I'm (still) lovin' it

This weekend I worked both Saturday and Sunday. Which is really hard especially when your hubby is all snuggled in bed and you loose an hour of sleep! But I made the best of it and started the weekend by treating myself to breakfast Saturday morning.

Yep an egg McMuffin minus the Canadian bacon. It is one of my favorites (don't judge)! I also treated myself with one of these.

It has been about 2 years since I had an Iced Coffee from McDonald's. As some of you may know these babies came out about 2 or 3 summers ago, they were only $1. I tried one (loved it) and drank them a lot that summer. Since then I just fell off the wagon or fell back on to the Starbucks wagon. I also stopped again this morning just for another one of these. Again don't judge me. I also really like McDonald's in general. Watching Super Size me will not change my mind, ever. I really don't eat there that much so you don't have to worry about me dying of a heart attack early in life. Please try one of these sweet little creations while the weather is warm outside. My favorite is sugar-free vanilla (which is only 90cal for the medium incase you care!) Hope you all have a great Monday! I'll be thinking of you from my warm bed! :)

Our night without lights.

Last night during the Oscar's Ryan and I had the misfortune of loosing power! We lit about 4 candles in the living room, waited around for about 10 minutes for the power to come back on and when it didn't we decided to turn in.


Can you even believe that not that long ago people lived without power? I totally understand the original need for daylight savings! Those extra hours of daylight are so valuable when you only have candles. As we discovered last night, you really can't read very well with candles, wash your face, or put away the laundry. Especially when you don't want to drip wax all over your house. I actually thought it was nice to be without power, it provoked conversation between Ryan and me as well as helped me fall asleep faster than I usually do! I woke up feeling more refreshed than normal. Maybe all you need is a night without lights with your honey to feel refreshed too?

Money, Money, Money

I have a confession to make, my eyes are green just about all the time these days. As in green with envy. I litterally feel like I want everything I see which mostly just makes me want things other people have. Lately I have really wanted a new bathing suit. I have also wanted a nice camera for years and now a lot {Jenna and Rachel} of my friends have one and that makes me green too. BUT as you all know I got married last year and the very last thing on my husband's mind is spending money. All he seems to talk about is

that's right 401k's, roth IRA's, and retirement. I am 24 years old people! It is driving me crazy! I know deep down in my heart that I have an amazing husband and {apparently} we will be able to retire in our 50's. Which is really exciting because I don't want to work for the rest of my life. I actually don't want to work tomorrow, so retirement would be good, but sometimes I would just like to buy all this

and make over our bedroom. I am praying that I will be more focused on building up treasure where it really matters, but sometimes it is really hard to not get sucked into this world. Please think about me and pray that I will not become cosumed in earthly treasures.

Terranea Resort

While I do not normally watch the Bachelor Ryan and I tuned in last night. In case you didn't already know, we were really disappointed with the ending, but we did find out some fun news. Next week Jason and Molly are getting married at Terranea Resort which is were Ryan and I spend out honeymoon! Just like Katie said it is so fun to see the beautiful place where you made so many fun memories! I hope you can all tune in so you to can get a little taste of what it was like to be on my honeymoon! And then we can talk about it since you all know I really like to talk! :)

Here is a little preview of one of my favorite places...

Also I feel like I should say I was really not overly excited about going to California for my honeymoon. I guess I really felt like I should go someone more exotic {mostly Hawaii or Fuji}. Please don't judge me for being shallow in this sense but as God always does he more than humbled me. I have never been treated so well or pampered like I was on my honeymoon. Props to my husband and my mother in law for picking this amazing place! I really hope we can afford to go back super soon!

I love it when were crusin' together

I hope you all had a beautiful holiday! I really enjoyed my first Valentine's Day being married. I think that the best part about being married was the gift I got this year. Ry is taking me on a cruise! While I already knew this {about a month ago} because I had to get off work it is still super fun to look forward to! And have an excuse to take a little trip to Macy's to buy a new bathing suit when everyone else is buying coats and boots to keep warm in this weather...

