnamon • 15oz can of pumpkin purée Mix everything (I'm never picky about mixing wet ingredients separate from dry....oops!) and pour into cute muffin wrappers in a muffin tin. Pour any extra into a sprayed loaf pan for a little loaf of bread. Bake at 400* for about 18-20 minutes! Cool slightly and drizzle a yummy glaze of powdere...

My sister-in-law started a blog this week!!!! If you've been trying to read my blog the last few months, you've probably noticed I've been MIA....due to the fact that I've moved, started a new job, and been out of town at least half of the weekends that we've been in this house (which is so far on the edge of the city limits, I cant get Internet except on my phone haha) Anywho, with my sister-in-law getting her blog started, it has encouraged me to pick mine back up! Yay! As you've noticed, I've posted some new recipes, and there are more to come!! Go check out Julia's blog...it will soon be full of lots of goodies...including good cooking I'm sure!! (I'm sure because I tried a recipe she sent the other day and it was yummy!!) Oh, and she's quiet crafty and loves to sew as well!! Go say hi and let her know I sent you! :) http://therealairforcehousewifeof.blogspot.com/

I've been on pinterest lately....a lot haha! One thing I came across that really caught my eye was batch cooking (particularly for the crockpot). The idea is that you prepare and freeze several meals in one day so that when you have a busy day, you can start it off by plopping a bag full of ingredients in the crockpot and forget about it. As Adam and I taste test them, I'll write them up here with any helpful suggestions for the recipe! Honey Garlic Chicken Modified from thekrazycouponlady.com/2011/09/07/crock-pot-freezer-meals-im-sharing-my-recipes • About one pound chicken breasts • 3 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped • 1 teaspoon dried basil • 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce • 1/2 cup ketchup • 1/3 cup honey Add all of the ingredients to a gallon size freezer bag (depending on the size of the chicken, a quart size bag could work). Cook in the crock pot either on high for 3-4 hours or on low 6-8 hours. This was really good! We cooked it longer than we wanted to......

8 oz almond milk 1 banana 1/2 cup frozen blueberries 1/2 cup oatmeal 1 tbs honey Blend, and enjoy! You could also add in 2 tbs flaxseed, but I forgot! :)

We adopted a cutie from the Lee County Humane Society this week! Nova is a 2 and a half month old tabby kitten who looooves to run across the living room and slide into the kitchen, and she loves to crawl on your neck or arm to takes nap. She's about the size of my size 9.5/10 foot right now, but she thinks she's a lot bigger! She's going to be a primarily outdoor cat, but she hasn't been to the doctor yet, so we don't want to leave her outside by herself quite yet! Until she's a little bigger, she's taken over my bathroom haha! Oh, and the story on her name...we picked Nova because it's an Auburn name. :) One of the eagles that is trained to fly before the football games is named Nova. (In fact, I think they just started letting Nova fly more often in the place of Spirit VI? I could be wrong haha!) Anywho, there have been several eagles named Spirit (I, II, III, IV, V, and VI) so when my sister adopted her cat a few years ago, she named it....Sparke...

I still haven't ruled out the fabric sale! I juat have to finish rounding up the fabric! I'm going to start by selling on my blog...something like first to comment gets it, then I'll move to selling what's left on ebay, then sell what's left on etsy! The prices will be $1-$2 a yard plus shipping. I'll box everything in flat rate boxes so hopefully shipping won't be too bad!

Moving makes you realize you have a LOT of stuff! I have lots of fabric.......lots and lots of fabric. it would take me YEARS to use it all... So I think I'm going to work on listing some of it on etsy for $1-$2 a yard. I got most of it for a really good price and a some has even just been given to me! I just don't have the space to store all of it and realistically I know I probably will never use it all! :) So... in the next week or so, keep an eyebout for some super low-priced fabric. I'll combine shipping if anyone buys multiple cuts and put as much as I can in flat rate boxes, but I'll figure put the details of that when I start listing them! :) Hope you're all having a great week!! :)

Source: babaloud.com via rozbee on Pinterest This made me and Adam giggle today! :) It's pretty much describes what we're doing right now! My plan A, and plan B, and possibly other plans didn't  work as I planned, but that's alright! What's going on now works!  We're just constantly reminding ourselves that God's in charge of plans, not us. :) Here's the short story.  I graduated with my Master's in May and planned on staying here for my PhD.  That could have worked, but it wasn't God's plan right now.  Then I planned  on continuing working as a student employee by taking one class a semester as a non-degree seeking student.  That didn't work (who knew one class a semester as a non-degree student could cost as much as a full-time undergrad's semester? But with no opportunity for financial aid haha). So I waited to hear back about possibly working as a student employee without being a student.  During that time of waiting, I slow...

