One year later.

Is anyone still out there interested in my adventures in learning new things? If you're reading this, I'll take it as a "yes" from at least YOU.

It's literally been one year since I last posted about the DIY Play Kitchen I made my 2 year old daughter (who is now 3 years old). So much has happened since then, but I've had little time to sit and type it out.

I've, of course, been trying new recipes, throwing together quick crafts I see on Pinterest, launched a passion project of making custom wood signs.. oh, and I grew a whole new baby who was born in September. NBD!

Adjusting to life with two kiddos has been an adventure, but it's so fulfilling I can't complain much. In the name of "trying new things" as I boast on this ole blog of mine, I will say it's been a huge learning experience. It's so new - having two living beings (plus a hubby) to keep happy 24/7. One thing that rings true: I'm so tired, guys. HAPPY & FULFILLED, BUT TIRED...

#LifeWithABaby #GiveMeAllTheCoffees

Anyway, when I find a few hours here and there I've been hitting the garage cutting wood, staining, paint and designing fun signage and wall art. I've got a fun hobby going and it's meshing my graphic design love/skill/passion with my eagerness to learn new things with my obsession with all things power tools with my giddy love of building things from wood.

See examples below:

I literally have a waiting list of custom jobs that I have to complete. [insert kid cheering: "They like me! They really like me!" - or at least they like my style]

This new adventure really is a perfect marriage of all my creative loves.

So, no, I haven't completely abandoned my blog. I think about it often and then the thought is gone and I'm back to feeding a baby, wiping bottoms, going for walks and making lunch. I hope you enjoy my new adventure in signs. Any ideas for a business name if this thing catches on?

Happy Spring!

Create a t-shirt design.

Each year, National Kidney Foundation hosts a Kidney Walk at Headwaters Park in Fort Wayne, IN, to raise awareness for kidney disease. Since 2008, my family and I have joined this walk to honor my cousin's mother-in-law, Lou, who had a kidney transplant. Our team name is We Love Our Kidneys!

It's always a lot of fun and any excuse to get out and go for a walk for a good cause is good enough for me!

Our team 2009 from left,  Elizabeth (my cousin); Adam (Lou's son/Elizabeth's husband) carrying Abby (our t-shirt designer), Me, Lou (Adam's mom) and Amanda (my cousin).

A couple years ago we started having Lou's granddaughter Abby, design our t-shirts. Last year, she gave me two designs and I combined them to make our final design. This was Abby's creation for 2012.

This year, she designed this for us. 

So, I quickly got to work transferring it to a digital image using Photoshop. I have a kick butt t-shirt printer that I use locally. He took Abby's design from my digital file, created a screen, then made as many shirts as we needed! This year we sported RED! 

Our team 2014 from left: Jennifer (Lou's daughter), Adam (Lou's son/my cousin's husband), Charlotte (Adam & Elizabeth's daughter in the stroller), Nathan (Jenn's son), Lou (the women we walk for), Elizabeth (my cousin), Abby (our t-shirt designer and Jenn's daughter), Me holding Caraline and Mike (my husband).

I look forward to next year to see Abby's design for us! She's such a talented young lady!

If you'd like to donate to the National Kidney Foundation, please go here (http://donate.kidney.org/goto/angiedeak). I thank you in advance for your contribution. 

Happy Kidneys!

It's a...

We've known now for over a month the gender of our baby on board. I'm excited to share how we told our parents, grandparents and siblings. We didn't need to come up with a big grand idea to blow them away, but we wanted it to be more special than just saying "Hey, it's a ---" That would've been boring. We're not boring.

So I did a ton of online searching for ways to do "gender reveals" but none were really doing anything for me. Then, I came across a baby shower favor that I loved! If you look at a HERSHEY bar you'll notice "HE" is at the beginning and "SHE" is in the middle. Whichever part you color in will show what baby is.

So that's the one I went with for a couple reasons. 1) It's cheap! A 6 pack of HERSHEY bars is a few bucks and 2) It's not elaborate like balloons or baking a cake with color inside (who has time to bake a cake?)

I ran to the store, bought the HERSHEY bars, went home and busted out my Sharpies. Here's how they turned out!