Now don't get me wrong I love a little snow storm but I am ready for a little Vitamin D! I am actually quite excited for this little storm because I chose to not go to work tomorrow and Ryan is {probably} going to stay home with me tomorrow! We are going buy our new suits and get packed because on Thursday

we will be leaving cold cold Lexington to get on this Royal Caribbean ship! I can not wait, I need some sun and I have never been on a cruise before!

Sending you love from the Bahama islands!

P.S. Take a listen to this oldie when you get a chance! Crusin by Smokey Robinson it reminds me of my parents dancing at some wedding receptions and it is very fitting for a cruise!

Since You've (I've) Been Gone!

It seems like it has been forever since I have connected with my blog friends. I kinda felt like I was blogging too much and let's face it, I wasn't really working in November and December so I had A LOT more time on my hands. I didn't really thing anyone cared about what I had to say or anything really then MUCH to my surprise a bunch of people told me they missed reading my blog! This was almost enough encouragement, but when my father-in-law said he missed my blog I knew I had to get back to it! So, since you've been gone I have been one busy nurse, wife, and new homeowner! I started a new job and it has taken me a little while to get used to working full time again. Now on to my projects..

I finished my little entry way project! I bought a mirror and found a few cute boxes to fill the bookshelf. I also found a better way to make use of my shutter by using clips to hold things up!

Some of you my not remember the set up of my living room previously, but now we have two couches and a lot more seating! Ryan really likes that we each have our own couch! We are both excited to have more space for our friends when they come over!

Finally the biggest project of all! I painted stripes in our little half bath a few weeks ago! I think it looks pretty awesome and a little surprised how well it turned out! If any of you want to try stripes I have some tips to make things easier on you! Now on to a project I would like to complete in the next few weeks...

I just borrowed this fancy sewing machine from my awesome bible study leader Frankie on Sunday! Mind you I have NEVER sewed before. (Well I have pushed things through but I have never set anything up or cut any fabric on my own) My mom is an awesome seamstress so I never really had any reason to learn in the past, but now I don't live with my mom is unfortunately she doesn't live close so I would like to try my hand a some little projects on my own. I WILL leave altering expensive dressing, making clothes, fancy pillows, and curtains to her. I really just want to recover some ugly pillows that's it for now! So wish me luck! I have not yet bought any fabric but I may venture out today! Hope you all have a great day!

Family Christmas

We have had the best week visiting my parents, but of course I would say that. I really think Ryan has enjoyed himself too!

Here we are ice skating last night! We had so much fun! Please disregard my ugly warm clothes, we did not come prepared to go ice skating. Everyone joined us except my Dad he took all of the pictures. I again learned that my husband is a natural at ice skating, like he is with most activities. I am glad our kids will get his genes! {hopefully}

Here is a picture of my brother and sister ice skating as well. Again please disregard my brother facial hair. He is really into swimming and they do this {not shaving any body hair} every year during the regular season. Thankfully it will come off at the end of February. Megan's goofy face originates from her allergic to physical contact and since Logan is touching her you get that face, but that is really a whole other story. Tonight we went to church and then out to eat for a wonderful entirely too filling dinner.

This is Ryan and me at dinner tonight.

This photo is about the 14th try from my dad and as you can tell Megan and I lost our patience :) Now we are all home cuddled up on the couch enjoying this...

I hope you all get to enjoy some laughs with your family during this wonderful time of year. "I love to smile, smiling is my favorite"

P.S. Please do not hate me because I use my iphone to take pictures, I love all of your real photos I just lost my camera cable so I can't really upload photos :)

Running Days

I know I know I have been long gone from the blog world. I am so sorry the last week as been super busy. We had a bunch of holiday parties and drove to visit my parents, which I will tell in more detail later but let's just say this Crate and Barrel! Treat* Today I went to the YMCA with my mom and sister. This is really a daily activity for me and my family, but it is different over the holidays. There are tons of people at the gym! This really gets me going I run so much faster and further when someone is running next to me especially someone I don't know. I know that doesn't really make sense but I like to kinda race them in my head. For example see who stops first. Sometimes that is me but I still like the challenge. That being said I ran my little (or big) booty off today. Which is why my foot is currently like this...

