So Long.....for now

You've probably noticed I haven't really been around the blogging world for awhile (since February to be exact).  As you all I'm sure know, I got engaged the end of February and life has been pretty busy ever since trying to pull together a July wedding.

But I have been thinking about my blog off and on during this time.  Thinking "should I update about my wedding plans?"  "Should I update about this?"  "Should I update about that?"  But, really, updating the blog just always came last on my list of to-do's.  So I've come to the conclusion to close up shop - for now.  I mean, after all, the title of my blog is "Just Christa," and let's face it, it's no longer just Christa in the picture.

I'm not positive yet if I'll blog again after I change my last name.  I'm hoping I will have more time to pay attention to a blog once I'm married and not planning a party for 300 people.  So if I decide to take the plunge again, you'll definitely be the first to know! 

Thanks for faithfully reading my blog for the last few years!!  Hope to see you again soon!

Christa

Good morning, Ladies! (and gentlemen, if there any of you read my blog?!?)

I've been meaning to blog for awhile now and even have some pictures on my camera to share with you. But I have seriously been so swamped with work that I really can't justify spending any time blogging. (as for Pinterest and Facebook - that's a whole nother story...)

But I read the Choice Gleanings calendar for today and just enjoyed it so much I thought I would pass it on.


"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:4

"Every dawn is a new morning and a fresh start. It can be a day to please ourselves or to please our Father in heaven. If a child chooses to please his earthly father, he finds a reward of happiness. When our hearts are willing to obey our heavenly Father, we too will enjoy a close and sweet communion with our blessed Lord. May we make today a day to please Him." E. MacLelland

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

So those of you that know me should know that if I'm posting a recipe, it's gotta be good. And I promise you - this is GOOD.

This is a recipe I found on Pinterest and made it yesterday along with turkey, veggies, etc. Both Hal and I, every time we took a bite, would just stop and stare at each other and say, "I can't believe how good this is."

Enough of the build-up. Here it is:

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole:

5 1/2 cups mashed potatoes (around 6-7 large baking potatoes)

1/2 cup milk

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream

2 teaspoons dried parsley

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

8 slices bacon crispy cooked and crumbled

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Peel, quarter, and boil potatoes for 15-20 minutes or until soft. Drain potatoes and and beat with a mixer until smooth. Add milk, cream cheese, sour cream, parsley, garlic salt, and nutmeg. Beat at a medium-high speed until nice and creamy. Add salt to taste keeping in mind that the cheese and bacon will add a little salt later.Spoon into a 9x13 baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Top with cheddar cheese and bacon. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese melts.

Serves 12 people. (and I made it for 2 - ha!)

Winter Solstice

So when I got to work this morning, my judge announced that today is the shortest day of the year. It's winter solstice. How depressing, right? WRONG. I was actually pretty excited. Because to me it means one thing...........the days are starting to get longer!!!!!!

Not that we've had an awful winter or anything.....or that winter has actually even started for that matter. But it just got me kinda excited. So I thought I'd pass it on!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

ps - winter solstice always reminds me of my Grandpa Keith, my only grandpa I never met. he married my grandma on this day because it's the longest night of the year. :) that man was thinking!!! hehe.

December Desktop

It's December 1st. I've been looking forward to this day for one reason, and one reason only - I get to download a new calendar desktop for my computer. Yes, I agree, I'm a nerd. Smashing Magazine has some really cute ones this month.

Here is the one that I chose for now:

And here is the one that I will probably change it to sometime closer to Christmas (only because I couldn't pick just one.):

Little Project...

So I've completed my first "major" project in my new house. There have been other major projects completed, but not by me. My amazing dad has replaced my front door (a PAINFUL all-day project) and installed a new garage door opener. And he's not necessarily a Mr. Fix-it either, but he loves me. And he's done an awesome job! I am so grateful! Thanks, Dad!!

Okay, back to my project. I decided to paint my downstairs bathroom. Every room in my house is the same camel color. So I thought I'd spice things up a bit, and I've forever wanted to paint a room gray. So here it is. Before, during and after. Whattya think?

November Desktop Calendars

I recently stumbled across this site, smashing magazine, that has awesome desktop calendars for free download. There's a ton of options for each month. I found it in the middle of October and didn't feel like changing it in the middle of the month. So I couldn't wait until November to change my desktop.

I'm a dork, so it's so exciting to turn on my computer every morning and see this pretty picture and have a calendar right on my desktop.

Plus if you can't decide on which one you like best, why not change it up a couple times throughout the month! There's some good ones on for November, so I might be making a switch in a couple weeks.

Quick Road Trip

As promised, here's the update on our weekend in Fargo. Hal and I stayed Friday night with Jared, Jill and the kiddos, although Eddie and Nolan were convinced it was Darby and not Hal. I guess they look similar? After Jill ditched us for her pillow (which was, what, 8:00?), the girls and I played a game of scrabble and made bead necklaces and bracelets until the wee hours of the morning. It was so much fun!

On Saturday morning, Carly, Alyssa and I headed out to the chicken coop to collect us some eggs. It was a little dangerous since they have a killer rooster on their hands. Seriously. But no worries because Carly brought the super soaker.

We managed to get our eggs without anybody getting hurt. After a late french toast breakfast, the girls and I got our work clothes on and headed back out to that chicken coop to give it a good cleaning. After chores, we had a nice relaxing afternoon of playing on haybales watching the trains go by, walking through the cow pasture, exploring down by the lake, getting covered in those prickly things (cockleburrs? - i have no idea. been too long since i've been in the country), jumping on the trampoline and just having a good time playing, laughing and enjoying the beautiful fall weather. I played with the kids, and Hal bonded with Diesel (their bulldog). I'm not sure who had more fun! He wants a dog SO bad. And Diesel loved Hal!