YEP! It's a girl!

Here's how our family saw the HERSHEY bars to start. Once they unstuck the note the SHE was revealed.

I was shocked when the tech said "girl" but apparently Mike wasn't. <-- and that shocked me, too. I was so sure it was a boy, so it took a while for the "girl" thing to set in. Now I'm thrilled!

We're so nervous overwhelmed excited to be parents. I know it's going to be the best and most high pressured job I ever have, but I'm ready. I've been ready. And I can't wait!

Happy Day!

No matter how slow you go.

Image Source

I'll be honest . . .

Tonight I DID NOT want to run. It was cold, I am tired from not sleeping well last night, my calves are on FIRE and my body said "No, Angie, no!" But my heart knew those were just excuses, and I didn't have a legitimate reason not to get my butt outside and run. I've got a 5K next Saturday and really I should be further along in my training than I am right now.

Anyhoo... I did some burpees to warm up and I headed outside. I even said to Mike "I'm just going to go slow. I'm not really feeling it tonight." Usually I run the first mile and then walk a bit, run some more and walk, rinse and repeat . . . But once I got going, I felt God saying "Go, Angie, Go!" So I kept going, around my subdivision entrance, onto the school parking lot 1.5 miles away. I only stopped twice. Once to tie my shoe that had come undone and once to let the 18 wheeler pass before I crossed the highway. I figure that was pretty smart.

It was hard and my calves were still on fire most the time, but I used that time to talk with God. I don't take care of this body the best I can. I don't use self-control. I often give into my urges and have the hardest time telling myself "No." I'm reminded that this is something I will continually need to work on.

So, back to my run tonight! I know some of you might be crazy fast runners, but I'm not and I just have to celebrate that tonight I ran my fastest 3 miles ever . . . 35:41!

When I got back, Mike asked how I did and I just showed him my phone and he gave me a big high five. 

It felt good. And I'm so glad I listened to that voice in my head telling me to push myself. And no, I don't have a picture of me all sweaty and gross to show you . . . nobody wants to really see that.

Happy Running!

Build a snowman.

My husband is part of a Fight Club through church (a men's non-physical fighting program) and each week they have assignments. Some are physical, some are spiritual, some are memorizing Bible verses. This week one of his assignments was to build a snowman!

We got a fresh snow on Wednesday but by Thursday afternoon, much of that snow had melted. We still had a little bit in piles in our yard so we figured it was best to do it now. Forecast calls for no more snow in the next week, and he only has one week to get his assignment completed.

Over a year ago, I saw this cute idea online to make an upside down snowman. I was so determined to do it last Winter. HOWEVER. . . we got like maybe 2" of snow it seemed and I wasn't able to get one made before Spring.

I told Mike what I wanted to do and he was game! It was so fun. I haven't built a snowman in years. I missed getting my gloves soaking wet and tromping through snow to find the "clean stuff" so Mr. Snowman doesn't look like he wrestled with piggies!

So here was our final product! What do you think?

Here's Mike with the little guy.

Happy Snowman Making!

Twice Baked Potato Casserole & Unclogging Pipes.

I love twice baked potatoes.

I also love casseroles.

When I saw a recipe that combined these two delicious creations, I had to try it. 

On Friday, I had a couple friends over and I used them as my guinea pigs for this recipe that I found on Six Sisters' Stuff blog, though it originates from a different blog. I didn't even think to take pictures while we were preparing it, because about 10 minutes into the prep process we had a hiccup - I told my friend to put the potato peels down the garbage disposal (bad decision) and like you'd guess, we clogged the pipes! THIS I had time to film! You're welcome!

On the bright side, I learned that it's not real complicated to open up your pipes and get whatever is clogging it - out! Just make sure you have a big tub or bucket underneath for the water when it comes flowing out. 

Now, hopefully the clogging hasn't grossed you out completely, because the actual casserole was DELICIOUS! But again, no progress pics. Only the picture of the final product AFTER we'd devoured most of it. 

