Happy Thanksgiving

Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving trip to Wyoming.  We had a really good time with my family and were very impressed with the University and city of Laramie.

Live version of a statue on the University of Wyoming campus

Josh and I at the game

Pretty Wyoming sky

Josh enjoying the bear statue on campus

Dinner on our last night there with everyone

Josh and I with Pistol Pete (or as I call him, Slim Jim)

Too early for the Christmas spirit? Not in this house.

Last weekend, I realized that we will be in Wyoming all next weekend and in Marshall in a few weekends.  I love Christmas so much that I decided to decorate early so we could fully appreciate the Holiday spirit. Don't judge me. I REALLY LOVE Christmas.

Glass block from Grandma Jans Christmas 2011

Getting Pinterest Creative

Christmas Nook

Bringing it into the kitchen

A little DIY to add to the festivities

I know I mentioned in a past post the Thankful Board and Yuck bucket.  Here they are...

The Thankful Board

A while back, we got a ton of free cheese (perks of putting all the effort into planning a program that no one shows up for).  I have been seeing tons of recipes on Pinterest for crockpot macaroni and cheese and was inspired last night to use some of our free cheese.  My last attempt to make homemade mac and cheese was kind of an epic fail, but I was determined.  I used this recipe from the Pioneer Woman (love her!) and altered it a bit to fit what we had.  I added broccoli and hot dogs.  After one bite, I knew this macaroni and cheese deserved steak or something fancy, not hot dogs.  This was BY FAR the best macaroni and cheese I have ever had.

Yum!

I did everything the same except used 4 oz. (half a brick) of reduced fat cream cheese and two cups of colby jack cheese.  For spices I omitted the mustard (and pretty much every other spice she mentions) and added 2 tsp. of cajun seasoning and 1 tsp. of finely ground black pepper.  It was even good the next day without the broccoli and hot dogs.

Look at that smile and empty plate!

Another thing we did was tidy up our bedroom a bit and finally broke out the new, "fancy" comforter we got for our wedding.

Please ignore the basket of dirty clothes and the drying clean clothes and check out our new set-up!

Today I am working on some homework and getting ready to head out for Wyoming on Wednesday.  Josh is really looking forward to the "street nuts" and pumpkin cookies I will be making.  We may also sneak out for a little Christmas shopping.  Only 19 days until the Jans Christmas in Marshall.

Things I love...

There was a lot of negativity in our house lately.  We have been very frustrated with no outlet.  My pinterest motivated mind went to work.

We now have a "thankful board" and a "yuck bucket."  When you are thankful for something, you write it on the board.  It is on the back of our front door, so we get a reminder of the things we are thankful for every time we leave the house.

When something is getting you down, you write it on a slip of paper and put it in the yuck bucket.  That way you can get it out of your head and move on.

On a completely unrelated topic, there is almost nothing better than how much Josh, Chase, and my dad love each other.  It makes me so happy.

For the thankful board today:
1. Family
2. Wine
3. Visits from friends
4. Patina
5. The semester is almost over!

The feeling...

Of wanting something so badly it hurts!

Poor Josh.  He deserves better than this.  Why can't someone see how great he is and just hurry up and hire him?  I am thankful of my recent experience on the other side of hiring for a little perspective and patience in this.  But as anyone who knows me will vouch, I am not very patient.