Can't Wait....

I can't wait to bust out of the office in about 10 minutes! I am ready for the weekend!!! Some random thoughts I have been having:
(1) Iowa is hooooottt in the summer
(2) I wish garage sales happened in the winter months
(3) Katy Perry movie looks sooo good!
(4) I want to eat steak and potatoes tonight
and
(5) I am excited to see my lover face soooon.

Happy WEEKEND!

Sara

What I want to say but won't.

I am going to practice keeping my mouth shut today.  I would love to go on a rant about why I don't believe in Obamacare...but I don't think "political opinion" can be found on our blog description.  Perhaps Sara will feel differently and give it to ya! 
So, today I am staying on task. I want to share a recipe I am obsessed with these days!  It is simply called Baked Oatmeal.  Yummm...just saying the name gets my taste buds dancing!  I eat this literally every morning.  WHY?  Well, because not only does it taste delicious it is made with things that are good for you too (with the exception of some sugar)! 

The finished delicious product!

Ingredients:
8 eggs
1/2 c olive oil or butter (I have done it both ways, both are great)
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c sugar
7 c old fashion oats
2T + 2tsp baking powder 
2 tsp salt (omit 1 tsp if using salted butter)

Start by cracking the eggs!

Using your Kitchen Aid mixer or hand mixer, beat your eggs, then add your vanilla, sugar, cinnamon, olive oil or melted butter until well blended. NOTE: If using melted butter make sure it is not too hot or it will begin to cook your eggs!  In a separate bowl, mix your oats, baking powder and salt together.

  
Then start combining the 2 mixtures together.  I use the hand mixer or my Kitchen Aid mixer for this step too!  It should look something like this...

Refrigerate overnight.  Spread in 9x9 pan and bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes.  I store it in our refrigerator all week and just heat it in the microwave each morning.  It taste great plain but I like to lightly sprinkle it with brown sugar and pour hot milk over the top!  Other topping suggestions...fruit, raisins or cranberries, chocolate chips, pecans or walnuts....get creative with it!  I swear something about this stuff will keep you full until lunch.  Also, oats make the top 5 list for belly fat burners...and who couldn't use a little help in that area?!  I hope you enjoy Baked Oatmeal as much as I do!

I am going to leave your with my favorite tank top deal of the summer!  I got this (and 3 other colors) for $8 at Old Navy (Who knew ON would be my new hot spot!?).  I felt okay spending $8...but once I tried it on I was smitten...I would have paid $10!!  I love the fit (fitted through bust and flows through waist but not too flowy) and it is super light weight.  You can still find it online too!  Sorry, not a great picture of it!

Oh my word, I am such a cheeser!  I hope you are beating the heat!! 
Peace.out.sister.
Katie

Pictures

I haven't blogged in awhile but Happy Wednesday to you all!  This weekend was pretty busy with some fun events.. Here's a glimpse through iPhone pics.

Here's Katie and I at the Art Festival downtown.  A bunch of our friends went down for a fun filled night! Katie's shirt is thrifted and mine is old. 

Here's my babe and I at the Arts Festival, too. His shirt is thrifted from my local Sal Army! We went on Saturday to look around. He really wanted a chambrai shirt (J Crew has one for like $100!) so we found this one and I think it looks uber handsome on him.

In other news, Colby just got out of surgery! He ended up having to have surgery. I just talked to him and he sounds pretty good. His mom took this photo for me since I had to work.

Another thing I am starting to do is put together puzzles. My friend Kelly bought a bunch at a garage sale. They are fun. I stayed up too late on Monday night and am STILL dragging from it.

Here's a cute pic of two of my nieces and one of my nephews. They are too cute for words and just a blast to hang out with.



I love this quote.  Lately, I have been trying to become really aware of this with my job and relationships.  I have just really tried to focus on all of my life's blessings and not be stressed out about (1) how much I am making, (2) what my future is "supposed" to look like, (3) home ownership possibilities, and (4) an endless list of other things. I've also been trying to say outloud each morning 5 things I am thankful for. It helps your mind and spirit, in my opinion.