---

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

(Recipe from Sippity Sup)

INGREDIENTS:

• 5 lb russet potatoes
• 10 sli bacon
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 0.5 c unsalted butter, melted
• 1 c sour cream
• 0.25 c chives, minced
• 2.5 c cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 t kosher salt
• 0.5 t pepper
  

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel potatoes, and cut into 1-inch chunks. Place in a large saucepan, and add enough cold water to cover by about 2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and reduce to a simmer. Cook until tender and easily pierced with a paring knife, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a colander to drain; return to pan, cover, and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon, and cook until crisp and browned, turning once. Transfer to paper towels to drain; let cool, and crumble into pieces.

3. Using a fork, mash the potatoes in pan until light and fluffy. Add the cream cheese, butter, and sour cream, and stir until combined and smooth. Add the chives, 2 cups cheddar cheese, half the bacon, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined.

4. Transfer to a buttered 3-quart baking dish. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese. Bake until top is slightly golden and potatoes are heated through, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven; garnish with remaining bacon. Serve immediately.

---

I can't use the Mike Meter on this one because he didn't get a chance to try any, but my mom did stop by Saturday and I gave her some to take home. She told me it was delicious! And she rated it a 10!

So, there ya go. Everyone loved the Twice Baked Potato Casserole! 

Happy Cooking!

Hike Kings Mountain.

In my last post, I talked about how my husband and I went on a helicopter ride in South Carolina. On the last day of vacation, we were in North Carolina with Mike's brother and decided to go hiking on Kings Mountain.

My man found himself a nice big walking stick.

And we were off!

Most of the hike was seen from this view... Mike's brother's back side. He does this hiking thing just about every weekend, so he's a pro. He keeps quite the pace!

Like the pace that might cause a gal that suffers from asthma in combination with high altitude to go into an attack. Yea, no big deal. I survived. But it was a fun 5 minutes while I got my wheezing under control and took a drink of water. We kept on going and an hour later we finally made it to the top.

One look around and it hits you... WHOA. GORGEOUS. God's creation on display.

There were quite a few groups of hikers and I walked around to a few and took group pictures for them (because generally I can't not talk to strangers). I feel bad for moms and dads with their kids who rarely get a pic of all of them together, so I like to help where I can. I also snapped a shot of the brothers.

And we took in the magnificent view.

Another check on my list of things I've never done, that now I have done. Trying new things really has broadened my mind. I'd love love love to go hiking again! Next time I'll bring my inhaler.

Happy hiking!

Helicopter, helicopter over my head.

I've flown in an airplane more times than I can count. Trips to and from Texas, Florida, New York, California... Hawaii! But I've never ridden in a helicopter. When I was about 10 years old, I got to take a ride in a small plane that my great uncle piloted. That's about as small as I've been in.

While in South Carolina on vacation with my husband, we decided to go on a helicopter ride. The last time we were there I begged and begged to do it, but he wasn't so sure. This time, he came mentally prepared to do it since he knew it meant a lot to me.

It was a beautiful day for a helicopter ride!

I was a little nervous at first. I mean, you never know if you'll be the next "freak accident" that nobody sees coming. We booked our flight online (which got us preference when we arrived) and drove to the Huffman Helicopters site.

My stomach was in knots as we walked into the office to check in. I was watching the promo tv screens in the lobby (and in the BATHROOM!) while Mike paid. Then they weighed us. Oy... I had to remind myself the extra poundage was due to it being mid-day and wearing clothes and having just eaten lunch... yea, right, that's it! Not the endless seafood buffets and wine every evening on vacation...

Either way, we both were deemed not too fat to ride and we were taxied to the landing pad.

We climbed in and I instantly started taking pictures! Our pilot's name was Brandon.

He was very gentle with us. We got to wear the head sets so he could talk to us and we could talk to each other.

Then we took off! It was weird, the feeling of the helicopter's stability. I felt safe, but I felt like I could fall out of the sky at any second.

We got to see a great view of the Myrtle Beach coastline.

It was so much fun!!

I am very happy that I got the opportunity to take the ride. It was something I've always wanted to do. I love this 2012 journey of Trying New Things. I'm expanding my skills and interests.

Coming up next... Hiking Kings Mountain in South Carolina on our last day of vacation!