The ball of my foot is killing me! I decided to ice it because one tip from Runners magazine is to take care of your body when you are training. I am not really training but I hope to start training in January (maybe) for Lexington's half marathon. But to get me there and keep me in shape while I try I need these!

This is a sensitive subject at my house because Ryan does not believe that you need new shoes until yours have holes in them. In my world my dad who is a major runner gets new shoes about every 6 months, so I am more accustom to that method of thinking. I have had these for over a year and I really would like a new pair. I do not think I am getting any for Christmas, because running shoes are one of those things you have to pick out yourself. But I know what I will do with my Christmas money if I get any! Happy Holiday Exercising to You and Yours!

Heart Pounding

I pretty much make my "heart pound" daily, usually at the gym. Today this happened twice once at the gym and once when I saw this in my rearview

I actually passed this pretty little black and white on New Circle going about 75 m.p.h. I saw it and thought oh man this is going to turn into a bad day quickly. I was following a brand spankin' new Mercedes so I thought maybe the cop has a grudge against rich people so he will go for the guy in the big shot car over me?... But no I was totally wrong in every way! A little bright red Jetta passed all of us, including the cop {stupid} going oh about 85 m.p.h. So the Jetta saved me and the Mercedes! Good Day! I was then able to get home in a timely manner to complete this little project...

Yep you got it! I finished my little shutter project :)

Here it is in my little entry way! Next I need to add a little mirror to complete the area and I'll be finished! Blog friends please be on the look out for cool mirrors especially cheap ones! And finally I got to spend some time with my favorite girl...

My sister! We watched My Sister's Keeper! I am so thankful we don't have to endure something like cancer together, but the honest truth is that we may have to one day. I am glad she is by my side for my whole life! Sisters are the best!

Surprise!

Just a few minutes ago I was working on my third and final ham dish for the week when I heard a knock at the door. I thought who the heck would be at my house this time of day? I walked to the front door thinking oh my gosh we REALLY need a peep hole! I could be getting ready to open the door to a serial killer! Please make note; this is now a STAT Saturday project. Anyway I looked through the front window as secretively as possible and I saw the UPS truck in the street. My initial thought was, "What did Ryan order from eBay?" But no! It was this beautiful package on my stoop!

I briefly thought maybe I should wait for Ryan to open this in case it is some sort of Christmas gift, but I simply could not wait! I tore into this box and I found a beautifully wrapped package with these super fun goodies inside!

A beautiful ruby red mixing bowl, Christmas cookie cutters, and sugar cookie mix! I was most curious about who gave us this gift. It was addressed to Carly and Ryan Brehm. I was pretty positive it was from Ryan's mom because she is fun and sending a spontaneous gift really seems like her personality. I was wrong, it was a late wedding gift! Treat! One of my dad's BFF's from college sent it {well actually his wife sent it}! Super fun! I can not wait to use these things!

P.S. I made creamy ham potato and cheese soup it is the bomb.com! The ham adventure was a complete success!

Ham Night 2

As you know from last night, I ventured out and made my first ham. Now I have tons of ham so I am trying to think of fun ways to eat it for the next few days. Tonight I thought of ham turn overs very easy when you have a bunch of ham on hand! First I started by cutting all of the nasty fat off the ham. I did lost some ham in the process but I feel like it is worth it for my arteries. I cut up all of the fat free ham into tiny pieces and mixed it with 2 oz. room temperature cream cheese. {You do not have to use room temperature cream cheese but if you choose to use the cold stuff plan on an arm workout!} I then added about 2 cups colby cheese mixture and mixed my heart out.

