The List is Getting Shorter

The drywall in the living room/dining room/hallway/laundry room/office is being finished as we speak. It's nice no to see at studs when I walk into my house. The rooms are starting to look like rooms and I can't wait to have paint on them walls!

This has lead me to think of all the things that has been accomplished on the house, how much of it we have done ourselves, and that the to do list is getting shorter and shorter and it's starting to chart new territory (like furniture and all those DIY projects that I have pinned...)

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

Wordless Monday...Okay Mother Nature

(Taken Monday, March 18 2013)

Weather forecast for the week...snow on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thurdsay...It's the flipping end of March I'm ready for no more snow!!!

Aren't I So Smart!!

I have a relatively small kitchen. Let me rephrase I have a large kitchen with small amounts of cabinet/counter space. I have always hated the fact that I kept my pots and pans are on top of my refrigerator because I really don't have a better place to keep them. It seemed like a good idea at first but then it just became a pain in the butt. I mean I had to rinse then out every time I wanted to use them because they collected dirt and dust like crazy, plus add the safety hazard of them falling on me (happened on a couple occasions). So by Christmas time I was ready for something different, so I  thought hey why not ask my mom for a hanging pot rack because that would be totally awesome...Well being the awesome mother that she is she decided that I needed a new microwave instead, I mean cool I have a microwave now (that I have used three times in the month and half it is been up) but where was I going to put my pots and pans....

Then I remembered something I had see on Houzz...(here is the link because for some odd reason it's not letting me upload the actual photo.)

Here is my version...

I do plan on painting the peg board, not sure if I want to do the same color as the wall or do something cool like an accent color. What do you think? 

Now I'm trying to figure out a cool way to store my kitchen utensils. Any ideas? Have any cool ways of storing things you in your kitchen?

Over and out, 

A Engineer in the Kitchen

Wordless Wednesday...Kinda

The reason why I have to hide the toilet paper....

I need to clear a few things up with everyone.

First, there is a door on my bathroom. It's a pocket door, yes mom you might hate it but I have a tiny bathroom and I love it. I have been asked by many people why my bathroom has no door...then I have to pull it out for them.

Second, yes I have toilet paper its in the vanity. If I leave it down, I find the above.

Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitchen

Wordless Wednesday: Go MSU!

It's only natural to have a dog that wears green and white when every one else in the house is wearing green and white.

Then & Now: Hank Turns 1

Hank turned one last Friday and OMG did someone get spoiled...don't judge.

So here are so pictures of the Hanky Panky and maybe a few funny stories.

Hank or commonly know as: Hanky, Hanky Panky, Bud, Munch, Munchkin, or Dude. (Or Tank by people who can't remember his name but remember the "ank" part.)

He was so little, he came home weighing 16lbs...he weighed in on Monday at 72lb. 

Ironically, we still have that Frisbee...

"This looks yummy..." I had a few flowers that bloomed in the beginning of May, by the second week of May I had to more flowers/plants. 

On of my favorite pictures of Hank, that rope at the time was longer then him. The rope no longer exist.

He's always been so helpful with chores around the house.

Yeah, he's pretty much that spoiled.

In July we took him to Silver Lake Sand Dunes. At first I was a little nervous how he would react to that noise and commotion, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that it didn't even phase him. He just sat and watched the trucks/dirt bikes/quad runners go by.  

During that same trip he did a lot of digging holes and sunbathing. 

First time swimming was in Lake Michigan! 

Just watching people go by on the beach. He rode in the truck like a champ, I even did a little dune riding with him riding shotgun. 

Sometimes he makes doing chores a little harder...

"Ummm, Mom I think the house exploded...I didn't do it."

Chillin' in the backyard. 

His first fall. 

For his first Halloween he was a Hankarous...he didn't really like me putting the head part of the costume on him. I'm pretty sure if he had his way, he would have destroyed the whole thing.

Hank and his girlfriend, Remmy, these two are crazy together. I don't think crazy is even the right word...they are no stop from wrestling, running and playing machines when together. 

Hank's first Christmas! He got to see Santa at the local mall. 

There were some squeaker toys in this stocking...he was more entertained by chewing on this stocking then actually trying to get them out.

He was pretty spoiled for Christmas.

For news year we went running in the swamp behind my dads house. At this point I am trying to figure out what he has...(it's not a stick!)

Right about now I realize he had a deer leg. When I finally got him to leave the deer leg alone, he went back into the swamp...he then brought me the rest (or what was left) of the deer. 

Yep, he is that spoiled. 

It's been a fun and crazy year but I can't wait for the years to come.

Over and out, 

A Engineer in the Kitchen

Easy Chicken & Gravy

I guess it's nothing when I say sometimes I fail as a blogger...

I throw this meal together so fast that I didn't take any pictures. Oh well, hopefully you guys forgive me. I will try to remember to take pictures next time I make it.

This is a really easy chicken crock pot meal that takes only a few minutes to throw together. When I was ready to eat I did take some of the juices out and to thicken it for gravy. I am a gravy person.

Anyways, throw some chicken breast or tenders into a crock pot (mine were still frozen), add quartered potatoes, two cans cream of chicken soup, two cans of chicken stock, sprinkle with salt, pepper, Accent, parsley and a pinch of cumin.

Took for 8 hours on low. When ready to serve scoop out some of the juices to make gravy using cornstarch.

The chicken was so juicy and fell apart it was so good.

Ingredients:

• Chicken Breast
• Quartered Potatoes
• 2 cans Cream of Chicken
• 2 cans of Chicken Stock
• Salt, pepper, Accent, parsley as desired
• Pinch of Cumin

Directions:

1. Throw all the ingredients into the crockpot.
2. Cook on low for 8 hours.
3. When ready to serve scoop out, juices and use cornstarch to make gravy.

Enjoy,
Over and out,
A Engineer in the Kitche