The Burchett Bunch

Sic 'em BEARS

2011-12-31T16:15:00.001-06:00

BEARS WIN!!! BEARS WIN!!! BEARS WIN!!!

Scott and I just returned from a fabulous trip to San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl. It was a great week with family and friends topped off with a WIN! Does it get any better?

I took over 300 pictures (yes, I'm the crazy camera lady). Here's just a sampling:

We arrived on Tuesday afternoon and went to the River Walk pep rally and dinner with Matt and Holly at Acenar (thanks, Lynette). The lights were beautiful at night!

Of course, we just HAD to stop by the Alamo...

and Scott read and read.

We then headed to The Esquire for a few pre-pep rally refreshments. Mom, Dad, David, Paige and Austin soon joined us.

After a few drinks, I tried to convince Scott that we should buy the property next door and renovate it HGTV style...he said "no".

Paige and I were pumped to cheer on the Bears. We later met RG3...that is, if cardboard cut-outs count...

The Tengs.

My little bro.

Even the fountain LOVES the Bears.

Paige gave a motivational speech.

RG3!!! We're in love.

After the pep rally, we went to Paesanos for dinner. It was DELISH!

The next morning, it was tailgating time!!! The Burchetts, Rodgers and friends joined us for a LONG day of fun. Dad rented a 40ft RV and the whole Collins fam was there...

even the littlest one!!!

My mom had these fun cups made...they had a typo on the other side...which made us all giggle :)

Joni brought these ADORABLE sugar cookies!!!

And then after the game...

Look who we ran into...BECKY!!!

THE END.

WAFFLE Cinnamon Rolls

2011-12-26T09:51:00.001-06:00

Look at our Christmas morning breakfast!!! That's right...WAFFLE cinnamon rolls! I had seen these on Pinterest and LOVE a yummy (and EASY and FAST) meal. Notice I didn't mention healthy? It's CHRISTMAS, for crying out-loud. Have at it!!! You'll probably cringe to know that we also had bacon...and not just any bacon...CANDIED bacon. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I used these cinnamon rolls. They were good but I think next time I'll use the original.

Get out our good friend, PAM, and spray generously on the top and bottom. Place one roll in each of the 4 sections of your waffle iron. Close the waffle iron (I held it closed for a bit...don't know if this mattered).

After about 3 minutes, here's what you get! Now, because of the cinnamon topping, they may tend to stick to the top, but not too badly. It was one hell of a clean-up though. Thank you Scotty!!!

Add the icing and...

VOILA! Waffle cinnamon rolls.

Will I make them again? YES! But like I said, I'll probably use a different type of cinnamon roll and a little more PAM on the iron. Happy waffle-making!!!

DIY Ornament

2011-12-24T17:16:00.000-06:00

I simply love putting the ornaments on our "memory" tree each Christmas. When I saw this, I just KNEW I wanted one too...or at least something similar. I'm still digging around, looking for an extra wedding invitation but until then, this will have to do. I typed up some precious memories we've shared throughout the year, printed them on pretty paper, cut them into strips, curled them around a pen and dropped them inside a glass ornament. I'd love to add a little charm like the inspiration ornament. I tried adding a kraft paper tag with "Christmas 2011" on it but it took away from the overall look. It's simple but I think it turned out pretty cute, don't you?

Speaking of special ornaments, I just adore this idea for old house keys. Now I've just got to get a new house so I can have an old house key...no biggie. I'll tell Scott to get right on it.

Here are a few more favorites, from our "memory" tree:

A MAJOR Award

Merry Christmas, everyone!

A "SPRINKLE" Shower

2011-12-17T15:00:00.000-06:00

Today, we celebrated Courtney and the upcoming arrival of baby Grant. We had a small group in a cozy, eclectic setting at Spoons Cafe in Historic Downtown McKinney. Am I the only one that didn't know that showers after the first baby are called "sprinkle" showers? Hmmm...

Grant will be here in about 2 weeks!!! We can't wait to meet him. Big sisters Hannah and Lauren are going to be so excited to have a little brother around. We love you, Court!

A Baby BOY Shower

2011-12-12T18:36:00.002-06:00

This past Sunday, we celebrated Jenny and the upcoming arrival of her first baby, Miller. It was a really sweet party for a very dear friend. My parents (so generously) opened up their home and the precious hostesses worked together to pull off one very special party. A BIG "thank you" to everyone involved!

Her nursery is blue and orange, so we decided to keep that color theme going for the shower. With this as the inspiration, here's what we came up with:

The indoor pictures are pretty dark. I'm slowly learning more and more about my camera and thanks to Kassie (another party hostess and photographer) I learned a few new tricks for my next party! She also recommended a different lens (that I'd like for Christmas...Scott, mom, dad...anyone?!?). Check out her website...she's incredibly talented.

We love you, Jenny, and can't wait to meet that little guy!!!

Say "CHEESE"

2011-12-06T22:33:00.001-06:00

I really enjoy taking pictures (you may have noticed). Yes, legit photography is one of the many things I long to do when I grow up. I have a LOT to learn. Thankfully, I have dear friends with precious little "subjects" so that I can practice. My good friend and co-worker, Melissa, allowed me to do just that with her adorable daughter last week. I give you: AMELIA. Could she be any cuter? I think not. Here are just a few of my favorites...

We spent 2 hours chasing after this sweet girl. She was TOTALLY in control of every move we made...it was, well...HILARIOUS. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. A big THANK YOU to Amber and Addy for the extra hands, energy, props (HA!) and for opening your home. It was quite an afternoon. Let's do it again sometime...SOON!

~Caroline~

MOSTLY Decked Halls

2011-12-01T17:47:00.001-06:00

It's the MOST wonderful time of the year!!! After the Fall Decorating Procrastination Debacle of 2011, I decided that Christmas was happening and it was happening FAST...all before December 1st, that is. And here we are...and I'm almost finished (promise).

Traditionally, there are 3 parts of the holiday decor that always seem to test my patience: the hutch, the tree and the mantel. This year proved to be no different though I'm pretty happy with how they all turned out. Each year, I take pictures in an attempt to make the following year's decorations a piece of cake. Successful? Meh.

This year's hutch looks very similar to last year's with the exception of the banner (purchased on Etsy). Gosh, I love Etsy.

Each year we put up 2 trees: the "fancy" tree (artificial...much to Scott's dismay) and the "eclectic/memory" tree (the REAL deal...but usually a noble fir from Lowe's...don't know if that counts?)

As I unpacked the "fancy" tree ornaments, I couldn't believe that I had used these in the past. What was I thinking? Yuck. So, I challenged myself to redecorate the ENTIRE tree without spending a dime. GREAT SUCCESS!!! I cut extra burlap (left over from the headboard project) into strips and intertwined them throughout. I added grapevine garland (left over from a shower), I threw in my spring hydrangeas, found a few crosses around the house and some gold twig stars that I purchased after Christmas last year. Then I placed a few of the non-condemned ornaments from last year's tree on to finish it off. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, really. The only thing I may add are some mod podge ornaments...like these. Oh, and a burlap tree skirt...and by tree skirt, I mean $4.99/yard burlap that I'm wrapping around the bottom of the tree. We'll soon see if that will work or not. What I REALLY wanted was this...maybe next year.

Yeah, I don't have too much to say about the mantel. I kept it super simple this year...I may add a little if I get bored before Christmas, we'll see.

Here's part of our growing collection of nutcrackers. Scott loves these things and I've grown to love them over the years. We buy at least 2 new ones each holiday season. Basically, our home will be over-run by nutcrackers someday...creepy.

And here's a view from the front...only in Texas do you have sweet potato vine thriving in December!!! My sweet husband had these lights up the day after Thanksgiving. Thanks, babe!

There's a lot more HOLIDAYness to be seen around the house...but it's all still a work-in-progress. Hopefully I'll get it done soon. If there's anything fabulous, I'll be sure to share. Until then, enjoy decking your halls and a happy December to you!

~Caroline~

Lilah SLUMBER-PARTY

2011-11-23T10:37:00.001-06:00

Look who I got to hang out with last night!!!

That's right...my nearly 1-year old niece, Lilah, came over for a SLUMBER-PARTY! It's been about 2 months since our last slumber party and it's remarkable how much she's changed. She's SO much fun!!!

We decorated cookies together (though she much preferred to shake the sprinkles)...

We splashed in Sadie's water bowl...

I told her "no, no"...

But then she got over it pretty quickly (those sprinkles are like MAGIC, I tell you)!

So, is she perfect, or WHAT?!? I sure am one lucky aunt.

I hope there are many more slumber parties to come, Lilah! I love you.

Paige's PINTEREST Party

2011-11-22T08:42:00.000-06:00

My good friend, Paige, just threw a FABULOUS party to show homage to our beloved, Pinterest. It's safe to say that Pinterest has changed our lives...and that's a reason to celebrate! Everyone brought a scrumptious goody or two and then a craft to share...from Pinterest, of course. I'll attempt to capture the fun we had on Sunday and hopefully give you some yummy recipes, too. Enjoy!