The cream cheese or some creamy cheese like brie is helpful so everything will kind of stick together. Next I got to work on the bread part of the turn over. You could really use any type of bread such as pizza dough, biscuits, or puff pastry. I chose crescent rolls because we had those and the fridge and Ryan really likes them. I rolled them out with my fancy new Martha Stewart rolling pin and some waxed paper. {which really is a must because if not then you will be picking dough off your rolling pin for days}

I placed the rolled out dough on a baking sheet and put it in the fridge to firm up for easy filling. Next comes the actual turn over part of my little creations

I filled the turn overs with the ham mixture {this is where is cream cheese helps hold everything together so it doesn't spill all over your pan}. Then I pushed the seams together so they would not loose all of the filling to the pan while in the oven. Bake for 13 minutes at 375. And there is no cooked picture because Ryan walked in the door when they were finished and I forgot before they were gone. I did bake some banana nut mini muffins for dessert. To add to our ham we also have about 5 bananas that are going bad and I don't want to throw them away.

These were perfect to satisfy my extra large sweet tooth. Ryan and I watched Julie and Julia which was perfect for my cooking night! Stay tuned for cheesy potato and ham soup tomorrow!

Busy Bee

This weekend was a busy one but I would not have had it any other way! Friday night we had a Christmas Party for Bryan Station High School kids. The boys played Halo and the girls decorated Christmas cookies! It was really fun but also very tiring, I slept will Friday night! Saturday my bible study went out to eat for our annual Christmas dinner! There is one place we always choose...

That's right P.F. Chang's! It was so great to hang out with everyone hear about their lives, talk, and eat really good food! I also want to take a minute to brag on my bible study leader. She is totally awesome every week I have never met someone more patient, loving, or caring toward a group of young women. She always has snacks for us to eat every Thursday and calmly redirects our conversation when we often get off topic during bible study. Her vast knowledge of the bible amazes me I really hope that I can be a mother and leader like she is one day. Also she is the bomb.com to us every year for Chirstmas! And yes she treats us to dinner and we usually get an awesome gift...

the front of the ornament

And the back!

I think this is the most precious gift I have gotten this year! It is from Peggy's Gifts and Accesorites. It is so fun that I got a gift from there because I was just there last week wishing I could afford something in the store! Finally, I made a ham today! Ryan has had this ham since last Christmas from work and he is getting another one this week so it was now or never to make it. I was feeling really scared about making a ham because I know how daunting the task of making a turkey is and I thought they would be similar, boy was I wrong! Our ham was pre-cooked, pre-sliced, and came with its own glaze! It was probably the easiest thing I have cooked in months! I put it in the oven for 2 hours at 250 degrees then took a nap while Ryan watch football. After 2 hours I increased the temp to 425 put the glaze on and cooked for 15 more minutes! It came out looking something like this...

It may have actually looked better but I forgot to take a picture of it before we devoured it! I don't even like ham and I thought it was pretty darn good! It was also nice having our friends Jenna, Holly, Marshall, Eden, and JB over to eat dinner with us! Hope you all had a good weekend too!

Stressful Days

Hi blog friends! I have been a terrible blogger these past couple of weeks. I have a few reasons for this...
I have been feeling really stressed and acting a little crazy like this woman. Ryan is all too aware of my increased stress level, but the good news is my test will be over soon and I can get back to enjoying this wonderful Christmas season. A few things I am looking forward to in the next few weeks are...


White Chocolate Mochas in all their calorie filled extra whip cream glory! I will actually probably be enjoying at least one of these while I study. Next on my list is a little bit more season appropriate...


Perfectly wrapped Christmas presents! Some of you know that I like to spend a fair amount of money at Hallmark and make my gifts look picture perfect. These don't really fit into the budget this year but I will find a way to make mine look great! Hope you all enjoy wrapping your gifts this season too!

