I'm back, Jack!

Wow!! Wow!! Wow!! It's been almost 4 years since I last posted...  I apologize for the crickets over the last few years.

I have done a lot of pondering over the last couple months about going back to the things I really love and one of those things is BLOGGING!! I have remained a reader of blogs but stopped writing and honestly I don't really know why?!?!

I went and saw one of my dear friends from years ago a few weeks ago. While I was visiting with her and seeing her beautiful home, she was so inspiring. She reminded me of how I use to love to decorate and be creative and well, I haven't done much of any of that in a while. Right then I started thinking of all the things that used to make me happy and how I want all of those things again.

Another big thing happened yesterday that also made me think, do what makes you happy! It was the anniversary of mom's passing. It has been 15 years.. I'm not sure why it just hit me, especially after 15 years but I had an euphony! It might have been from all the sweet posts that everyone said about her. That how she always had a smile on her face and was really happy. I know if she was still here today she would be doing something BIG! I know she would probably be using her incredible talents and probably running her own empire. I was lucky enough to get some of her talents and I have decided I need to start utilizing them and dream of being remembered like her, always having a smile and being happy.

Most people live their year from doing BIG things starting on New Years day. I'm going to change mine up and live mine from the day my mom passed away, June 14th. I will think back each year on it's anniversary and think, did I live the way she would have lived? Each year I am going to make a list of things I would like to accomplish. At least 5 on the day of. I'll hopefully add to them as the year goes on and I cross things off my list...

Here is my list for this year...

1) Start blogging again! Well, doing pretty good so far...my blogging is back, Jack!

2) Start taking a dance/hip hop class! I absolutely love to dance, especially hip hop! I'm going to find a class I can take once a week. Going to get my grove back --yes, I'm officially old! Anyone in Houston know of any good places for adult hip hop classes?

3) Go on walks and do morning yoga! We just moved to a new neighborhood that has an AMAZING park for walking so I really have no excuses. Kallie leaves for her dads in a week so when she is gone I really have no excuses to not start doing yoga again in the morning. We have plenty of space to do it every morning before I get to work!

4) Start doing creative projects again! This one should come easy since we just bought a new house and I am decorating like crazy. I love to make things myself for our home, refinish old furniture, etc. I want to complete at least one project each month but will am for many more!

5) Pursue my own dream - start my own company! I have already started to do research on this but haven't dedicated enough time to it. That will change this year!

6) Be more invested in my job! I have a pretty amazing job that I am blessed to have. I am going to be more invested in it and work harder this year!

Well, friends! This WILL BE the first of many blog posts you will see. I have many things to blog about... our lives have changed TREMENDOUSLY over the last few years. To name a few, met the man of my dreams (AGAIN!!), moved to Houston, married said man, bought a house...plenty of AWESOME things to fill you all in on! Stay tuned!!


Much LOVE!!

Mykla

So far...

Kallie has been at her Daddy's for 18 days...I can't believe I have made it this far! I have been filling it with lots and LOTS of crafts for her...more to come.

I am taking off work on Friday and Monday to spend time with my little munchkin and I CANNOT WAIT!! When she goes back to her Daddy's for the last two weeks I am going to fill my time with even more craft projects. It makes the time pass a whole lot faster.

A few things I have been working on...

I made Kallie's antique dollhouse into a bookshelf...

Hair bows...I've made two for each pigtail in about every color you can think of and I plan on making giant ones as well...

She of course has to have a bow holder to hold all those bows...

Who doesn't love an IKEA hack? I painted this little children's table I got for $20! I'm in love!

I also got this little canopy from IKEA! Her little table just fits perfectly under it. Kallie starts Kindergarten this year so hopefully some homework, reading and epic tea parties will be taking place here!

I started her reading nook last night. I painted wood letters with chalkboard paint and added chalk for a little color!

Going to save a few projects for when Kallie comes home for good! I am so excited about all these projects! :)

Five for Friday

One of my favorite blogs to read is Natasha's over at Hello! Happiness and she along with the three other bloggers created a Five for Friday link up that I just love! It's where you dish about five things your lovin' this week or five things you would like to share. Did I mentioned I have discovered that I love the three other ladies blogs (a. liz adventures, carolina charm and the good life blog) that I had never read? I just love the blog world!