From left to right (some holding the crafts we brought): Jenny, me, Stacey (and baby Abby), Paige (the host), Jamienne, Jordan, Hollis and Sara

Paige's welcome sign (and craft) PICTURE FRAME + CHALK PAINT

Holiday Sangria...recipe here

Asian-Inspired Turkey Meatballs...recipe here

Pretzel Hugs...how to

Reese's Peanut Butter Banana Bread...THAT'S RIGHT!!! Recipe here

Cranberry Bliss Bars...recipe here

S'more Cups...recipe here

Funfetti Dip...recipe here

Paula Deen's Banana Pudding...recipe here

We also had a few other delicious recipes that I don't have pictures of:

Festive Pepper Jelly Spread...recipe here

Sausage Cream Cheese Crescents...recipe here

Chicken Enchilada Soup...recipe here

Coconut Krispie Chocolate Chunk Cookies...recipe here

Did I miss any? I hope not!!! If you're wondering if we were BEYOND STUFFED...the answer is YES and YES! We had to try a little bit of everything, as not to hurt any one's feelings, of course. Betty Crocker herself (Paige) wouldn't stop...she kept on pulling things out of the oven. Oh how I love her...

Now on to CRAFTING!!!

Stacey brought Mod Podge Clipboards...tutorial here

Jamienne brought Bath Scrub...tutorial here

Paige brought (well, it was at her home....so "brought" isn't the correct term)
Framed Chalkboards...tutorial here

Jordan brought Chalkboard Wine Glasses...tutorial here

Jenny and Hollis teamed up to bring DIY Coasters...tutorial here

Sara brought Mod Podge Ornaments...tutorial here

I brought Holiday Clothespin Magnets...tutorial here

...and Abby brought being ADORABLE with her but I don't have a link for that...it's an innate ability. I can't believe she's 4 months already!!! Too sweet.

The 1st Annual Pinterest Party was a HUGE success! We'll definitely have to keep this going. Another big "Thank You" to Paige and all of the ladies that worked so hard to pull everything together for this yummy, crafty, girlie night. HAPPY CRAFTING!

TACO SOUP Weather

2011-11-21T10:34:00.001-06:00

So yesterday started warm and muggy then ended wet and cold. WELCOME TO TEXAS. Today feels cold-ish but the weather could change at any moment. Hurry, hurry...this calls for taco soup! This soup is delish, makes a ton and freezes well. There are MANY variations of it. I was able to pull most of the ingredients together. Here's everything I usually use minus the onions (like I'm going to leave the house before noon on my first day off)...but I gotta say, after a quick taste, I miss the onions. Do I regret staying home? PLEASE.

Brown 1lb lean, ground turkey (or lean beef), drain. Add all canned ingredients, undrained (except I like to drain and rinse the black beans). You can use any type of beans you like best...I like to mix it up a bit. Look how colorful!!!

Mix together and add 2c water or broth, taco seasoning and dry ranch (not ranch dip). Bring to a boil. Simmer for about an hour...and voila!

I keep it in a pitcher in the fridge for about 5-7 days. It always seems even more delicious on day 2 and beyond.

makes approx. 14, 1c servings

WW PointsPlus: 4

Ethan's Dedication

2011-11-14T17:38:00.001-06:00

This past Sunday, our sweet nephew was dedicated at DaySpring Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. Thank you, Matt and Holly, for allowing us to take part in such a special day. We love you!

Here a just a few of the MANY pictures taken that day. Enjoy!

Rocky Mountain High: COLORADO

2011-09-29T18:50:00.002-05:00

Scott and I just returned from 6 days and 6 nights in beautiful Colorado! Thanks to our good friends the Morgans, we're lucky enough to stay in their fabulous 5-bedroom home in Frisco each time we visit. We've made several winter and summer visits and were excited to be there for our first fall. To say the least, it was incredible. We hope to return again next fall.

One of our favorite things about the Morgan's home is the HUGE 2nd floor balcony. Scott and I enjoyed grilling, dining, and reading (mostly Scott on the reading part) out here.

Day 1: We hit up the local Walmart and Safeway to stock up on food for the week. We're not big on wasting money dining out, so we ate the majority of our meals at home.

Day 2: We had a lovely breakfast at the Log Cabin Cafe in downtown Frisco and then went for an adventurous "intermediate" hike just south of Breckenridge. Intermediate my ass.

By the time we saw this sign, we were at Wheeler Trail Junction. We could have sworn that we were nearly to Mohawk Lakes. Boy were we wrong!

Just past Wheeler Trail, we saw this beautiful lake. We could see dams and I was determined to see a beaver or two...no such luck. P.S. They don't respond to "Beavers, where are you? Come here beavers, we want to meet you." I tried relentlessly. Scott was not impressed with my efforts.

Along the way, there were SO many photo opportunities. This may have contributed to the reason we were NEVER going to make it to the top.

Crap. There's more? So, you're saying we're NOT at the top yet?

The last 3/4 of a mile to the top felt like a constant Stair Master. Did I mention I LOATHE Stair Masters? No? Well, just did. I was trying to play it cool until I realized that Scott also breathing loudly and needed breaks here and there. Whew!

We made it! We made it! No? Still not Mohawk Lakes? GOOD. LORD. HAVE. MERCY. Does anyone have a snack right now? I could really go for a snack...Scott mentions that he has Sour Patch Kids in his pocket--praise God! HALLELUJAH! Then he mentions that it's the Halloween treat size...damn.

Yes, this is ACTUALLY the top...we made it to Mohawk Lakes. It was gorgeous...OR maybe I was hallucinating. All I know is that we were sitting on a rock. And that rock was my friend. I didn't want to leave that rock...unless, of course, a food truck were to drive by...

Don't let the smile fool you, I was STARVING. Scott actually threw one of our precious Sour Patch Kids to a fish. The fish didn't even care. NOW how were we supposed to survive?!?

Nearly 4 hours and 7 miles later, we were back at the car. I ate Crunch Berries as if I'd never eaten before. Life was good again. By the way, you'll be impressed to know that I didn't complain during the trek...well, at least not out loud. I was attempting to be super tough and out-doorsy like. I don't know if I fooled Scott. You'll have to ask him.

Day 3: I give you...Denver Oktoberfest! YES we were the first ones there at 11am and the Sam Adams was flowing before noon.

This is one of my favorite pictures.

Okay, this one's pretty great too.

Stein hoisting time! The guy on the right was out first...had to be the failed grip. The guy in the authentic German garb was the winner. Naturally, outfits help you win.

Meet my new best friend! Well, mainly I just liked what he was wearing, so we took a pic together. Like the hat? I just had to fill out a GMC form to get it...now I'm anticipating the backlash of junk mail to follow...WORTH IT.

We don't know exactly what was going on here but it looked like part of a fabulous pub crawl. The people had to pedal to make it go. I'm adding this to my bucket-list for sure.

Next, we headed northwest to Boulder to visit the Avery Tap Room.

There were SO many varieties that we don't have here in Texas and several that were "tap room only". My favorite was the Freckles, White Rascal, and Out of Sight (coffee greatness). Oh, oh, wait...and the Kaiser (Oktoberfest).

Getting photo-fancy. Scott kept sticking his hand in my picture. Not cool, sir.

That's right, we were the ONLY ones that signed up for the 4:00 tour. Apparently, this is pretty rare. PRIVATE TOUR, BABY! No complaints.

All of Avery's beer goes through these two mash tons (sp?). Kinda crazy.

This is where all of the beer gets bottled. I'm sure Scott would do a MUCH better job explaining the beer tour than I...sigh.

Day 4: We headed west to Vail! We walked through the farmers' market and enjoyed the beautiful architecture and views.

Couldn't resist this tree. HAD to take a picture. No make-up and all.

Day 5: Scott wanted to go on a hike. I (surprisingly) did not. He went out on his own for an hour or two and took some gorgeous pics. I stayed home and Pinterested (pretty sure this is an official verb now).

When he returned, he wanted more Aspen. SO, we drove south of Breckenridge to the Boreas Trail. Here are a few of the gorgeous trees we saw on the drive. You don't get this in Texas!

Day 6: We lazied around, packed up, took the bikes for a ride and enjoyed our last bits of crisp, cool air. Our perfect vacation had come to an end. Where will we journey to next???

A Baby Shower to FALL For

2011-09-19T22:14:00.000-05:00

the dessert table.

different view.

cupcake toppers with aubrey sue's name on them!

what do running friends give as a hostess gift? a running stroller, of course!

punch safe for mommies-to-be and punch that's NOT safe for mommies-to-be.

pretty ladies.

the mommy-to-be of honor!

little girls CAN'T have enough headbands...right?

the headband station was a BIG hit!

we attached tags so that sherry would know who made them and what size they were.