Happy Morning

Today I came into work with a little extra pep in my step. While I am usually peppy in the morning today was extra special. As I drove to work I saw people in cars that looked like this...



Ewww! Frost! Please don't get me wrong. I love winter, snow, warm drinks, pretty ornaments, and little frost on my kitchen window, but I do NOT like scraping this stuff off my car in the morning! There is nothing worse than starting your day off with cold hands! Also this particular morning I was running late because Ryan and I shared breakfast together. So, had I needed to scrap my car off I would have been late for work and that certainly is not the way to start the day. But I didn't have to scrap because this weekend Ryan cleaned out our garage and now both cars fit in it together!

While I do not drive cars this nice, I still like to protect my little Accord from the weather. It is also such a treat to have your heat get warm before you get to work! And also to top this day off I found out my good friend Ang is in LABOR! Ryan and I are so exicted for her and Micah we have already been talking about it this morning! Please pray for Angie as she goes through labor and pray that Silas remains healthy during labor and on his birth - day!

New Stockings!

I did it! I just recently purchased these cute little gems about 30 minutes ago...

As many of you know Ryan and I decided to wait and buy new Christmas decorations this year until after Christmas. I think it is totally awesome that I will have an awesome Christmas 2010! BUT we really needed some stockings and today only, at Pottery Barn you can get free shipping and momograming! So these were a steal! Hopefully they will continue to have a pattern like this or something that goes with it so that as our family grows (in the very distant future) our stocking collection can expand too! We got the bigger stockings and they say "Carly" and "Ryan" in red. I can not wait until they come in the mail and I am super excited for December 26 when I can buy more decorations!

Thank-full Day

I know everyone is probably doing this today but I have so many things to be thankful for I feel like I must express them! Today I am thankful for my salvation with out my amazing savior nothing else in the world would matter! As always I am thankful for my family and that all my monetary needs are met every year. But most of all this year I am thankful for my sweet husband! Ryan and I often talk about how great it is that we never have to have awkward first dates again or experience heart-break. I am thankful for Ryan's spiritual guidance in my life and that he makes me laugh daily...

We have so many wedding pictures like this because we laugh so much together! I hope you can find something to be thankful for whether it is big or small. On a smaller note I really like this...

I think this is so fun! I get excited to see how google will portray the holiday we are celebrating! I wish you all happy shopping tomorrow! Hopefully I will find something great! For now Ryan and I are leaving Pinehurst and on our way to my Grandma's house is Charlotte!

on the road again...

We are back on the road traveling for the holiday. We have made it to our first destination

Pinehurst North Carolina to visit Ryan's family for the holiday. We got in around 4 yesterday afternoon and have pretty much been eating since then. There is always a feast at the Brehm's and I love it! Today we are going to the gym to earn all of the eating we will be doing. Until then I will enjoy my favorite breakfast

Grapefruit!!! It is great having a family that loves to cook for us and buy the things we like to eat. I hope you all get to enjoy the fun food this holiday offers!

Christmas is Coming

We had a wonderful but very busy two days at weekend camp! The program went well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves but it left Ryan and me very tired at the end of the weekend. I still managed to get some things done around the house. We had about 36 hours at home before leaving for Thanksgiving so I wanted to make them count! I finished Christmas for Ryan's family because we will not be seeing them in December. And I worked on a little project of my own...

Yep I decorated our house for Christmas! This is the first year I have ever done this, so I feel pretty proud of myself (Ryan did help me a little so I wouldn't kill myself falling off the roof). Sorry the picture is not great and my car is in it but I think you can get the general idea. I also added a few little things around the house from a box of decorations I found. Not to mention I did laundry and packed for our little holiday adventure. Tomorrow is a full day of work then we are off to North Carolina early Tuesday morning! I hope you were able to check some things off your to do list in this busy time of year. By the way, I am not as my blog sounds. I did not make it to the gym and I did not study for my CCRN today two things that really need to get done. Hopefully I can really hit the books this week!