AlisonNickle

"She Works Hard for the Money"

2009-09-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

Well, friends - due to the fact that I have been a very busy bee lately there have been a serious lack of posts. So sorry! I've dealt with some health issues (surprise, surprise) and changed my day to day life dramatically. I have a job!! My fabulous friend Brooke, a recruiter for Wellmont Health Systems, passed my resume on and really helped me out. I interviewed for two positions (throwing up during a phone interview, yup) and I started a temporary position on the 24th. I am the new HR Assistant for Holston Valley Medical Center. I am liking it so far, new things to learn everyday. The plan was to get my foot in the door and transfer after 90 days into a permanent position (aka a 90 day interview, shew!). Well guess what? I already scored an interview! Its for the HR Generalist for Wellmont Physician Services - a promotion. The interview is on Wednesday, and I hope it works out! If it doesn't I am just going to keep on trying. Its been interesting getting back into the swing of things and learning how they do things. Everyone is really nice and helpful at the hospital and I really hope this becomes a long term thing! I met two women that have been there for 40 years! Crazy. Jeff has been so supportive and excited about the whole adventure. He packed my lunch a couple of times and left notes of encouragement for me. He even started my car and had coffee waiting for me one morning when I was particularly moody and mad I had to wake up so early :) Love him. I was feeling like I was doing an awful lot of waiting on God lately. All of a sudden, God just started showing me how he was moving in my life. He reminded me that He is in control and that HIS plan is the plan that I want to follow. Send up some praise fingers!!

I'll leave you with a few wish list items for my new workin woman wardrobe.
This skirt.

Banana Republic

jcrew

New Red Shoes, Ann Taylor

Little Day to Vacay

2009-08-07T06:28:00.000-07:00

Thought I would share a few pics from our visit to Big Rock with the brother-in-law, Tom. The pic above was my view for about 5 hours while I sipped a tasty beverage and finished my latest guilty pleasure reading, The Sookie Stackhouse novels. Ya know, the series on HBO, TrueBlood is based on the books. I actually just finished the third one yesterday. I am so deep.

Ya'll know I had to girl it up.

That's the hubs - he looks really cool, but he ate it! Sorry, honey.

Little Bit and BIL, formally known as FBIL.

Fun Times, except that I used 44 weight watcher points that day! Just to give you an idea, I only get 19 points per day. Yeah. I was paying for that one all week. Lots of workin out and sore muscles. I feel really blessed that we live so close to the river. Its just something about being in the mountains that calms you and reminds you how awesome our God is. Wonderful day!

Domestic Bliss

2009-07-31T08:08:00.002-07:00

This is a long post, so grab a spot of tea or just some chocolate and relax! Let me toot my own horn for a bit. Yesterday I achieved what I like to call Domestic Bliss. I accomplished everything I set out to do around the house and then some. I did the little chores you don't do that often, but make all the difference. I organized the hall closet, laundered quilts, vintage linens,and clothes, {excercised}, cleaned out the fridge,and tried a new impressive recipe! (The pic above is the latest bounty from the garden).

I decided it was time to roast a chicken. I read a couple recipes and made up my own! So here it is.

I used what I had in the fridge. All the recipes called for yellow onion, but unfortunately mine was rotten. I also added fresh rosemary from the garden.

After I washed the chicken and took out the neck and giblets (ewww) I let it drain and come to room temp along with the butter. I sliced the potatoes, onion, and one lemon. I used a corn holder to prick the whole lemon so the juice would be sure to flavor the chicken.

I seasoned the chicken with salt and pepper inside and out. There's garlic in there too. I stuffed the cavity with some onion and the whole lemon. Meanwhile I sprayed the baking dish with Pam and layered the potatoes,then a layer of onions. I placed the bird on top, squeezed the lemon, rubbed the skin with butter and roasted it at 425 degrees for almost 2 hours.

DELISH

The potatoes were to die for because they were flavored by the drippings from the chicken. yummMMmm. The Hubby couldn't stop telling me how awesome it was. It made me feel so good!

After dinner I noticed that I needed to clean the microwave. I read recently that a good natural/green way was to put a lemon in water and warm for a couple of minutes. I used the lemon that was in the chicken cavity.

It worked beautifully!

Are you still with me?

While the chicken was cooking and there was a break in the rain I ran across the street into one of the fields and picked some "weeds".

I used part of my milk glass collection (that will soon be for sale in my etsy shop, don't worry, I'll invite you to the grand opening) to display the flowers. The orange weeds match my color scheme in my bedroom! Fun pop of color.

In the guest room. Sorry some of the pics are blurry, my camera is not cooperating. You get the jist.

In the guest bath.

In the kitchen.

In the living room. I just added some queen anne's lace to the undead part of an arrangement the Hubby gave me two weeks ago.

There you have it! Domestic Bliss!