Adios,

Sara

IT'S FRIDAY FRIDAY

YEEEELLLLLLLO!

Today marks a very amazing day: IT'S FRIDAY! YEE HAW AND ROCK N' ROLL. This is how I feel inside right now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfVsfOSbJY0
If you don't understand that, I don't understand you.. hehehe.

So, this week I drove to the red-dirt state of Oklahoma for work!! I really love Oklahoma because of their beautiful oil pumps and red dirt. It's kinda sorta magical.  Anyways, its about an eight to nine hour drive. The drive down wasn't too bad, but the drive back was hellacious. I was sooo tired from staying up to watch the OKC and MIA game!  I am usually freezing cold, so I try to drive with the windows down as much as possible because its more my "temperature". Well, it was bloody hot, so I had to run the air.  Knowing I would probably be driving with the AC going, I brought along a blanket. Here's what I looked like for the majority of the drive:

This blanket is uber-soft and warm. Got it from Target on Black Sale Friday last year. Hells yes.



Anyways, while I was driving back, I was calling everyone and their brother. Talking was keeping me awake! Well, I had just gotten home when I got a call from my love face, telling me he had flipped off his dirt bike (http://growingupvandergirl.blogspot.com/2012/05/orange-cardigan-and-memorial-day.html) and that he thought he hurt his hand! I was in disbelief and thought he was lying because I am a worry wart and always tell him not to get hurt, blah blah blah (basically I am an annoying nag). Sooo, after telling him he was lying for about 5 minutes, I finally believed him. So, he said he was going to go home and shower and see how it felt. He calls me about 30 minutes later and is going to the ER (he thought he broke it). I am such an annoying person, I was thinking there was no way he broke it (he could move it and what not). Anyways, I head down there and meet him and his mama. He got right in and had his hand x-rayed.. Here is what the x-ray showed:

OUUUCH! Do you guys see that really badly broken bone?!?!? Poor babe!

Colby had broken his poor hand!! They started putting a temporary splint on his hand and had him set up with a trip to the hand surgeon the next day (at this point, he doesn't have to have surgery!). Here's him getting all splinted up:



Anyways, he is doing alright and not in too much pain (or at least he doesn't say he's in that much pain!).

Here's a little something-something for all of our ZERO followers:

This shirt is from Salvation Army. It's Banana Republic. It looks really wrinkly in these pictures--sorry. It's nice because its really light and airy.

I got my glasses at Vision for Less for $40. A steal of deal if you ask me. However, they just started peeling:

I don't really care because I never wear glasses unless my eyes are hurting.. Which MYLANTA, they are killing me lately. I think I have allergies of some sort. It feels like gritty sand is in my eyes (maybe that was a little dramatic).

Anyways, Peace out SISTER CHILDREN!

Sara

Softy

I went shopping today. Big flippin' deal, right? Well it was...because usually I am toting my 3 amigos with me. BUT not today. Today, it was just my little B and me. It.was.glorious. I usually look like a frazzled mess with one child screaming hysterically, the other about to fall out of the stroller, and the other child...well if I could find her?! Seriously, get the picture?! Today I looked dignified. Maybe even like a 30 something mom (bonus)! Anyway, the point of my story is this...I think those 3 amigos protected me from all the cray crays that work in retail...they were attacking me...pulling at my dress hem to buy, buy, buy!! AND WOW, I realized I am a softy. I actually felt guilty. I kept thinking I had to buy because these people really want me to and boy are they selling it. BUT HELLO KATIE!!?? The crap they are selling is not in the budget (Oh the budget...thanks for keeping me in check!)or on the "need" list. SO...I used little B to get me off the hook. (I know totally wrong.) I found myself telling every sales associate that I had to nurse my child. It worked like a charm...something about breastfeeding either disgusts or embarrasses the general public. Well, thank the Lord...because today it saved me.

***On a side note. I am going to be updating my living room a bit. My good friend Lindsay is going to help me! YAY! I will share some before and afters for you all! You will also be able to check it out on her blog!