SUPER creative flower.

PRESENT TIME! most of our running buddies DON'T have kiddos...which made for interesting conversation and TONS of laughs!

even baby aubrey needs a good pair of running shoes.

sweet friends.

a "mad-lib" style words of advice card.

we put them in a flip book so sherry would have ALL the advice she'd ever need.

baby natalie with her momma, elizabeth (my cousin).

party favors.

cupcakes, m&ms (one of sherry's favorites), chocolate dipped oreos and pretzels, made for one delicious table.

clear baggies for treats "to go".

the hostesses and sherry.

It really was a perfect day celebrating Sherry and Aubrey Sue. We can't wait to meet that sweet baby girl. November can't get here fast enough! We love you, Sherry.

Headbands are BACK ON

2011-09-11T16:42:00.000-05:00

After returning to school, I received several requests for headbands. Here's the deal...yes, I LOVE LOVE LOVE to craft (duh) but what you must know is this: I get super bored and move on from project to project and don't typically go back to an old one. Confession: I've even been known to purchase supplies, start a project, then get over it before it's complete. *gasp* But because I enjoying spreading craft love throughout the world, I gave in to the return of headbands. So, in the spirit of crafting, it's true: headbands are officially BACK ON. Visit my Etsy shop here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SimplySweetCaroline?ref=pr_shop

I've been making them for cheerleading squads, softball teams, volleyball teams and more. I'd love to help customize one (or many) for you!

I Would Like to Thank Scott and Abby...

2011-09-05T18:35:00.000-05:00

for making these DELIGHTFUL cookies possible. You see, I don't bake. I was going to try to come up with an excuse...but I've got nothin'. However, due to Scott's end-of-season (HELLS YEAH) and the arrival of Abby Chambers (SHOUT-OUT) I dusted off the baking sheets and fired up the oven (that is, if "firing-up" the oven is even possible). Yes, the RoughRiders employees and Chambers family are in for a real treat of EPIC, HIGH CALORIE proportions. Mmm mmm mmm...

I saw a version of these cookies on my beloved, Pinterest, and made some adjustments that seemed right for me: I give you (drum roll please)...S'more Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies!!!

That's right...build a s'more and wrap cookie dough around it...no lie. I used 2 of the giant cookie dough tubes. BTW, what's up with it saying "Chocolate Chip Flavored Cookies". Oh well, tastes good nevertheless. If you're a baker, you are most-likely mortified that I didn't bake from scratch. Here's the deal: this stuff is GOOD--embrace it.

I bought a box of graham crackers but only needed 1/4 of it. I used about 12 jumbo marshmallows (cut in half) and 5 bars of Hershey's chocolate (of which I may or may not have sampled).

Then I put the s'mores together...

and added a generously rounded tablespoon of cookie dough to the bottom and a generously rounded tablespoon to the top.

Then I molded it around the s'more until it formed a large ball. I learned that they should be placed on the cookie sheet FAR, FAR, FAR apart. My first batch was all touching. NOOOO! After that, I put 6 per sheet. These babies require personal space. Take it from me, don't push your luck.

And then they were ready for the oven...I preheated to 350 and baked each batch for 14 minutes or until tops and edges were golden brown. This is what they looked like in the oven...

while cooling...

and voila! All ready for gluttonous consumption. I used all (can you believe it?) of the cookie dough and ended up with 2 dozen VERY LARGE cookies.

Ready for the SURPRISE?!? I only ate ONE. I can almost guarantee you that you won't be able to overeat these guys. Don't worry, I'm not one of those people that says, "Ugh. I can't eat this...it's too rich." PU-LEASE. I love super sweet, super rich desserts (with a tall glass of icy cold milk) but this one's a DOOZY...for reals. Enjoy!

Our MASTER Bed: Before and After

2011-09-03T12:04:00.001-05:00

So...I've been wanting a new bed for our master bedroom for a while now. When we were in Fredericksburg in July, I found exactly what I was looking for. The only problem was that it was WAY over-priced. Here it is:

Gorgeous, right? Well, it got me to thinkin'...and here's what happened:

Our "old" bed was a steal from one of our favorite places: Weirs. We've had it since we got married in 2004 and it was in desperate need of an update. After seeing this inspiration bed and reading this:

http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/12/upholstered-headboard-with-nailhead-trim-revisited/

(LOVE this blog) I knew what I wanted to do. Here's a look at our bed BEFORE:

And here is what it looked like AFTER (please excuse the bedding and art, we're not done yet):

We started with 1 large, thin piece of plywood (Lowe's), 1 queen-size roll of batting (Walmart), a heavy-duty staple gun (Walmart), burlap (Amazon.com) and upholstery tacks (Lowe's). All-in, we spent about $85...not too shabby for an updated look! You can do it too:

1) Cut the plywood to fit...just a little smaller than what you need...allowing space for the batting/fabric on all sides

2) Staple 3 layers of batting around the plywood to give it a "poofy" look (TIP: staple A TON and keep them close together)

3) Wrap the plywood with fabric, pull tight and staple

4) Install using whatever works (TIP: you may want to use nails, we tried screws and (naturally) the fabric and batting started twisting and ripping...crisis!!!)

5) Use blue painters tape where you want the upholstery tacks to go...mark every inch with a yardstick...use the top of the tape as a guide so that the tacks go in straight (TIP: this is definitely a 2-person job. I held the tacks in place with needle-nose pliers and Scott used a hammer (with the head covered in tape as not to scratch the tacks) to gently tap them in...but not all the way)

6) Remove the tape and tap the tacks in well to ensure that you'll have a "poof" in the end

7) Step back and....ENJOY!

What seemed like it would take 1-2 hours, ended up taking about 4-5, but it was all worth it in the end. Hmmm...what will we update next? Pretty soon, I'll post pics of our entire master and our NEWLY tiled shower and enclosure. Can't wait to share!!!

Happy 3-day weekend to ALL.

Welcome to Kindergarten

2011-08-23T18:34:00.016-05:00

Here's a peek at my kindergarten classroom:

View from the door...

View from the middle of the room...

I never have to hear "I need to go to the bathroom" again. Kiddos grab a stick, hold it up, and I nod "yes" or "no". Genius.

Here's our class promise from Reading with Meaning. We do it at the beginning of each year.

Soon, their self portraits will be hanging around the promise. It turns out SO cute!

When someone show kindness in the classroom, they get to clip a "warm fuzzy" to their shirt. When someone show kindness back to them, they get to pass it on.

Our class currency...BUG BUCKS!

The writing center...

Book boxes that will soon be filled with "good-fit" books and books of interest.

My picture books are once again organized by category (thanks mom) and will soon have picture labels to match.

I do my days in school, odd/even, ten frames, number chats, tallies and skip counting separately from my morning calendar/weather.

Backpack hooks...

Happy puffs above my desk...

Pre-filled birthday bags (thanks again, mom). I just tear them off of the wall and have them place them in their backpacks to open at home. It's SO simple. Also, since they're displayed all year, they get really excited about taking one home.

I am LOVING these gorgeous flowers that I received as a gift from one of my sweet, new kiddos. I hope they live FOREVER.

My "office"...if you will.

My door...

Our kindergarten hallway...

...and that's it for now! Thanks for stopping by.

P.S. Day 2 of kindergarten is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY better than Day 1! I'm so proud of my little bugs.

Ready or Not...Here They Come!

2011-08-21T17:04:00.005-05:00

Today, my classroom was quiet and still. Tomorrow (bright and early) it will be buzzing with the sound of excited kiddos, flashing cameras and yes...teary mommas. The first day of school is here again, and after 7 years of teaching, I still get butterflies. Tonight I will undoubtedly dream that I've overslept, my car won't start and that I'm covered in my grande americano (and, of course, wearing nothing but underwear). Yes, it's here again and I welcome it with open arms.

To all of my teacher friends out there: have a GREAT first day of school. I just know this is going to be the best year yet. Enjoy your new kiddos, be firm but kind and PLEASE don't lose any of them!!! Remember that you're making a difference by creating a safe environment for your little ones to learn and grow...that's a HUGE responsibility. So tomorrow, when your adrenaline is pumping, you can't quite "shoo" away lingering parents and you're counting down to happy hour...take a moment to breathe in, breathe out...and pat yourself on the back. We've got this!

Oatmeal Creme Pies

2011-08-06T08:20:00.002-05:00

I literally got stuck in my shorts and nothing seems to fit...I blame Little Debbie. Damn her and her delicious, processed goodies.

2011 has been a tough one so far--full of highs and lows--highs on the scale and lows in life. For the first time, I've experienced intense anxiety and overwhelming insecurities. From food to anxiety to food, food, food, food, FOOD--I'm finally starting to gain control of both.

I've spent my life feeling on top of the world. True, there have been some challenges along the way but for the most-part, it's been fabulous. This year, however, has been a HUGE wake-up call.