Virtual Shopping

2009-07-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

wire baskets

compotes

ruffle plate

Zinc place cards

All vintage except for the placecards. I want to gift the compotes to my mom so badly! Virtual shopping will just have to do! Have a great day!

A Day in the Life

2009-07-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

of Lola Piper Hammond. Love her.

Kitchens

2009-07-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

I was going through my inspiration file and these are the kitchens that I have saved. I think I have a clear idea of what I would like!

Love the zigzag tile.

What's not to love here. Love the double islands and the different counter finishes. Love the ceiling, the ladder?! Come on! Love the lighting and the bar stools. Love the marble. Seriously top fav.

Again, the white cabinets, the island in a different finish, the marble.

Same color scheme. Same lighting. Love the floors. I am into the winged-backed chairs at the dining table. Just noticed the ceiling again.

I need a sliding barn door! How unique is that? There are a few antique doors at this store in downtown jc.

I like the simplicity of this kitchen. Notice the celing again. I had no idea I liked it so much. I like the use of linen and the different finish on the island.

This kitchen is a little different. I tagged it as modern country. I like the feel. The lighting. It reminds me more of my current kitchen. A little cozier.

So from this little experiment, I know that I want white cabinets and marble counters. I need that fabulous ceiling I was saving each time without knowing it. I want a farmhouse sink and a few unique elements like the sliding door and the cool floors. I want beautiful lighting and a clean feel. Some current modern elements and some old-fashioned elements to balance. Okay, ready to build my dreamhouse now. Someday we will build a house on our own little farm (or not so little). We will have creeks and ponds for wading, fishing, and canoeing. and woods for exploring, building forts and hiking. and fields for running for our family to enjoy!

Yard Work and Such

2009-07-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

We've been doing a lot of work outside lately. I was minding my own business watching lifetime movies and the next thing I knew I was armed with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Oh friends, how I love this little sponge. Just when you thought that your counter was clean, run the eraser over it - magic! Even better! Once I get one in my hand I just can't stop. It is the absolute best product to clean soap scum. I have always used the most abrasive solvent I could find. I ALWAYS finished with a headache and an asthma attack, no joke. Just don't go crazy like I did and use it on your walls that are painted with a flat finish. So back to outside. Jeff bought me a Cracker Barrel rocking chair about a year ago. It lives on our front porch, covered. Folks, it was disgusting. Evidence.

Just look, with a gentle swipe of the magic eraser.

Sparkling!

My husband works for the Dharma Initiative.

Don't all your husbands wear a zippered jumpsuit, a bandanna, and dress shoes to work outside? Jeff does, naturally. Never a dull moment, friends. I love him.

Yummy!

2009-07-21T13:29:00.001-07:00

Don't you want to run to your kitchen and create this? I want a bite immediately! But it just so happens that I started weight watchers today... I will be living on 19 point a day! Little intimidated. Have a great day! As soon as I can get my camera and internet working at the same time I will have some fun pics for you!

789

2009-07-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

Today is a cool day. At 12:34:56pm it will be 123456789! Right?!

I thought I would share a couple dinners that I've thrown together recently. Last night we had "grilled" chicken. I say that in quotations because we are without a grill at the moment. Funny story; Hubby was being an awesome boss as always and decided to have a cookout last Thursday before the holiday weekend. I was already in bed the night before, he was so proud of himself - he said, "Did you hear that racket outside?" I was like, "Yeah, what in the world were you doing this time?" He told me about the cookout, and while I had reservations about him taking our grill - I would have gone about it in a completely different way - it was already in the truck so I just told him to have it back home for dinner that night. Fast forward to that afternoon. I call and he says, "Babe, um, I have bad news." When he says that its serious. Like the last time he said that, he told me my favorite restaurant of all time(and the site of our first date) El Chico was closed. I took a deep breath. He told me that he was driving along minding his own business when the grill literally flew out of the truck! He said its worthless now, completely broken. At least no one was behind him, it could've been dangerous. I can just imagine him in his 3 piece suit picking it up on the highway. Glad I wasn't there! I am sad because, (A) its summer and that means grilling (B) grilling means healthy and (C) we bought that grill the week after we got married with a bonus check he got. We thought we were so married. Oh well. If you have a grill you would like to gift us, please let me know.

Back to the good stuff. Last night I wanted to try butternut squash.

Yummmmmm. I cut it in half, scooped the seeds out and baked in face-down in some water in a dish for about an hour. I took it out, drained out the water and put some butter and brown sugar on them-then placed it back in the oven on warm until the rest of the dinner was done. I had chicken that I cooked on a grill pan (there's my secret) with fresh herbs from the garden and some spices. I served it with a spring salad with blueberries,different nuts and raisins, feta, and balsamic dressing. We finished up with the MIL's homemade bread! So good! Jeff was not so keen on the squash which I expected, but I thought it was really good! Tyler said it best when he said if a squash and a sweet potato made a baby, it would be butternut squash.