If you don’t follow Mandipidy , you should. :) She has got some cute craft DIY’s, some precious prints for sale (I’ve got one coming in the mail!! Yay!!!!), and some AWESOME devotionals on Sunday.  In addition to that, she’s got a baby on the way! Her little girl, Abigail, is due VERRRRY SOON and some of her readers are contributing to a bloggy baby shower ! (What a good idea, right?)  I’ve been thinking all day about what little girls need (besides the obvious diapers, tiny little nail clippers, warm blankets, and cute little socks…) and I’ve decided all little girls need a little dress!! :) Right now, I’m in the process of moving, so my sewing machine and supplies are packed up, but once they’re unpacked, I’ll going to make something very cute for little Abigail…this is my inspiration! :) It may not come out exactly like this, but it’s the idea I have in my head! :) Congratulations Mandy & David!! :) Can’t wait to “meet” Abigail! :) photo source <

#9 Courage is... February 16, 2001 Courage is trusting in God that he has a plan for you, and knowing that you have nothing to worry about. Courage is knowing that God is in control all the time. Courage is not just being brave through trials and tribulations, but giving my trials to God, and letting Him handle it all.

I found a yummy recipe for Cinnamon Bread online I HAD to try out.  It’s so easy…and it starts to smell yummy when you mix the first three ingredients (before the oven is even preheated!! haha!) I thought about taking the recipe I use for white bread and just spreading a cinnamon mixture on top, rolling it up, and baking it, but when I came across the recipe at Recipe Girl , it sounded so much better (it involves butter hehe!) Here’s a link to her recipe for Cinnamon Swirl Bread . She includes pictures of step-by-step instructions, as well as a printable version of her recipe.  If you’ve never made bread with yeast, this is a good one to start with! :) …And here is (what’s left of) the result! I sent some back with my sister-in-law, then Adam found what was staying here, and we both sampled a few slices haha! I think next time I want to sprinkle a little extra cinnamon-sugar-brownsugar mixture on top of the loaf before I bake it.  As is, it’s got the perfect hint ...

So, I’ve been in hiding super busy the last two months or so!  But I wanted to fill you all in on something pretty nifty! I was featured at pocketchange.become.com in their “Best of the Web: Be@Home” blog. :) Go here to see it! ( http://pocketchange.become.com/2011/07/best-of-the-web-be-home-30.html ) They chose the inspiration board I made for Julia’s Bridesmaids’ Weekend as the feature image. :) And, keep your eyes peeled for some more recipes coming up.  There is cinnamon bread rising on my counter as we speak….it smells wonderful and hasn’t even made it into the oven! :) :)

I got a really cool cookbook from my in-laws for my birthday this year, 1 Mix 100 Muffins .  I have LOTS of blueberries from my Paw-Paw's old blueberry bushes, so I decided to make some muffins this morning!! :) I used their recipe for blueberry muffins, but I made some tweaks (of course) that included swapping out some of the milk for strawberry yogurt.  I think the yogurt made the muffins a little more filling (less fluffy, and still so good!)  Here's my version! 2 cups flour (I always use self-rising) 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1 1/2 cups blueberries 2 eggs 1/2 cup strawberry yogurt 1/2 cup milk 1/3 cup oil 1 tsp vanilla extract Preheat the oven to 400*. Whip together the eggs, yogurt, milk, oil, and vanilla extract.  Add in the flour, brown sugar.  After blended, add in the blueberries.  Spoon into 12 muffin cups (they will be full, but it's ok, they don't rise too terribly much).  Bake for 20-25 minutes (I baked mine for about 23 I believ...

This has been a BUSY two weeks!!!  Here's a little summary.... SIL & Future BIL came to town Took ^ Engagement pictures....soooo cute Went to a wedding of family friends. (Adam grew up with her and I went to school with her) Littlest sister came to town TWO of my best friends got engaged One of my best friends from high school is engaged to her high school sweetheart One of my best friends from college is engaged to her college sweetheart (who I went to elementary school with) Both of those couples ^ have cute "how we started dating" stories. :) :) :) Went to a wedding of family friends. (I grew up with him, took dance lessons with her, and went to high school with both of them) I wore the dress I made from a skirt!! Sooo cute and comfortable for an outdoor summer wedding! Now I'm going to start reviewing for my ACSM Certified Personal Trainer test that I'm taking at the end of July!  Which reminds me, I need to update some workouts for my mom and...

A little while back, I wrote a guest post for The Scrap Shoppe.  Just in case you missed it, this is what I shared with her readers! :)  Go have fun making some tags for all your summer luggage! :) :) ----------------------------------------------------- Hi everyone! :)  My name is Wendy and I’m so excited to be visiting The Scrap Shoppe from my blog A and W .  I blog about crafts, cooking, sewing, and life in general as a firefighter’s wife working on finishing Grad school. Today I’m sharing with you how to make a simple luggage tag using pieces of scrapbook paper, a cardboard box, some bias tape, and contact paper.  Easy enough right? :) Let’s get started! :) 1. Cut two pieces of scrapbook paper and one piece of cardboard the size you want your luggage tag to be. 2. Glue one piece of paper on each side of the cardboard. 3. Print a label (using a cute font like the font found at Kevin and Amanda’s website :) ) and glue it ont...