Back to the original subject (Hubs would totally be calling me out for the spider webbing). Here's what I bought today: Hand soap sale at Bath and body $3, Gap dress $13, gap undies $>2. Oh, I did splurge on Charley's Subs. I flippin' love that place...although I am sure my lunch cost more than most of my purchases. Oh well.



Hubs is a half hour out...better go shave my legs! ;)


Katie

It's been too quiet around here...

Could it be that hubs is out-of-town and Sara played fill in Daddy for a few days? Maybe. Having 3 kiddos overnight can be pretty rough stuff! Heck...we even fought like we were married...but don't worry nothing like the blowdryer!
For reals- we had a great weekend lounging with family and dominating some black raspberries with my parents' neighbor boys plus LBK (aka my nephew, Landon).


Pretty sure we were both laughing so hard we could have (or maybe did) pee our pants. At least we ended up with some delicious Black Raspberry Turnovers!
OK...so something worth reading. I purchased this shirt at Goodwill awhile back and wore it last week! I almost forgot to share it...good thing I creep back through my I-phone photos every now and then! It was $2 something and worth every penny! It is one of those shirts that makes you look nice even if you haven't showered or washed your hair in a week or so (no lie and gross). These pictures aren't great (especially because the colors are so pretty in the shirt) but I can't expect the world when Sara took at least one of these photos on "the pot." Does anyone else refer to the toilet in such a manor? Also...who is that handsome little man I'm holding?...no bias.


Again...can't apologize enough for the cheesy pics...but aren't you glad I am saving huge amounts of time by not always having a perfect picture!? Well, I am. Much love to you all. Have a good week. I know I will because Hubs gets home tomorrow! YAY!!
Word to your mother.
Katie

Denim on Denim on Denim

Howdy!!

Last night I went to a bbq for my sunday school class. The weather was absolutely PERFECT. It was supposed to start storming so there was a nice wind and it was probably in the 70s. ALSO: There are no bugs out right now.. someone was saying its because we haven't had a lot of rain. Who knows, but I'll take it!  Here's what I wore:

I picked up this vest at my local Salvation Army. I really like it. Its nice and breezy.  Also, got the belt from Sal Army--it's white leather. Pretty awesome.

Colby with Landon and Kadance

Did anybody see the OKC/MIA game last night? 2nd in the series? I thought OKC was going to pull it off!!

Wednesday night we went to this dirt bike track out in the COUNTRY. Colby and his friend went and rode their dirt bikes. I was soo freaked out when we got there. I have never been around dirt bikes/dirt bike tracks/etc. I kept asking Colby if he thought it was safe. After he assured me it was, I told him not to do anything he "wasn't comfortable with". How big of a nag am I?!?!  Anyways, he did great! He jumped the biggest jump and had a great time. Here's a picture:

HAPPY THURSDAY!!!!

Sara

Why do I love weekends sooo much?!

I am constantly counting down the days until the weekend, and on Sunday night, I am dreading Monday morning.  This makes me wonder if I'm not enjoying my week? I've been trying to tell myself to let myself live a little during the weeks, so I don't dread Monday morning so much! Anyways, here are some pictures of this past weekend! I need to start going buck wild Monday through Friday--don't I?

I actually helped my dad pour some cement steps. I was the mixer and wheel barrow hauler--how did I end up with that job?!

I picked these black raspberries from a neighbor's yard on Friday...

Then made these yummy turnovers with some of the black raspberries and cherries I had picked from my Grandpa's cherry tree. They were delish!

Flew this beaut' to Sully, Iowa for a nice breakfast with some of the flying club guys. That's my dad in the picture.

I bought these Nike pants for Colby from a garage sale. My friend Kelly, my sister and I went garage selling on Friday. They fit him great and are a mesh material.

I don't have that much interesting "material" to write about today. Work has been busy this week.  The company I work for took us to a Cubs game yesterday afternoon. It was a perfect day for a ball game. I got a little sun and soaked up whatever vitamin you get from direct sunlight. So it was definitely a win-win for me! 