Here are five things I'm lovin' this week...

One. Friends that are family.

I had some very close family friends come to Dallas just to meet us for lunch and spend time with us. Annette was actually there for Kallie's birth and it was so nice to spend the day with them. They have always been good to us and we are very lucky to have them in our lives.

Two. New pictures for my office.

I finally printed some pictures from my best friends wedding and framed them in my office. It always amazes me when I put new pictures in frames, replacing old ones and seeing how much our lives have changed, but still being in each others lives. Makes my heart happy.

Three. My sweet girl.

Today, I dropped Kallie off at school and won't see her for three whole weeks. It breaks my heart to spend so much time away from my girl but she does love spending that time with her Daddy and it is nice recoup time. I have a super special weekend planned for us when I get her for a weekend and then she has two more weeks at her Daddy's after that.

Last night we went and got frozen yogurt and watched a movie on Disney Channel together. I already miss my sweet girl.

Four. July list.
While Kallie is gone I always make a list of things I would like to do. It helps pass the time and everything on the list is stuff I really enjoy doing. I'm keeping it shorter this year so I can hopefully actually mark stuff off of it. Half of the stuff is actually centered around Kallie.

Five. DIY Projects.
I went to Hobby Lobby and stocked up on some stuff for some projects I have planned. I do believe I will spend the majority of my time in that store in July. I always get so excited when I see stuff there and all these projects start running around in my mind.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Shrimp Feta Linguine

This is my favorite meal EVER hands down and one would think it is difficult to make, but it's not! Sometimes on weekends Kallie is at her daddy's I will make it and eat it for lunch and dinner...all weekend! It's that delicious! So, what are we waiting for? Let's get to cooking!

What you will need:

Bell pepper chopped fine - about 1/2 - 3/4 the pepper
3 stalks green onion, chopped fine
1 Tbsp. Garlic, chopped fine
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can Rotel
1.5 to 2 Lbs. raw shrimp - peeled and deveined
1 cup white wine
1 to 2 tsp oregano
1 container feta cheese
Linguine pasta noodles

The first thing you will want to do is chop/dice up your bell pepper, green onions and garlic. Coat a large stock pot with your 2 Tbsp. of olive oil. Pour in your chopped up bell pepper, green onions and garlic. Saute them until they are cooked, which is about 5 - 7 minutes, constantly stirring so they do not burn. Next, add the can of diced tomatoes and can of Rotel and let that simmer on medium-low to medium heat for 15 minutes. Now, add your 1.5 to 2 pounds of raw shrimp, 1 cup of white wine, sprinkle in the 1 to 2 tsp of oregano and last, but not least, your feta cheese. I also add in a little salt at this point. Cook this until the shrimp are done, which is around 5 to 7 minutes. Serve over linguine, sprinkle feta on top. To complete your meal, serve it with some bread and a salad!

I am on Weight Watchers so I did not want to add up points with the linguine. I ate it as a soup and it was divine! The feta cheese gives it a creamy base. 1/5 of this recipe is 11 points without pasta if you are counting points!

Bon appetite! 

Kallie in Wonderland

A couple weeks ago my step-mom and I took Kallie to the Alice in Wonderland exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. I had never been to the Arboretum and had always wanted to go. I am a Groupon junky and found a great deal for this exhibit and thought it was a perfect opportunity!

I was very impressed with the Arboretum but not so much the exhibit. It was only like five little houses covered in flowers and the story printed on big banners plastered on the insides of them. My step-mom and I just looked at each other and thought, "this is it?" This is probably why they had a Groupon for it. While it wasn't as great as I expected it to be, Kallie had fun and got some great pictures of her!

 Kallie and TaTa checking out the lily pads and bullfrogs!

 Can you spot the bullfrog?

 Beautiful flowers!

 Kallie loved the tee-pee!

 Flirting per usual!

 Kallie loved these houses!

 Classic bathroom mirror shot!

 Finally made it to the Alice in Wonderland exhibit!

 Kallie and the tea party!

 OFF WITH HER HEAD!

 Kallie couldn't get over Alices neck!