It all began in February...somewhere in the midst of all of the snow days, I found my crazy. I believe everyone has a little crazy in them; it just emanates itself in different ways. If you haven't found yours yet...LOOK OUT!

All of a sudden, I felt a huge sense of loneliness, insecurity and self-pity--all feelings I'd never truly dealt with--especially not all at once. I was overwhelmed with intense, physical and emotional anxiety. Simple everyday tasks felt like running a marathon. If something triggered my anxiety throughout the day, I became completely useless. My eating disorder was back--with full force. I was consumed with hopelessness and doubt and couldn't grasp where these feelings were coming from. To put it simply: I was out of control.

In April, I began seeing a counselor (as an alternative to medication). It's been great. I'm making progress, learning a lot about myself, and though difficult and somewhat contrived, thanking God for this journey. I'm feeling as things are getting back to normal...and I like that.

The good news? I've learned that I'm never truly alone. I've spent the last 25 years as a Christian but was never all that concerned about having a personal relationship with God. This Ginny Owens song pretty much sums up where I'm at:

The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to

Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone

So When the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
And I will go through the valley If You want me to

DANG, Ginny Owens...dang.

More good news: I'm doing REALLY well. I'm fortunate enough to have a loving husband and supportive family. I feel good and feel like myself again. I maybe have 1-2 tough days a month...who doesn't? There's a light at the end of this tunnel and I can see it. That being said, I could still use your prayers but please don't feel sorry for me. This is something that I had to go through and I'm coming out on the other end stronger because of it. And for that, I"m grateful.

The weight part? I've gained a little but I'm about a month sober from my destructive eating habits. Even though my clothes don't quite fit, I've thrown away the oatmeal creme pies and I'd say that's a good start!

Weekend in Fredericksburg

2011-08-03T00:34:00.012-05:00

Scott and I always talk about little getaways but it never turns into anything. This past weekend, we took the plunge and visited Fredericksburg, Texas for two nights...and would have stayed a third if we could.

The week prior, Scott kept mentioning a weekend trip. I didn't take him too seriously because he's always talking about vacations (especially during baseball season). However, each day when he arrived home from work, he'd mention it again. We both poked around on Trip Advisor and other sites, trying to find last minute deals...to anywhere nearby. NOTHING. We kept saying that if we couldn't find what we were looking for, we'd at least go to Ft. Worth for the weekend.

Even as Scott left for work on Friday morning, we hadn't found anything, really. Funny, because the plan was to leave early afternoon. Hmmm...

By 9:00, he emailed me info on The Blue Bungalow on Orange Street and by 9:30, it was ours for the weekend! Luckily, the family that had rented it for the entire month of July had left a few days early...it was a done deal. We were excited.

After dropping off our dear Sadie B at the in-laws, we were on our way by about 3:00. We took the scenic route, rather than 35, and it was extra twisty-turny but much more interesting. We arrived in the quiet little town of Fredericksburg around 8:00.

It wasn't that dark yet, so we walked around the outside of the property to check it all out. It was beyond adorable (with the exception of the creepy basement) and we couldn't believe that we had the whole place to ourselves. A bottle or two of wine later, we called it a night.

The next morning, we woke up, Scott cooked breakfast, and then we went out on the town for the most important start to the day...COFFEE. Shop, shop, shop, shop, shop, shop...GERMAN FOOD and BEER (which, BTW, you can walk up and down Main Street with--so naturally, I had one to-go). Shop, shop...WHAT? This whole town shuts down at 6:00 on a Saturday. Goodness. *side-note: many of you would be PROUD to know that with all that shopping, I didn't buy a thing...impressive, right?*

We headed back to the house to get ready for dinner (which, on vacation, is a HUGE ordeal for me). After a short photo-shoot in the backyard (that Scott refused to participate in), we went back out to the main drag. It was a freaking ghost town out there. We weren't quite yet hungry, so we decided to do a sampler at the Fredericksburg Brewery. Nothing amazing, but not too shabby.

Now what? We relied on good old Yelp to guide us for the evening and we ended up in Luckenbach. You cannot beat the fabulous people watching, chicken avoiding, and ice cold beer this place has to offer. Not to mention that the property is gorgeous at night. We definitely recommend it. Luckenbach exceeded our expectations.

Sunday morning, we went to a delicious breakfast, shopped a bit, then started to pack up for the drive back.

On the way out of town, we stopped at the local Goodwill (as I'm VERY into refinishing furniture these days). We found a steal of a deal--a bench thingy--for $15.99! It would have been $200 at the Salvation Army in Plano (that place is a joke). I was soooooooooo pumped.

Naturally, we had to stop at one of the vineyards just outside of Fredericksburg. We picked only one, Becker, and hoped we had chosen wisely. We weren't disappointed. Again, a beautiful property and great experience. We did a tasting, and our server Henri, was the BEST. What great way to end our little getaway.

On the way home, Scott decided to take 35...which he soon regretted. The traffic was the WORST. But eventually, we made it back to McKinney.

All-in-all, it was a fabulous weekend and we're glad we did it!

Dreaming of Spring

2011-02-09T15:19:00.000-06:00

Hi there! At home thoroughly enjoying my coooooold day off from work. Thought I'd spruce up my blog seeing as how it's February and I haven't blogged since last summer. I take that back...just peeked at my drafts and there was a fabulous little tidbit of a post that I started after I went back to school. Impressed? Me too. Don't know why I didn't finish it out...it started off GREAT!

So, I'm 29 now...last year of my twenties...woohoo (insert sarcasm). You know, 30 doesn't seem that old anymore. Thank God. I'm not too distressed about it. The 30s are looking pretty good.

The best thing that has happened since I last blogged is that I'm an aunt...TWICE! I have a new niece and nephew!!! Lilah Ann Collins was born on December 7th and Ethan Paul Burchett was born on January 24th. They are both perfect, precious little miracles and I love them to pieces.

I'm thrilled to say that Scott has been promoted to VP of the Frisco RoughRiders. He never ceases to amaze me. He's gearing up for his 8th season with the team. It will be here before we know it!

I have an incredible group of kiddos this year in my kindergarten class. I can't brag on them enough. I enjoy my job but these guys make it a BLAST! They are a chatty group and definitely keep me on my toes; each day is a new adventure. I'm normally counting down to the end of the school year but this year is different.

Sadie Louise is 10 years old this month. We can't believe that we've had her for 1/3 of our lives. We (of course) want her to live forever but are realistic and cherish each moment we have with her. I think the hardest thing is that our children won't know her. She's so great with kids. There's no chance we'll have another puppy dog like Sadie B.

In November, Scott and I ran our second marathon in San Antonio with our good friends, Chris and Jenny Pope. Scott shaved off 50 minutes from his first marathon and I shaved off 33 minutes. The weather was perfectly overcast and cool. I had a great run but I can't say the same for Scott. He went in after struggling for weeks with hip bursitis and then had intense cramping the last several miles due to dehydration. When it was all said and done, we had a nice weekend with our friends even though everything didn't go just as we had planned.

And the Weight Watchers story? A sad but hopeful one. Actually it's not that sad at all, just a frustrating, self-sabotaging story. As I mentioned this summer, I was down 76 pounds (or something pretty close to that). Well, I struggled a lot with wanting to lose even more and was setting unattainable goals for myself. I should have made that weight my WW goal and begun my 6 weeks of maintenance to become a lifetime member (what all WW junkies dream of). When I put 2-3 pounds back on in Las Vegas, I didn't go to my meeting the next week; which started a chain reaction. School started back...+5 pounds... the holidays...+10 more. And in January, I was right back where I had started a year before. All of my efforts went right down the drain. Now, for those of you who don't know about WW, please don't think that my weight gain had anything to do with the program. It was all me--eating like the old me--the 76 pounds heavier me--that was anything but happy. Not to mention that I wasn't attending my accountability anchor--WW meetings. This deadly combination had me up almost 20 pounds in 6 months. Now, this has been a l-o-n-g journey but I committed to seeing this through. No matter how long it takes, no matter how many set-backs, I'm seeing this through to the end. Undoubtedly this "end" involves not only becoming a WW lifetime member but also seeking help from a professional that will help me with my inner food monster. So, the saga continues...I'm back on track, attending weekly meetings and have about 8 more pounds to go to meet my new, realistic WW goal weight. I'm sure you'll hear from me when I do!

So, that's it for today. Check back later in the week for a FUN surprise (not a baby, mom). Thanks for reading!

A BIG SURPRISE! Can I pull it off?

2011-02-09T13:06:00.002-06:00

Believe it...it's true. My sweet husband of 6 years turned 30 last week! He still looks nearly exactly like he did in high school though (hot), which is why everyone recognizes him wherever we go (and perhaps the height thing comes into play...just maybe).