Today over lunch, my friend Gina and I went to Salvation Army for our weekly shopping outing.  I got a really cute dress. I will wear it this week and post pics later. Let me just tell you that there is a crazy lady that works there. She's kind of obsessed with me and G. I think its because she sees the fabulosity that we put out from the fresh clothes she sells us. HEHE.  She calls us sexy and all sorts of inappropriate things!

Ok, I am rambling. Much love.

Gowing up Vandergirl...And the blowdryer.

So...I thought it would be fun to share a glimpse of what it was like to grow up with a house full of girls.  I have stories upon stories with each of my sisters!  However, Sara and I use to brawl.  Literally, brawl- like boys.  She was definitely a tom-boy for a while and I was sort of one...so I guess it fit our personalities to throw down every once in a while.
Anyway, One night we were getting ready (we always did this in towels or in the buff...not sure why, but we did) she did her ever-so-famous button pushing with me.  She launched a pillow at me while I was curling my eyelashes...seriously...owe.  Out came a chunk of my eyelashes and fire quickly filled my eyes...in an instant I was on the attack.  Somehow, she weaseled her way into the bathroom where she slammed and locked the door...her life would be spared, or at least temporarily.  I cannot adequately express in words how angry I was at this point.  Not only was I missing a good portion of my eyelashes, I could not even make her pay.  My evil, devising mind came up with a plan of action...beat the door down?!  No, Dad would kill me.  Wait until she got up the nerve to come out?  No, I would loose my anger and not give her the whooping she deserved.  Cry?!  Yes, that might work, but I would have to be convincing.
I began crying and told her I was bleeding and I needed to get into the bathroom.  She was suspicious but she wasn't cruel.  So, after a little more convincing through fake tears... the lock turned and I was in!  I lunged at her and took her down to the ground.  I grabbed the nearest thing I could find to wallop her with...my eye caught the blow dryer and instantly it was in my hand and I was making her pay.  She was screaming for mercy and mercy I did not show.  UNTIL...Dad (Dad?!) came to her rescue.  Dad pulled our naked bodies off of each other and Sara was saved.  You would think we would have been embarrassed...standing their nude as he quickly exited and scolded us on his way back downstairs...I guess revenge and anger had overtaken us and being naked was the least of our concerns.  What a sight for our poor father...I bet he might have secretly wished we were boys in that moment! :)
It is crazy to think that we use to have moments like this growing up (more often than not). Somehow we would end the night cuddled in the same bed occasionally kicking each other but mostly talking and laughing.  We really, genuinely loved each other...despite our physical and verbal fights.  I think they actually made us grow closer together.  Today, we all (meaning all 4 of us) can be brutally honest with each other without hating each other.  We GENUINELY share in each others hurts and joyous moments.  We aren't jealous of each other and want world for each other!  We are each others besties!
***So...the moral of the story is...beating the crap out of each other ensures a friendship that runs deeper than the sea!  HE HA!!!
Here are some photos of Sara and I as youngins!

My Mom always had all 4 of us matching on Sundays!

We were quite the softball players!

I am pretty sure this was for a junior high school dance!

One shouldered dresses!

Obsessions

I am a food junkie!! Seriously. I love food...I love to talk about it, think about it, plan for it, etc. I love rich and fattening foods, but I am now closer to 30 than 20...so I had to change-up my diet to maintain a weight I feel good about. I thought it would be hard, but surprisingly I feel great!! I still binge on my favorite desserts or white bread, but I try to keep it in check!! The best part of eating healthier is you can still enjoy amazing food!! Here are some of my food obsessions lately! I will post recipes later...here's a teaser!  -K

Roasted veggies

Sauteed veggies

Chicken Ka-bobs

Pony-tail with body and Goodwill shirt and belt

 I have been asked a lot how to I keep body in my hair even when it is in a pony-tail...so, I thought I would tell ya!  I am sure there are several methods on this, but this is what works for me!  I always, always, always back-comb my hair at the crown of my head.  I usually only have to do this right after I wash my hair (which I do only 2xs a week).  But if it is looking flat...let the back-comb be your BFF!

Ignore the lump in my hair...I had it up before this!! :)

Above is a left over back-comb from the night before....as you can see it is pretty settle.  If , I was going to wear my hair down I would have to get after it!  Next pull your hair into a lower pony-tail!  Make your pony-tail holder tight...very tight!

like so.  My face just makes me chuckle...so serious!