We then said goodbye and headed into Fargo to meet Jalon and Katie at the Fargodome for the NDSU v. Missouri State football game. We both had a blast and the weekend went way too fast. Hopefully we'll be able to make it back up sometime this winter.

Thanks, Jill, for letting us stay and do your chores!! And thanks, Katie and Jalon, for joining us at the game. It was great to see you all again and hang out!

Miss Me?

Just popping in to say 'hi!'

Don't have a whole lot to say, but just wanted to update my blog since it's been...........a LONG time. Sorry about that. I have been the worst at having my camera with me or even having time to sit down and tell you how incredibly boring my life is. But I'm hoping to start making time to fill you in a little bit better.

My man-friend and I are off for a couple days to the beautiful Fargo/Moorhead area (sense the sarcasm?)! He's never been there before and since his football team has a bye this weekend, we thought how better to spend a free weekend than by - watching some more football! So we're off to visit relatives and catch some great NDSU football. And bonus for him, they play the Missouri State Bears. (He's from Missouri in case some of you didn't know how that could be a bonus for him.)

So hope to have some pictures and an update when we come back. But don't hold your breath.

Going Dark

So after about the fourth annoying spam comment I decided that it might be a good idea to add a little security to my blogging life. You're probably thinking, "Why? It's not like you ever blog." I get it. But it's still annoying.

So if you're reading this, you made it!! There may be a few others that I know, but that I don't know read my blog. So honestly if you hear of someone complaining that they're not going to know the latest and greatest in my life, you can let me know and I'll "invite" them to the cool club as well.

He's Baaaack...

..and sporting a new 'do. I guess as long as he's home, it doesn't matter what his hair looks like.

Jordan flew into Duluth from Fayetteville, NC, (previously from Iraq) on Saturday and dad and I were there to meet him. We had a great couple of days hanging out watching dad's Squirt A hockey team whoop up on Duluth and Proctor - mostly Jordan and I just enjoyed the music they played during the whistles. You had to be there! Let's just say Jordan was a little shocked I knew all the words to Ice Ice Baby! We also enjoyed some good food, shopping, and of course, the beautiful view of Lake Superior.

Welcome home, Jordy!!

Day Trip

On Saturday Hal and I took a little day trip up to Duluth. He wanted to watch the UMD Bulldogs football game since they are the nationally ranked number 1 team in Division II and had won the national championship. They didn't disappoint. In fact, we left the game in the middle of the third quarter when UMD was winning 35-0. It was getting a little boring.

But that gave us time to head down to the shores of Lake Superior! I had never actually been down to Canal Park, and it was so much fun. We just walked around, out on the pier to the lighthouse and just enjoyed the view. It was such a beautiful sunny day. We even got to see a ship going out to sea and going under the lift bridge. I thought Hal would think it's cool, but he just kept saying "haven't you ever seen a boat before?" Men! I thought it was cool.

Crock Pot Hot Ham & Cheese

I don't think that in all my years of blogging (a whopping three?) I've posted a recipe. But the time has come, ladies and gentlemen. Trust me, it's a good one! Super yummy and super easy!! I can't take the credit, however. My friend Kristi made this one at a football party last year and I just had to have the recipe. So I made it for our Ladies Retreat this past weekend and have been bombarded with recipe requests. So here goes:

3 lbs shaved ham (pieced up)
1/2 brick of cream cheese
1/2 stick of butter
1/2 can of evaporated milk
1lb of Velveeta

Melt last four ingredients in microwave and pour over ham in the crockpot. Heat through.

Warning: it makes a lot, so it's good for big groups or like a youth group dinner or something like that, although the leftovers are just as good. And I'm guessing you could freeze the leftovers and just heat them up in the crockpot again if you have a lot left over!

Enjoy!

Quick Recap

Where has the time gone? Is it really September 1st? And have I really not blogged since April? What?!?! Well, I'll try my best to do a quick recap and fill you in on what's been going in my life this summer! Here goes:

Bridal shower for my cousin, Katie Ingeman (green dress).

1st Annual Block Cousin Fishing Tournament - SO much fun!!

Jace and his brother Ian came to MN for six weeks!

First stop - Barber Shop!

Sniped myself a rabbit! Woohoo!

My BFF Gina moved home to MN. Jordan came home for a pre-deployment visit. So, along with Darby and Deanna, we all went fishing. The fishing was AWESOME this summer on Lake of the Woods - check out those monsters!! We called them whale-eyes!! haha!

friendly little game of softball at Timbermill Park

Stacy came home for a visit, so I got to spend a day up at Spectacle Lake with her and Brian and their families!

Fourth of July Parade

Days spent at the pool.....

Grandma Jean's "surprise" birthday party - hosted by Jace!

New puppies, a good old-fashioned game of lightening, and a beautiful display of God's promises!

My surprise birthday party! Thanks, Micah - it was awesome!! And I really was surprised!

cousin Katie's beautiful wedding at Morris Point Resort!

And guess who is the newest resident of Minnesota?? It's SO nice to not be in a long distance relationship anymore!! Darby and Deanna came down for a visit a couple weeks ago, and the four of us spent the day up in Taylor's Falls along the shores of the beautiful St. Croix River!

So that's my summer in a nutshell.....and I promise I'll try to be better about blogging.