Our plan is to take a fabulous vacation to celebrate this "coming of age" but in the mean-time, I wanted to throw him a little get-together of sorts. At first, I wanted to do a BIG weekend in Ft. Worth the weekend of his birthday...nice hotel...fine dining...you get the picture. Did I mention his 30th was on Feb. 4th? Does anything else ring a bell that weekend? In the way of "there's no chance in hell I'm going to get any sort of reservation anywhere"? You guessed it, the oh so lovely super bowl. BTW, is it one word or two? Oh, who cares. Cheers to the end of football season!

So, I'm complaining to my kindergarten teammate about the lack of hotels, restaurants, anything the weekend of Scott's birthday. She recommended checking out the new luxury bowling alley in town, Splitsville. I'd never been there but it seemed promising. I started looking into it and BINGO! there were open lanes the weekend after Scott's birthday. Is an "after" surprise still fun and okay? I would soon find out...

Do you realize my "situation" with surprises? Do you know that when I buy gifts for people, I always ask if I can give them in advance? I am stricken with the inability to keep a surprise (and yes, sometimes secret); especially from my husband. Just hours after making the reservation, Scott arrived home from work. He came upstairs, greeted awkward me, then headed outside to grab the mail. I called my mom from the upstairs closet, hyperventilating. How on earth was I going to last 14 days? Hold your applause, but the party is just around the corner and I've done it! Hoping that Scott doesn't know but doubtful he'd ever tell me if he did.

You must know (by the invitation above) that I treated this like any other party...if you've seen any of my showers in the past year, you'll understand. I tried to hold back and first; but to no avail, I was creating in no time. Was this for Scott's benefit? Would he even notice my efforts? Absolutely not. Until, of course, I point out all of the cute drink tickets, cupcake toppers, and party favors I so graciously and effortlessly pulled together just for him (or me).

The one huge disappointment was that I couldn't pull-off a rush order of koozies that would inevitably have a hilarious/cocky Scott quote such as, "Nothing says 'Happy birthday to me' like WINNING." If you know him, have ever competed against him, or are one of his brothers, you would think it was funny. Just go with it. P.S. If you're a screen printer in the area...you are very difficult to find on the internet. Help me, help you. You're welcome.

Okay, back to Scott. So I wanted to invite everyone but they only allow you to rent 2 lanes per night with 8 bowlers (is that the name for those who bowl?) per lane. We're at little over 20 so we'll see what happens. At the end of the night, when everyone has had a few drinks and a delicious frosted cookie shaped like a bowling pin, I'm sure we'll all let bygones be bygones and no one will mind that there wasn't a place for them to bowl, right???

Now really, back to Scott. He's pretty much the best friend and husband a girl could ask for so I really hope it's a fun, successful evening. To be continued...

Scott Won't Let Me Decorate for FALL, So...

2010-07-28T10:27:00.000-05:00

I've re-decorated for SUMMER! Inspiration? CATALOGS!!! The new Willow House (formerly Southern Living at HOME), Ballard Designs and Pottery Barn catalogs are simply incredible and leave me wishing for one thing: unlimited funds to decorate my home. Hey, I'll even settle for a couple hundred...ha! Since I didn't have a couple hundred, I pulled out every home decor item I could find in the house and went to town. I basically find something I like in one of the catalogs and try to recreate it with things I already have. Some of the little areas turned out GREAT. Some, not so much...the mantle is NOT working for me...it's a work-in-progress.

Decorations UNDER the table? YES! I'm working on collecting more neutral hard cover books. They're all over the catalogs and we just don't have that many. Heading to Half Price Books later to see what I can find! Scott will be happy to have his books back. P.S. I can't believe that at one point I wanted to get rid of this table. That goodness Scott didn't let me. I'm in LOVE with it...best $99 purchase ever. Thank you Weirs!!!

Oops...more of Scott's books. He hasn't noticed, yet. My mother-in-law gave us this cigar box and I loved how it looked on my copper table. The small glass vase has wine corks in it (these look great as neutral, textural fillers). Also, you'll notice that the catalogs use plates everywhere (as trays) not just in the kitchen areas...kind of FUN.

Another genius Weirs find! This hutch matches the furniture perfectly and, again, only $99! Scott found it...he's good. Okay, so you caught me. This is kind of fall-ish, right? I couldn't help it! Actually, it's the first thing Scott noticed when he got home. You see, fall is Scott's most FAVORITE season and won't let me rush into it when it's still 100 degrees outside. I asked if I could decorate on August 1st and he said I had to wait until September 1st. I certainly don't want to put a damper on his fall happiness...ha! I tried to bargain with him but no such luck...can't wait until September 1st!!! Pumpkins here we come...

LITERALLY...Too Hot to Handle

2010-07-24T09:48:00.000-05:00

Sunday, July 18th was the first (and last) time I have raced in UNBEARABLE heat. The first 6 miles felt GREAT but as it got even hotter, I started sweating less and began to feel chilled...NOT a good sign. Actually one of the first signs of HEAT STROKE...awesome. I slowed it down and crossed the finish line 2 minutes SLOWER than this race last year. Unimpressed? Me too. Just happy to have survived!!!

The girls...ready to take on the Too Hot to Handle 15K. For those of you that don't know, that's 9.3 miles. It should have been a fairly easy run...HA! Do you see the EVIL sun rising behind us?

This is what you get to eat after you run...well, not really but I went against my better judgment and rewarded myself with food. ALWAYS a bad idea (for me, at least). I would like to point out that I only ate one biscuit (for whatever reason, that makes me feel better...whatever).

With my fifth coffee in hand, our dehydrated group heads home. Don't let the smiles deceive you.

And our true feelings about the race (mostly mine and Julie's since Alex rocked it out) are revealed...

Who Unleashed the CRAFT MONSTER???

2010-07-12T13:07:00.000-05:00

WOW! What a BUSY week and fun weekend. Every single summer, it never fails: my home becomes craft city (poor Scott!!!). You never know when it's going to hit, but it's bound to happen sooner or later. This year, it happened after Courtney Alban introduced me to The TomKat Studio. What I once considered decor for a baby shower, was all about to change...

The brunch table...candied bacon, sausage egg casserole, monkey bread, mini muffins, fruit with dip, chocolate-dipped strawberries and chicken minis. Mmmm

A close-up of the candied bacon (mom gets all the credit)!

The drink bar...coffee with fix-ins, citrus infused water, mimosas and punch (made from ginger-ale and white grape juice).

The dessert table (party favors)...cupcakes, chocolate-covered pretzels, rock candy, marshmallow pops, jelly belly jellybeans, dove chocolates, hershey's kisses, tootsie rolls, york peppermints, almond joys, gummy rings and sour strips...did I miss anything? The sour candy and marshmallows went first. Grab a bag and fill 'er up!

These crazy yummy cupcakes came from the Market Street Bakery (guests couldn't believe it). At only $6.99/dozen, they can't be beat. I would order them again in a heartbeat. I prefer the buttercream frosting; however, whipped frosting is also available. Do you see my personalized circle cupcake toppers? I created them on www.scrapblog.com, cut them out with giant punchers from Hobby Lobby, and hot glued lollipop sticks on. Super simple and super adorable!

The chocolate-covered pretzels were so cute and a big hit! I loved making them and was thrilled at how they turned out. They looked perfect on the table.

The marshmallow pops turned out GREAT! For the base, I used floral foam, scrapbook paper, ribbon, moss and my personalized circle stickers. I made them the day before and after they dried, I wrapped saran wrap around them...they were delish the next day.

A view of the entire table...I was nervous earlier in the week, but it all turned out FABULOUS! Check out the poms on the chandelier...my favorite. Made out of tissue paper and floral wire...simple and inexpensive but lovely.

The mommies-to-be of honor, sisters Nicole Hyatt and Hayley Rachavong. Can't wait to meet sweet baby Jett (due early August) and baby Sawyer (due mid-September)!

It was a great party and fun was had by all. I was so happy that I was able to put nearly all of my Southern Living at HOME collection to use! The new fall catalogs arrive soon and I can't wait to get my hands on them!!!

A BIG thank you to all of the hostesses: Stephanie, Emily, Cindy, Janice and my FAVORITE side-kick, momma.

Thanks for checking-in!

~Caroline

So...What's New?

2010-07-02T13:55:00.000-05:00

It's been almost a year since my last post, so life should be different, right? Well I hate to disappoint you but things are relatively the same in our little family of 2 (sorry Sadie, 3). Not surprisingly, I still have PLENTY to say...ha!

It's hard to believe that I just wrapped up my 6th year of teaching! I love my job and I'm very grateful that I can say that. Even on the toughest of days, I never question whether or not I chose the right profession. Though I'm thoroughly enjoying my summer vacation, I look forward to getting back in the fall. I love those little guys!

Scott is the Senior Director of Partner Services for the Frisco RoughRiders and is nearly half-way through his 7th season with the team. He is excellent at his job. How do I know? His clients absolutely love him and brag on him whenever they get the chance. It's a very busy time right now and I miss him a ton but I am so very proud of him.