Next, pull at your hair at the crown of your head (right where you back-combed it) Keep pulling it until you get the height you like...I also tighten my pony-tail (by pulling the hair in the tail in two pieces in opposite directions) as I pull at it!

like so.

Here is what your finished product should look like!

 It's so easy and it just makes your pony-tail look like you actually spent some time on it!  I also spray a little hair spray into my the "tail" of my pony-tail  and "fluff" to give it a little life!

Also, I wanted to share this shirt and belt I picked up at Goodwill!  I think I spent around $4 for both items!  The shirt is Gap and the belt is JCrew!  Not a bad deal! My shorts are from TJMaxx for around $10-$12!  I like them because they are a respectable length for Wednesday night church or an evening dinner!

A

As I always say to Sara when I hang up the phone with her....Peace.out.

Katie

Weekend Randoms

This weekend was BUSY! I loved (almost) every minute of it though!

Friday I went and watched the BF play slow pitch softball. He did really well. I never knew I had such a slugger on my hands!  After the game, we went and loaded up on some carbs (pasta!) because we were running the Dam to Dam race the following morning. This race is 12.8 miles and, if you don't train, can be quite hellacious to complete! It's a really pretty course.  My sister, Lisa; BF; BF's brother; and BF's friend ran it. Everyone did great and the weather was perfect. Here is a picture of my sister and I after the race:

Lisa did really well (finished with mile averages of 8:30/mile), I did OK (finished with 9:30/mile); and BF did really well, too!! I don't have the picture of Colby (aka BF or Love Face) and I.. I will try to find it.  My body was in excruciating pain because I was a mega-major slacker and did not train enough. My foot still feels like its fractured and when I walk up stairs, my knee locks up!!
After we finished running, I went home and sat in the hot tub to relieve my post-race pain. After I got cleaned up, I went flying with my dad. I fly small, single-engine airplanes for fun with my dad and grandpa.  Anyways, we flew a plane they (dad and gramps) purchased a couple months ago and I hadn't gotten around to flying it because they had it tore apart fixing things! Here's a picture of the plane (Cessna 172):

It's beautiful and so different from what I used to fly (Cessna 150, which is a lot smaller). This plane felt really heavy on the controls, which is just something I am going to have to adjust to! It was fun and I ended making some great landings.  On a related note, I would like to draw your attention to what I was wearing:

This shirt I purchased from Salvation Army is awesome. It's kind of an "Old Woman" shirt but I love it. It is a cotton, button-up that was so comfortable for a hot day in the plane! I originally picked it up to wear to this Erich Church concert I am going to this summer, but I like it for a lazy Saturday! My shorts are from American Eagle and I love them. I wear them all the time.

Anyways, later on Saturday we went to my friend's birthday party, which was really fun and really "random". It was "random" because we were at his parent's house out on probably 10 acres and there was a guy that showed up on their front door--he was bleeding from his head.. Turns out, he had been helping his friend (who's car broke down) try to get his car started, and somehow literally had his head ran over by the car!! It was freaky but the guy ended up being OK. My sister, Lisa, who is a Physician's Assitant, was at the party and went right into action by helping him with his head wound before the ambulance arrived. She's a rockstar!

On Sunday I made a feast for my friend Sarah who just had an adorable little baby boy! I made fettucine alreado with chicken (sauce was made by hand--GO ME!). Here's a pic:

I also took her some garlic bread which I cooked on the grill. For myself, I grilled some delicious veggies. Here is a pic:

These veggies were delicious. I mixed them with a smidge of olive oil then put a salt and pepper mixture on them. Then let them grill for about 20-25 minutes total. I just had some for lunch yesterday! YUMMM.

I wrapped up my Sunday night by playing cards with my girlfriends and sisters! We have formed our own card club--we are awesome and cool--and play every other Sunday night. We play a game called Nertz. It's bomb.com.

Another thing I am really excited about:

RASPBERRIES!!

Much Love,

Sara