Most Popular Posts of 2012

I'm reflecting on the top posts you all enjoyed of 2012. It's interesting to see which posts most of you like to read about. You can also take a look back at the post I put together for the top posts of 2011 - it's interesting to see a recap of each year - especially since each year for us has involved new states to live in, new jobs, challenges, etc. Thanks to all of you for making this blog fun and supporting it/us along the way! Click the big link to see the posts. 

{1} 10-day Vacay {Part 1: The Drive & Poolside} 

The most read post of 2012: Our vacation to Texas in August. Oh, that pool. You must've liked it too. I long for summer as I write this post on a single digit degree winter day (where tomorrow won't get above zero degrees). My parents have such an oasis in that backyard!

{2} Fibro, Fall, Football & Fun

I wrote about Fibro updates in October, shared fall photos and some of our fall football excitement:)

{3} Fibromyalgia Support Group

This post was right after I attended my first (and only at this point) Fibromyalgia Support Group. I reflected about my time there with Nick by my side and shared pictures of the beauty nearby.

{4} 1.5 Weeks Without Dairy (or Chocolate!)

Writing about the beginning of my dairy free adventure and about why I excluded dairy from my diet, and ways I was coping with the new diet. 

(source in post)

{5} Mornings are the Worst

This post was one I received a lot of love and support after writing. It was an honest reflection of Fibromyalgia's impact on me and how heavy the burden can be. This was a post that helped me share more accurately what I had been dealing with. The love and support of all of you truly helps me in this battle. 

(source in post)

{6} Girls Night

The girls came to town and I met up with them for a trip to the MOA, to dinner, and a girls night sleepover. Oh how I love my friends:)

{7} Our VIP VEISHEA Experience

This post was all about my winning an all expense paid trip to VEISHEA with a guest (Nick!) for the weekend, thanks to the ISU Alumni Association Young Alumni Council. It was such a great blast from our past and we got all of the VIP accesses. It was a much needed gift at a time that was so greatly appreciated! We also got to meet up with Rachel, Jared and their two little ones - I got to finally meet sweet little Haven too. What a weekend. 

{8} Fibromyalgia Updates

This post was an update as I worked with Fibromyalgia Specialists and shared things I had been doing to help my symptoms (stretches, headache tips, excluding gluten from my diet, etc. )

{9} Hibernation & My New Book!

This post shared about the bitter cold Minnesota winter (and my layers to cope with it!), and my excitement about the book FibroWHYalgia, by Sue Ingebretson (who wished me a Happy Birthday on Facebook yesterday by the way! What an amazing lady, I so appreciate her attentiveness to those of us walking the path the has walked). Such a great book for anyone dealing with similar chronic pain issues. 

We have a tie for #10! Here are the two posts tied for #10:

{10:1} Best Husband Ever

This post is the truth. It shared about my birthday last year and how good Nick is to me. Our love grows more each day - I can't even put into words how much he helps me cope with the daily battles of fibro and shares in all the laughter and joys of this life too. 

{10:2} Home {decor} Tour

As we finally got our apartment settled and decorated last May, I was excited to share some of our additions to make our home feel like home. I get a lot of joy out of decorating and using my creative side! I also shared about my new jewelry organization tool made by my friends! It holds my earrings and I got two decorative pieces to store my necklaces too. I absolutely love it. 

I enjoy looking back to see what last year had in store for us, and think 2013 will be an even better year. Thanks for coming along this journey with us, I look forward to seeing what is yet to come! 

Today's Pinspiration for 2013:

(source)

Christmas 2012 Overview

I've done two Christmassy posts (Capturing December Part 1 and Part 2), but still have many photos to share from our Christmas travels that didn't fit within that Instagram "photo challenge". I take a lot of photos and love to get them out here to enjoy for future reference.

On the road (with coffee in tow) heading from Minneapolis to Des Moines the Saturday before Christmas.

I already wrote a bit about it, but I-35 between Ames and Des Moines was a mess from the snow storm a few days earlier. Nothin' like a good ol' traffic backup for Christmas travels. We had my dad's side extended family Christmas that night and were on the road bright (dark) and early the next morning to head to Texas).

6:30am, on the road. Saying goodbye to 9 degrees in Iowa, heading south where the temps would be warmer! 

With coffee in tow. 

A pretty sunrise to apologize for the traffic and road conditions the day before. Apology accepted.

My on the road lunch many days: salad bar at Hy-Vee. So much easier to eat dairy and gluten free when I can see what's going into the salad. It was delicious every time!

We watched the sun set somewhere in Oklahoma.

Our destination: Dallas. After a 5 hour drive Saturday (thanks to an extra hour and a half of backed up traffic in the Des Moines area) and 12 hour drive Sunday, we made it! 