I can't believe I didn't blog about this but Scott and I successfully completed our first marathon on December 13, 2009. We pretty much went from couch potatoes to marathon runners in 11 months...it was crazy (and challenging) but we're so glad we did it. The day after the race, I should have felt amazing but in all honesty, I panicked. I didn't have a class to go to or a race to work toward and I was terrified that after all of that hard work, I was going to quit. I quickly requested to mentor RunOn's spring half marathon class and registered to run the Dallas Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in March to keep myself on track. At the end of the month, we'll begin marathon training again with the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon as our goal race in November!

We've been extremely fortunate on the vacation front the past few years and since I last blogged, we've been to the British Virgin Islands, Colorado, Mexico, Canada and we just got back from Vegas. We'll be heading to Colorado at the beginning of August and Florida in November and are hoping to plan a trip to Italy within the next year. We LOVE traveling and feel blessed that we are able to do it together.

This November, we will celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary and you may have noticed that we still don't have kiddos of our own. Please know that we LOVE kids and definitely want them. The time frame keeps changing...so stay tuned!

After nearly 3 years on this weight-loss journey, I'm very close to my Weight Watchers goal. It has been a year of ups and downs but in the end, I'm thrilled to say that I'm down 75.8 pounds!!! There's no trick to it (I wish!)...just hard work, accountability and determination. I've been up as much as 11.8 pounds and had a 6 month plateau, but I didn't give up. The motivators that worked for me 3 years ago, don't necessarily work for me today. I'm constantly having to revamp my food choices and workouts to continue to be successful and to see a loss on the scale. It's really hard...ALL OF THE TIME. I still struggle daily to make the best decisions; especially when it comes to food. When I mess up, I forgive myself, move on and make a better choice the next meal. I've tried losing weight over and over again but this time is different...I AM going to see this to the end. I was recently watching Jillian Michael's new show Losing It and I LOVE what she said to one of the families, "Don't try. Trying is planning to fail."

Well, that's it for today. I hope to continue blogging because I really enjoy it. Thanks for checking in!

Roller Coaster of CRAZY

2009-08-05T17:12:00.000-05:00

I have a confession: I skipped Weight Watchers Saturday and didn't have a legitimate excuse. I didn't go because I had gained nearly the 3.6lbs that I had lost the week before. WHY? Because of my injury, I missed over a week (30 miles) of running but still ate as if I were running. Not the best plan ever, I know. I'm living the consequences. I have to buck up though because of my rule: NEVER miss two Weight Watchers meetings in a row. NEVER.

Let me go into detail about my INSANE emotions this week. So, the leg has been hurt, right? Well, this leads to sheer PANIC because of who I am: I am a quitter. Always have been. Working on changing that. Ever since I started Weight Watchers (this time) there's something deep inside that tells me I'm going to quit. I've quit all of the other 10+ times I've joined. Why would this be any different? I have to fight it all of the time. All of the time. With exercise, it's always been the same...I've quit. Therefore when I started running classes with RunOn, I assumed I would quit. It's what I've always done. It's what I do. Again, wanting to fight this feeling, I continue to sign up for more challenging classes and run. Like I've said before, I REQUIRE accountability. Weight Watchers meetings and RunOn classes keep me accountable. They are wonderful and suck at the same time. I HIGHLY recommend both!!! So...this injury freaks me out because I think to myself, "Here's your out, Caroline. Your excuse. You can quit now". AHHHHH! Go away!!! Seriously. The panic comes from NOT wanting to quit but feeling like I'm so far behind each run that I miss. Conclusion: FOOD. CRYING. FOOD. I didn't say this was the RIGHT conclusion, but it's what happened.

GOOD NEWS!!! On Sunday, I made it 9 out of 13 miles (though I shouldn't have run because of the CRAZY pain). At mile 9, my leg said, "That's good enough," and I was done. Still felt great after barely running that week. I'm feeling MUCH better now and feel like I am ready to get back to the training schedule. Please pray for me!

MORE GOOD NEWS!!! The weight that I had gained last week is back off. Looks like I will lose about a pound this week, and I'll take it!

One more food story before I go. So, I have been working on my classroom all week. On Monday, I worked really hard for 3-4 hours and then came to a stopping point. I stood in my room, with NO idea what to do next but knowing that the "TO DO" list was overwhelming. I started worrying about everything that needed to be done. All of a sudden, I wanted one thing and one thing only: a Sonic bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast burrito, large tater tots, and a large Dr Pepper. I guess that's three things, oh well, you get where I'm going. Here's what I'd like to explain: me WANTING this was nearly uncontrollable. I found something to take my mind off of it for a bit but the second I stalled, the craving was back. Apparently, my cure for stress this day was grease and sugar. I could nearly taste the food in my mouth (because I ate this every morning for six months in 2007)!!! So, I started to get upset at myself for how CRAZY strong this craving was. As I was walking to the car, I was saying OUTLOUD, "It's not worth it, Caroline. It's not worth it." Didn't matter. I was still going to get it. Which brings me to another pitfall: EATING IN THE CAR. Don't do this. There's no accountability. It's dangerous. I could write an entire entry about CAR FAT. That was me. Back to my story...yeah, I was totally going to Sonic. I was upset about it, but still definitely going. I started breathing heavy because of how much I wanted it but knew it was wrong and in desperation (yes, desperation) I grabbed my phone and called Scott. I knew he wouldn't understand (the boy could have chicken and broccoli every night and not feel like he was depriving himself of anything) but as long as I could keep him on the phone until I drove past both Sonics on the way home, I would be good to go. It worked! It totally worked!!! Scott may think I am a little insane but at the end of the night, I saved hundreds and hundreds of calories. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

So, I share these things because it helps me to face my problems. Also, I hope that people that read the CRAZINESS will feel like they're not the only person that really, really struggles with food and weight loss DAILY. I know I'm being vulnerable and I am okay with it.

Until next time...happy EATING and EXERCISING!

Cheers and Tears

2009-07-29T09:21:00.000-05:00

DISCLAIMER: What you are about to read is EXTREMELY random (to this day I feel like I should have been diagnosed with ADHD). Also, I'm very forward, blunt, open, and sometimes gross. Sorry, that's how I roll. Enjoy!

CHEERS! There are MANY wonderful things going on in our lives right now! We are very fortunate to have been married for just under 5 years, lived in our house for nearly 3 years, to both have great jobs, and most of all to have loving and supportive friends and families. We've got it pretty good and are very grateful.

CHEERS! We had a TON of fun with friends this past weekend. Between wine tasting, frisbee golf, and the Sunbelt Company Picnic, great times were had by all!

CHEERS! Scott has just ONE MORE MONTH of RoughRiders baseball! I can't wait for the day when I ask, "How was work?" and he responds something other than, "busy and stressful." It's not too far away!!! So proud that he is near the end of 6 seasons with the RoughRiders.

CHEERS! Weight Watchers Update: So this past Friday morning (not my usual weekly meeting) I went to weigh in. My past SEVERAL weeks have been very tiny losses (to be expected now that I'm much closer to my goal). Well, this week was AMAZING. I lost 3.6 pounds...WHAT??? Crazy, I know. The funny thing is, my week wasn't really all that different. My food and exercise was nearly the same. There's no magical determinant as to why my body chose to drop weight like that. I'm NOT complaining though!!! I haven't had a weight-loss week like that since February! AMEN!!! So...the magic number is currently -64.2. Not too shabby.

TEARS. Let me start off by saying that I am all of a sudden crying ALL OF THE TIME. It's ridiculous actually, ask my mom or husband and they will confirm. It's not just during my "special" weeks and I'm not pregnant. Just crazy emotional and self reflective. Watch out...I might cry to you.

TEARS. Oh Facebook, how I love you. How I spend TOO MUCH TIME on you. WAY TOO MUCH TIME. So, if you check out my photos, you'll notice that there's not a lot from 2004-2007. Some, just few and far between. There's a reason for this. Fluffier Caroline had the choice (thank you digital cameras) to delete pics that were less flattering (to be honest, that was most of the pictures taken during this time period). So, I'm safe, right? Well apparently, it's cool now to post WAY old pics on FB. WTH, guys? Am I really upset at people for doing this? No. It has been really good for me. I had erased all memory of what I looked like during these years (and before) so it was saddening and interesting all at the same time. I knew that I had weight to lose, I guess I was just in denial...A LOT of denial. I look at fluffier Caroline and think, "That poor girl. That poor clueless girl." I was SO unhealthy and barely knew it.