The next dinner was an open the refrigerator with a hope and a prayer dish. I used these ingredients.

I spruced up the sauce with the brown sugar (guess I'm into it these days)garlic powder, and fresh green onions. Threw in some tomatoes and green peppers with some chicken - used the lovely grill pan. And...

Voila!

I just so happened to have made green tea (in my new vintage strawberry pitcher)earlier in the day. It rounded out the theme of the meal!

We finished up with fresh cherries for dessert! Yummy.

By the way, if you haven't tried that rice, go immediately to the store! Its such a time saver and its super yummy. The hubby and I regulate on Uncle Ben's Ready Rice on the daily. Really. So tell me, do you have any fun meals that you have just thrown together that you loved? Any time-saving yummy hidden gems that I should know about? Leave a comment and let me know!

2009-06-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

Today...

Outside my window... Blue skies, sunny, and warm. I see my watering can and lavender. I found a four leaf clover this morning!

I am thinking... about balancing my day with to dos and want to dos. Laundry or baking? ok, both.

I am thankful for... my wonderful, hardworking husband. Good friends.

From the kitchen... yummy dunkin doughnuts coffee, gonna have grilled pineapple tonight.

I am wearing... a fun little red and pink tie-dyed tiered cotton slip (I know, still in my pj's is funny).

I am creating... some fun upcycled items for my new etsy shop! Also working on a bench to put in my guest room.

I am going... to the grocery store today. And going to my grandparent's lake house for the fourth! And to the lake with Tracy and Russ Sunday! Can't wait!

I'm reading... Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult - read it.

I am hoping... my garden continues to grow. Squash are ready for the picking.

I am hearing... Lola breathing like an old man.

Around the house...Lots and lots of laundry of course. Kitchen is full and cluttered with items for the etsy shop. Gonna clean and store today.

One of my favorite things... to take a good shower at the end of the day, put yummy lotion and comfy pj's on, sit down and read a good decorating book or magazine.

A few plans for the rest of the week... work on shop, find a job(!),be a good wife

A picture to share...

Jeff took the picture with his cell phone in our side yard.

Virtual Shopping

2009-06-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

(from my inspiration file, don't know where its from)

Ya'll know how much I love to shop. I quit cold turkey - for now. I was thinking why not just do some harmless virtual shopping to calm the craving... So if I had unlimited funds right now this is what would be in my shopping bag.

Custom Lola Portrait

This mirror to lean in our bedroom.

This necklace from etsy seller chinacherie

This vintage dress from etsy seller planetclairevintage

So there you have it! I feel better already.

Luxury Camping

2009-06-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

For our anniversary I surprised Jeff with a trip to a falling waters resort, we stayed in a yurt! Its actually a mongolian tent - a cross b/t a tent and a teepee - but upgraded. You have access to a bathhouse, electricity in the yurt, and a firepit/grill. There are 8 total and we think we scored the best one! It was called Waterfall, #7. It wasn't right at the bath house so we had more privacy. You could also hear the waterfall the whole time! I saw it in a magazine and knew it would be perfect for us.

This is looking into the yurt from the deck.

And inside - a queensized bed!

A futon with a basket of fresh towels!

We had a lot of fun! I'll leave you with a few pics!

So seriously folks, you have to go! It was a blast!

bike rides

2009-06-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

I am back. So my big idea about the next post will have to remain a surprise. Here's some recent pics of the hubby and me at Poplar Springs. We were attending a beautiful wedding and had some free time. Check out the activity barn!

It used to be a working shed on the farm, but they kitched it up and put bikes,tennis rackets, fishing poles, badminton, you name it, in there for the guests to enjoy! I hadn't ridden a bike in forever and the saying is true! It's like riding a bike! I really did jump right back on.

We felt like little kids. My favorite toy when I was little was not barbies, no- it was my bike! I even gave it up for lent each year. Here are some sites that we came across.

That's THE poplar tree that the inn is named after. Beautiful and calming. See how big it is?

One last thing. The Hubby thought he would show off and ride off road. As he was doing so I remembered riding off road when it had just rained...

I don't know if you can see, but he is one muddy fellow. I spent the evening cleaning his not even 24 hour old clothes in the sink instead of getting pretty for the dinner! I love that man!

Finally!

2009-06-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

My first post! I've been reading blogs for who knows how long. Its so interesting to me to see how other people live. I've gotten a lot of inspiration from other folks - I might even go as far as to say they've influenced me so much that I have changed my outlook more than once. On life, marriage, faith, family, and most importantly and especially my decorating taste (snickers). Anywho, my plan is to keep a journal of sorts, show what is inspiring me at the moment, capture my latest hobby, and really just have fun.

I have a fun idea for tomorrow, but for now I'll leave you with my latest purchase.

Its from the etsy shop sickboyvintage. Check it out!