It was so good to see mom and dad and spend some time in the DFW area! Christmas Eve, we drive around looking at Christmas lights. This is a family tradition - we love looking at lights (and houses!).

Christmas morning - presents patiently waiting..

Christmas day snow in Texas. It started snowing as we started opening presents. Huge wet snowflakes. It was pretty magical:)

Boo anxious with excitement as dad opened Boo's bag of doggie treat goodies from Aunt Michele and Uncle Jeff.

We got a little less than 1/2 inch of snow Christmas day - the most snow the Dallas/Fort Worth area had in 2012:)

Tried out new paraben free smoky eye makeup (Physicians Formula) from mom - I love it! I've literally used two shades of eye shadow for at least the past year in the paraben free set I had. These 9 shades are so much fun to try out and give me so many options! I believe she got the set (by eye color) at Ulta.

Mom also got me gluten and dairy free treats and paraben free lotion! She even navigated Whole Foods to find things I could have - what a mom:) that isn't easy stuff to shop for - even for me and I'm more used to it! 

We got Boo this shirt for Christmas...

Enjoying coffee with mom and dad

Hey there, dad:) I made him that scarf by the way! 

The day after Christmas, we made the trip to Double Exposure, one of my all time favorite thrift stores, and got some goodies (I wrote about them in this post).

Later that week, we were on the road again heading to Omaha to spend a few days with Nick's family.

Our entertainment for the 10 hour drive (thanks, mom!). During our next Christmas, we added Adele to the mix and love all these songs! 

We enjoyed great views on the road like usual.

It was so good to see everyone (although I didn't get really any family photos while we were there! At least we did a few weeks before Christmas when we were all together) We got some quality time with Kibbles, Sammi (not pictured here) and Cubby too. 

Diane (my MIL) always decorates for each season - I love checking out her sweet decor items.

Hey, husband!

Hey Cubby!

Hey Sammi! This one makes me giggle:)

Hey Kibbles! He loves my kisses.

Sammi napping in a very popular lookout spot for the dogs. 

Cubby, Sammi and Kibbles, all perched on the back of the couch keeping a lookout. 

I also have to add my mistletoe I hung from the light by the front door:

A kiss under the mistletoe is the best.

I got this cute Christmas Carols booklet at an antique shop. It has so much charm. 

Today's Pinspiration: 

What a fun note to add to your mirror:)

(source)

Taco Bell Inspired Mexican Pizza

Ok for starters, I have to say, this post has been pending for oh, 6 months or so. ;) I guess I've been busy? I think I forgot about it too. Well this was a delicious recipe so even through I'd have to tweak this recipe even more to fit my dairy AND gluten free diet (when I made it, I was just doing dairy free), many of you may be able to get in on this tastiness. 

When I was younger, my mom and I would go to Taco Bell and I would get my favorite almost every time. Mexican pizza. It was always so good and I haven't had one in YEARS. Maybe a decade, I don't know. When I saw this recipe claiming to be like Taco Bell's recipe, I knew I had to try it. This way, I can make it with more wholesome ingredients I trust too.

Cheese for him ; no cheese for her

The coloring is a little weird in these photos - I promise the tomatoes were red, not bright orange;)

Taco Bell Inspired Mexican Pizza (recipe adapted from Blog Chef)

Ingredients:
1lb ground beef
1 (1 ¼ ounce) package taco seasoning (I mixed up my own after searching which seasonings to use)
8 small flour tortillas
2 tablespoons water
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
2/3 cup mild salsa
2 cups Colby jack cheese (I'm sure we used probably half of this since I didn't use cheese on mine)
¼ cup tomato (diced)
¼ cup green onion (chopped)
oil (for frying the tortillas)

Directions: 
Step 1: With your hands, mix together ground beef, taco seasoning and water. In a large skillet brown ground beef over medium heat for 5-6 minutes. Break up the beef up into small pieces with a spatula while cooking. Set aside.

Step 2: Add oil to a medium frying pan. Heat to medium-high and fry tortillas one by one for 30 seconds (or until browned) on each side. Be sure to pop any bubbles that form while cooking. You want to keep the tortillas as flat as possible. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Nick and I did this together which I was thankful for.

Step 3: Warm refried beans and pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Stack each pizza by first spreading a layer of refried beans, then a layer of meat followed by a layer of salsa. Now stack another tortilla on top. Stack cheese on top of that followed by tomatoes and green onions. Repeat until all pizzas are stacked.

Step 4: Place on a baking sheet (I put parchment paper on the baking sheet for easier clean up) and put into the oven. Bake on 400 degrees for 8 minutes.

We both loved these! I had enough to split into two meals, which surprisingly, day two it was just as good! I think I took the tomatoes off so they didn't make the tortilla soggy though and put them on after re-heating the next day. 

Enjoy! 

Today's Pinspiration:

(source)