Honey, What's for Dinner?

     Lately I've been trying to up my cooking game.  Since I'd been working a lot of overtime my culinary skills were really slacking.  So now that it's Summer & work has been so slow I'm trying to change all of that! If I did my job right here are a couple meals to make your mouth water ;)

This sandwich is thanks to my friend Heidi.
I had not clue what I was going to make when I got
home from work last week but Heidi to the rescue!

This was delicious, thanks for the tip Heidi!

This was my first attempt at a homemade pizza that wasn't from a kit.
I loved it!

Not the best pic, but it was oh so delish :)

Until next time!

XO-The Culpeppers

More Color!

     I spent the afternoon changing out & adding more color to our front flower beds.  Thanks to Home Depot's warranty on their plants I returned some of the plants I bought a couple weeks ago no questions asked!  I was pretty bummed that I had to get rid of them but they were looking pretty pitiful even after I dragged the hose out each day & watered them by hand (shocking I know...what with having timed sprinklers and all).  

    So after getting rid of the high maintenance plants I opted for some mexican heather & more of the cute little purple bambi flowers.  Here are some pictures of our more colorful front yard.

PS-I am in the process of convincing Chase to move some where that I will never have to see something like this again...

!!
I think this is the spider that the pest control guy said
preys on birds....birds for crying out loud!

That is all for now.  Pretty excited update I know... :)

XO-The Culpeppers

To the Lake We Go!

   As you know we spent last weekend at the lake house.  It was an amazing 2 day mini vaca!  I am SO grateful for the family that we have because we truly have a great time together.  We filled the weekend up with lots of fun in the sun!  We rode around on the jet ski & the boat, floated around, played football, and did a lot of good eating!

It was a great trip, one that I will have lots of great memories of.  Here are just some of the great moments we were able to catch.

Chase "studying" on the way there ;)

Pretty much our favorite place to be!

2nd fav ;)

Ready for a fun day of water sports!

Brett workin' it on the skis 

Going out for another round

Cheesin' with Jake in the back, lol

Me & Kristen

Uh oh, she's ready...she's determined...

She's up!

Oh yeah...the old folks got out too ;)
jk, jk!!

Ms. Hollywood herself & Nana and Grandad

   After a long day we ate and then hung out for a bit while the sun set.

We were pretty whooped...

And sunburnt... 

But look at that sky!...so nice!

The next day wasn't much different...we were pretty worn out & sore so it took us awhile to get going.

Some longer than others...

But with a little sillyness....we made it happen

Ready for more!

lol

"The Audience" as I like to think of them ;)

loungin'

Oh Aunt Toni...lol, enjoying the water with the boys & Rosie!

 We finally made it out into the water after some much needed sunscreen application & stealing some dry fit shirts from our cousins (thanks guys!)

Nothing like warming up with some water football!

Or arm wrestling...lol

Back out on the boat!

Cody tubing!

Brett cruisin'!

     Since Sunday was a short day we all ate lunch pretty early then started to clean up.  We convinced the adults to let us take the boat out for some tubing before we headed home...best decision ever!

"I'm the king of the world!"

Keith is ready!

We're not ready to go back in! lol

 It was so much fun that we didn't want the weekend to come to an end!  I can't wait to do this again with everyone, we don't all get together enough!

Special thanks to the Beemans for hosting & allowing us to hang out in the house & play with their toys!!  We are so grateful to be a part of your lives & we enjoy getting to be part of the family!

   Look for more pictures to come of our family football game once I get more pictures from my sis.

XO-The Culpeppers

In Full Bloom

    I came home the other day to a nice surprise.  Our Crape Myrtle that was planted when we built the house 2 years ago is finally blooming!  The color is pink...who knew??

Not the biggest of news, but exciting none the less :)

Here's hoping for lots more blooms to come!

XO-The Culpeppers

Summer Lovin'

  Even with the heat it hasn't quite felt like summer.  This weekend that all changes!  Chase & I are only off for 2 days from work but we are treating it like a mini-vacation.  Tomorrow morning we will be voluntarily waking up early on our day off to make the trip to Lake Livingston with my sister & brother-in law.  Pretty much my entire family will spend the weekend on the lake!  We will be enjoying some time out on the boat, jet ski, & of course lounging on the floats!  I am so excited to spend a weekend out of the house away from the chores & studying and spend our time laughing & playing with family.

I was supposed to work today but due to an error with my alarm clock I, for the first time in my life, overslept!  Once I was awakened by my neighbors pounding on my door with Chase on the phone trying to make sure I was alive I found out that my work didn't need me so I took full advantage of the time off.  I spent my morning doing all the chores I would miss this weekend while we'll be away & I got started putting together some treats I bought for the lake-house getaway!

I was requested to bring chips & ranch dip, something that is a beloved staple at our family gatherings.  I also decided I wanted to make a cobbler to take, as selected by my aunt I went with peach.  It smelled amazing putting it all together & even better coming out of the oven.  It will be hard for Chase & I not to try it until tomorrow!  Here are some pictures of my first attempt at Peach Cobbler.

I may have licked that spoon...

Who needs a cook book when you have the internet?! 

All ready to be baked!

Voila!

Let the mouth watering begin...

This looks so good I am thinking about going to the store to make another...maybe a mixed berry??

Happy Weekend to everyone!  

Check back for a lake house post next week!

XO-The Culpeppers