TEARS. I am not perfect (mom is laughing). If I listed what I ate yesterday, you would shudder. I have forgiven myself and moved on. Today has to be better, right? I'm starting the day off right: coffee, yogurt and oatmeal. Must take the Reeses peanut butter cups and throw them out. But they're in the freezer...with the left over Girl Scout cookies! Ahhh!!! And you wonder why Scott and I only keep chicken, rice, and steamer bags around the house. I am a food monster. You'd think after losing this weight, I would be CURED. Nope, hate to disappoint you. I am an addict...addicted to food. I struggle with my food choices EVERY SINGLE DAY. I'm not going to quit though and I want to be held accountable. If anyone sees the pounds creeping back on, you might say to me, "Wow, Caroline. Been eating a lot of Chili's boneless buffalo wings?" LOVE me some boneless buffalo wings.

TEARS. Owie owie owie. If you've read my FB posts, you'll know that I have my first running injury. While I'm trying VERY hard not to let it get me down...there have been a lot of tears over this stupid knee. I'm taking the week off (sort-of) hoping it will heal on its own. Pray that it will heal on its own. I'm TERRIFIED that a doctor will tell me to take 6 weeks off. I am marathon training here, people. That is NOT an option.

Until next time...

-Less Fluffy Caroline

WE DID IT...First 15K!!!

2009-07-19T09:53:00.000-05:00

WOW...what a whirlwind of emotions this first 15K was! For starters, I had everything perfectly laid out the night before. We were getting into bed extra early so that we'd get PLENTY of sleep for our 5:00am wake-up call. It was 9:30 and Scott was out. I was so jealous and CRAZY anxious about the race. As I laid in bed, my body was tired, my head felt tired but my mind was WIDE AWAKE. I was getting frustrated and the last time I looked at the clock, it was 12:30. I'm assuming I fell asleep a short time later. Thank you, Lord. It was a rough night.

As the alarm went off, I woke up, panicking that I had overslept but I hadn't. We got ready, grabbed breakfast and the cooler, and were off! We were running a little late which added to the nervousness I was already feeling.

It was about a 30 minute drive to Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake. There were 2500+ participants in this race and the parking was INSANE. We ended up parking in a neighborhood a little over a mile from the event. Every step I took, I was feeling more and more anxious. We were trying to hurry as we were meeting our friends, Chris and Jenny, in front of the Run On tent (Run On is who our running classes are with). We arrived at the tent and didn't see our friends. Due to the nerves, it was time for a bathroom break. The lines were CRAZY long and I had about 25 minutes. I told Scott to wait right where he was and that I would meet him there after going to the bathroom.

Standing in line for the bathroom, I am swaying back and forth (an uncontrollable habit I have) and watching my watch as the time ticked by. The announcer was calling everyone to line up at the starting line and I was only half-way through. There was NO CHANCE that I could run 9.3 miles without going to the bathroom first. So, I stuck it out, and with only 5 minutes until the start of the race, it was my turn. Would you believe that with the combination of nerves, panic, and being totally disgusted with the port-o-potties, I COULDN'T GO?!? Terrible.

I raced back to the tent to look for Scott and Jenny. Didn't see them...anywhere. WOW...the race was starting any second now. I was thinking that since I took so long, they came looking for me and we were just totally missing each other. So, I started the walk down to the starting line. Did I mention there were 2500+ runners? I was looking everywhere for a familiar face, preferably Scott and Jenny. Tears were welling up in my eyes and I was gearing myself up for running this race alone. I'm thinking, "You can do this, Caroline. It's only 9.3 miles and you've done 12 before. You've got this." My pep talks weren't going that well and the gun went off and the runners started the race. Suddenly, Scott comes running down the hill toward the starting line and I'm waving my arms like a crazy person. We looked at each other, both frustrated and confused.

We crossed the starting line and the race had begun. Scott said that he had been in the right place all along and swears that I never came by. Honestly, I have NO IDEA what happened but we missed each other completely. It didn't matter anymore because we were running together and that was a HUGE relief.

We started the first mile off fast...passing tons of people. Soon, we caught up to Jenny and other friends. Everything was working out.

With running, you know a few miles into your run if it's going to be good or not. Unfortunately, I wasn't really feeling it. Maybe it was the stressful events leading up to the race or maybe I didn't sleep or fuel properly, but regardless, I wasn't feeling great. It's tough when you look around you and everyone else in your group looks AWESOME, like they're having a great run. It certainly wasn't my day but I was running the whole thing, no questions asked.

This not-so-great run didn't get much better throughout the race. But guess what? I finished it! And I came in 13 minutes under my goal time...I'll take it. Praise the Lord for the amazing, cool weather. It made all of the difference in the world.

What do you want after a race? FOOD and WATER. What were they handing out? BEER. So, why not? It sure was good but not what my body needed. I chugged water after the beer. Probably should have been the other way around.

As we were walking to a shaded area to stretch, snack, and relax, I could feel pain in my toe and was pretty sure that I had lost a toenail. Lucky me, still attached...barely.

We sat and chatted with friends and then began the mile walk (which seemed like eternity) back to our cars.

We slept most of the day...just because we could.

A Sweet New Baby, 60 Pounds, and a RACE...

2009-07-17T18:33:00.000-05:00

I consider myself lucky because I spent an hour holding the most PRECIOUS baby in the WORLD (no offense to my other friends with babies...I love everyone equally). What a little miracle. Lauren Kate Alban was born Thursday and is a joy! Scott and I got to visit the new family of FOUR at the hospital this week and couldn't be more excited for our sweet friends Courtney and Dustin. We are pretty sure that they make the most BEAUTIFUL babies in the world. So, don't know what you guys are up to but we'd like one this time next year, if possible. But seriously, momma and baby look GREAT and we couldn't be happier for our friends. God is good! I can't wait to spend more time with sweet baby Lauren.

Soooo...don't know if you read last week's post but I was discouraged because I didn't quite make it to -60 pounds last week. (Drum roll please...) I went TODAY and I'm down -60.6!!! Oh happy day. You may think...WOW...that girl has discipline. Please don't be disappointed that I celebrated with new jeans, a watch, boots, Sonic, and cake. I ALWAYS celebrate with presents to myself but those presents don't normally include FOOD. In fact, I never celebrate with food. I am just being honest because I want people to know that successful people (in the weight loss world) mess up too. I am NOT proud that I had a Sonic kids meal for lunch and I am not proud that I had dinner's worth of calories in cake (and wine and cheese). I'm just trying to be BRUTALLY honest and let people know that no one is perfect, everyone makes bad choices here and there, and then we forgive ourselves and make better choices at the next meal. No quitting allowed. That's the rule...no matter what, don't quit on your weight-loss efforts!!!

WOW. Tomorrow will be my first 15K EVER! For those that don't know, a 15K is 9.3 miles. Now, Scott and I have run up to 12 miles but not in a SCARY race. Races are terrifying and wonderful at the same time. They make me CRAZY nervous and force me to take Immodium but completing them is an INSANE feeling of accomplishment. There is nothing like the adrenaline of a race...nothing. Please, sign up for a 5K (3.1 miles) and go for it. So the race is called "Too Hot to Handle". Luckily, tomorrow should be pretty nice considering that it will be one of the coolest days we've had in a while. We'll see...I will let you know if we survive. Keep it real.

My Thoughts Today...

2009-07-12T16:41:00.000-05:00

So...are blogs just for typing your random thoughts? Like a diary you share with EVERYONE? I don't read other blogs (with the exception of a few) so I'm not quite sure how all of this goes. Everyone seems to have kiddos to write about. Not me (yet). Did I mention I want 4? Wow, the clock is kind of ticking. Does it seem possible to have all 4 by 35? Hmmm...let's see: I'm 27 so 35 is 7 1/2 years away, right? Wow...seems like a short amount of time to have 4 kids in. Maybe I'll get lucky with a two-for-one pregnancy. That should speed things up. But seriously, 3 minimum and 4 maximum. I'm the oldest of 4 and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. My siblings mean the WORLD to me and I want the same for our kiddos. Speaking of kids, I am VERY obsessed with names right now. Maybe because it's summer and there's not too much going on. Everyone says my boy names are pretentious. In Scott's family, all of the boys' names end with "tt": Matt, Scott, and Brett Burchett. So...I thought it could be cool to keep that going. I'm not totally set on this idea but here's what I've come up with: Bennett, Everett, Wyatt, and Abbott. WOW! Are my boys going to get beat up? Hopefully not. As far as girl names go, I don't care about the "tt". I like Elliott for a girl, and Ellie for short, but Scott's NOT buying it. The only thing I do know is that I want to use Catherine or Cate somewhere (after Scott's sister and my sister). Maybe I'm thinking about this too much seeing as how I'm not pregnant and don't plan to be soon. Which brings me to another thought...

Back in our first few years of marriage (going on 5 years now), I thought it would be THE END OF THE WORLD if we were to get pregnant on accident. Today, I have COMPLETELY different feelings about this. I used to think that everyone had babies and that it wasn't a big deal. Now I feel that it is the BIGGEST blessing in the world to become pregnant. It is such a CRAZY, WONDERFUL MIRACLE. I have so many friends that have tried and tried and still...nothing. So, where as it is not in our plans to have a baby right now (as we are MARATHON training!!!) if it were to happen, we would be surprised but THRILLED. The Lord's timing is what's important. I pray that when the time comes that we are ready to start a family, that I will be able to give it all over to Him and trust that He knows what is best for us!

Baby Brain ALERT!!! Maybe it's because my precious friend, Courtney is about to have baby #2...sweet, precious Lauren. Not to mention that her daughter Hannah and I had a BLAST hanging out last week. If Lauren is half as WONDERFUL as her sister Hannah, she'll be pretty special. I can't wait to meet her!!! We are praying for a safe delivery. We love you Court!!!

Weight Watchers UPDATE: Well, I had to skip the 4th (b/c of vacation and b/c WW was closed) but I did go yesterday. I DID weigh myself before-hand and WASN'T excited about going. We had BBQ the night before at mom and dad's and I wasn't as careful as I should have been and the scale showed!!! In the past 2 weeks, I've lost 1.4 pounds for a grand total of -59.6. Yes, this is VERY exciting but I REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to get to -60 pounds this week! I'm working very hard to make sure that it happens! I set my goal with my leader this week...I decided I want to lose 15 more. We will see how I feel after that. For more adventures in Weight Watchers Land, check back soon...I'm NOT quitting this time :)

Running UPDATE: WOW WOW WOW. We are "officially" signed up for marathon class. Today is the official first day. It's overwhelming and crazy. I cannot tell you how time consuming and physically demanding this schedule will be. It is OUT OF CONTROL! We are going to take one day at a time and PRAY that we make it to our goal: The White Rock Marathon in December. Mark your calendars and come cheer us on!!! We have a reasonable goal of finishing the race within 5 hours. Trust me, I will continue to update as the running saga continues...I promise that it will be FULL of drama, chafing, and lost toenails!!!

Thanks for reading!!! Have a SUPER Sunday and a week full of blessings!!! -C

VACATION...all I ever wanted!!!

2009-07-08T07:57:00.000-05:00

Well, we just got back from 5 nights at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort in San Antonio and it was GREAT! Scott was coming out of a 2+ week home stand and REALLY needed the break. I was coming out of doing nothing and the break was still wonderful. It's great to get away...especially when it doesn't involve flying anywhere.

The Hyatt Hill Country Resort is really nice. I would definitely recommend it to young families. It's not the best place for couples without children because the resort is COVERED with kiddos. Especially on the 4th of July weekend! It's a very "woodsy" place with lots of trees and small animals. If you are looking to get a tan, you have to get down to the pool early enough to reserve a seat in the sun (because most is covered and shaded by trees). The rooms are nice and clean and the food is good (there are healthy options too). Again, not a place for couples looking to relax in peace and quiet. The spa was wonderful and Scott said that the golf course was challenging and beautiful. It's a great place to get away for a quick trip!

So after having much weight loss success in the past few weeks, I swore that this vacation (food-wise) would be different. It was, and with a 3-mile and 12-mile run in there, I was SURE that the scale would be my friend when I returned home. Lesson learned. I will now bring the scale with me on vacation. I know that some people can get away with weight once a week or even once a month. Well, call me obsessive, but I weigh every morning. It helps keep me accountable for my choices that day. I was weighing on the scale in the gym on vacation but it wasn't the same. When I weighed this morning, I was the same weight as I was before I left. Not too shabby...but I REALLY wanted to lose. Guess I could have gone without the pastries from the Mexican bakery the other night...hehehe.

So running 301 comes to an end tomorrow and MARATHON training starts Sunday. That is very overwhelming and scary for me. The time commitment that's involved in training for a marathon is unbelievable. Scotty and I are struggling with whether or not to train together. He is better that I am and therefore should be in a 10:30 or faster pace group. I am NOT about speed, just about burning calories and covering distance so I prefer a 11:00 or 11:30 pace. Our friends have said that it's not as fun once you go your separate ways and stop running together so I am kind of freaking out. We will see what happens.

I'm off to take a nap!

One Blog Per Year

2009-07-01T19:28:00.000-05:00

So I bet people really get into our blog. It's very fascinating and there's always something new going on. HAHAHA! Wow, I guess this just isn't really my thing quite yet. Maybe someday I'll get really into it and blog everyday. Just maybe...

Well, here we are in the middle of summer again. Scott is through with more than 50% of the season and I'm off from school. Good combo, huh? His busiest time is my time off. After 6 RoughRiders seasons, we really don't argue much about it anymore. It's just how it is and we're used to it.

Let me tell you about my two obsessions lately: 1) weight loss and 2) running. Though the weight loss is VERY SLOW, it's been steady and I have lost 60 pounds in 18 months! I plan to lose 15 more and we will see how I feel then. Wow...I NEVER in a million years thought that I could lose 60-75 pounds. There are three main ingredients to my weight loss success recipe: 1) GOING to Weight Watchers meetings for accountability 2) NEVER giving up and 3) FORGIVING myself when I mess up. Bottom line: I LOVE FOOD. I always have and I always will. I am constantly struggling to view food as fuel rather than a treat or present to myself. I reward my success with pedicures, massages, and ridiculously expensive handbags rather than food. I've learned that no matter how fat or how thin I am, I will always have to struggle with my love for food. The difference now is that I recognize the problem and I am doing something about it. Here's the deal...I could talk about my feelings about food FOREVER...so, now on to running. Yes, running. I, Caroline Burchett, NEVER believed that I could be a runner. Well, I went from barely squeezing out an 11 minute mile to feeling GREAT about a 7:46 6 months later. I have trained, for the past 6 months, with Run On McKinney and Dallas and I feel AMAZING about my accomplishments. Believe me...I haven't ever liked running and I didn't think that it was possible. Today, I enjoy it and I'm not too bad at it either. Scott and I are doing 22+ miles per week right now and are about to run our first 15K (9.3 miles). After that, we will begin MARATHON training for the White Rock Marathon in Dallas. CRAZY!!!

What else? Let's see...we're going on vacation tomorrow to the Hyatt Hill Country Resort outside of San Antonio. Should be fun. The entire Collins gang is going and we always have a great time together. It's PERFECT timing for Scott as he just finished a 15 game home stand with the RoughRiders. We are REALLY looking forward to it!

Summer is HERE!

2008-06-16T14:19:00.000-05:00

Well, summer is finally here and things have been crazy busy for Scotty and slow for me. I normally have a summer job but my mom and sister encouraged me to take a summer off. I get bored really easily. So, here I am blogging to pass the time.

As I was watching "A Baby Story" and the many other WONDERFUL TLC shows...I started to think that I wanted a baby or at least a puppy. This sounded familiar...feelings I had felt before. I soon realized that this is how I get every summer when Scott is away and busy and I am at home and bored.

Another problem that I have each summer is spending money. I know, I know, I always enjoy spending money but in the summer I go extra CRAZY. Out of boredom, I feel like I should get out of the house...which usually involves spending money. Whether it's my daily Starbucks or Sonic drinks or a new handbag; spending money in the summer is delightful. I highly recommend it.

Summer also brings about the inevitable "too much time spent in a bathing suit" which I thought, after losing over 35 pounds, wouldn't be so frightening...wrong. Good thing it's in the plans to lose ANOTHER 35 pounds...summer 2009 is looking good.

I have started to run again. Did I say run? I meant slow jog. What exactly do you call a 13 minute mile? I call it whatever works. It is in the Burchett plans to run the White Rock 1/2 marathon in December...so I have to start sometime. Please feel sympathy for me in that my husband's legs are twice the length of mine; so it's hard to keep up. Following 10 feet behind your running partner is not recommended.

Well, if there's one thing to look forward to it's returning to Mexico at the end of July. Hopefully the running will pay off somewhat by then. We are headed to Iberostar Grand in the Riviera Maya. It's AMAZING. We are going with my parents, Sarah and David Ben. We can't wait!

First Time Blogger...CRAZY!!!

2008-05-12T15:28:00.000-05:00

Well, here I am "blogging" which up until a few months ago, I had never heard of...NO we don't have a baby (unless beloved Sadie the black lab counts)...and NO we are not pregnant. Hmmm...am I still allowed to have a blog???

Here's what's going on...Scott still works for the Frisco RoughRiders where he has been promoted to "Senior Director of Partner Services". That's a lot of words. He is currently in his 5th baseball season and is busy busy. I am currently teaching first grade in Allen but will be going back to kindergarten in the fall. Five year olds make me laugh! We live in McKinney in our first home (of a year and a half) with our precious black lab, Sadie B. We love traveling and doing projects around the house (typically projects most people wouldn't take on...thank you Scott). We have been married for 3 and a half years now and it has flown by. Like I said, no kiddos yet but we hope to start soon and eventually have 3 (my plan) or 2 (Scott's plan). Right now we are still enjoying being married, traveling and having fun with everyone else's kids. Life is pretty good!