Janene's Refinishing Inc.

Ever since we moved into the 'Crossley Manor' with Aaron's parents I've heard all the major cautions... nasty resentment-causing issues, if you will. But you have to ask yourself, 'Is your cup half empty or half full?' We've really grown to enjoy living here.. and a sweet perk for me was mom giving me free reign with her furniture to decorate our 2 bedroom upstairs suite : ) 

Ps. Sorry in advance for for the picture overload!!!

Here's a bookshelf I found in a shed.

....Viola!

These are 2 blonde bookshelves over 25 years old...

Priming...

Brown gel stain...

Ta-da!

Cute, huh?

I forgot to snap a picture before but I went to town on this drawer set

I also forgot to snap a before pic! This was a medium brown chest

SO charming...I love it so much I can't stand it!

Last one!

I decided to 'two-tone' this kitchen table

A few days later...

I love it! I love it!

I have a love/hate relationship with this sort of hobby. I reached my limit with the 4th chair! Notice the picture is missing the other 4? I'll get to it soon...

Yours truly, Me

Our Favorite Fajita's

Fajitas are always our first choice at any Mexican restaurant! I could live off fajitas and Chili's chips & salsa w/ avocado ranch... forever. I'd be even happier if Coke Zero was in that picture. With that aside, this marinade makes the best fajitas EVER. Try these if you really want to impress your family and make a dish that will put all of those hole-in-the wall Tex-Mex shops to shame. 

Fajitas Marinade

1/4 C fresh lime juice
1/3 C water
2 T vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
3 t vinegar
2 t soy sauce
2 t liquid smoke
1 t salt
1/2 t chili powder
1/2 t cayenne pepper
1/4 t ground black pepper
1/4 t onion powder
optional: minced jalapeños, depending on how hot you like it

For the Fajitas:
-Boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 3 large ones). Steak is also great.
-Bell Peppers (about 3 large ones) I always use Red, Yellow, and Orange because they're the sweetest, but you can use whatever you like. 
-1 Onion. I prefer a red one just because the color looks so great in there.

Mango Salsa- mango, purple onion, jalapeno, lime, cilantro, salt, and garlic.

Pico de Gallo-tomatoes, purple onion, jalapeno, lime, cilantro, and salt.

Sincerely, Little Bakin' Blonde

Happily Unemployed

Isn't life funny sometimes? I mean, in the way that makes you want to role your eyes in the back of your head. We moved down to Texas nearly 2 months ago with great jobs lined up for each of us. I had 2 offers at orthodontic offices the day after I settled in. I picked the office where I would be needed to replace a gal that was moving. WELL, three weeks later, she decides not to move. OUCH. No big deal, right? 

Two days later, I can hear Aaron ending a conversation with his principal  "Okay, well I appreciated your time, thanks ." It turns out the principal at the high school where Aaron had planned on teaching found a more qualified science teacher. What were we doing wrong? Options and plans for our futures that felt so right were out the door.  The longer we are here and the more time we spend with our families and especially through meeting others I am realizing we are here for good reasons. I am learning how grateful I want to feel because of the blessings that never cease. I am learning how to see these blessings more easily when the solutions to my challenges seem far-fetched. I am so happy for the education and knowledge that helps me to find the peace I need to get past myself .

So, we've decided to be happily unemployed in the mean time : )

I think it really works for us, too.

Aaron's  entire family spent a week in San Antonio. I have loved, loved spending time with them. We wouldn't have moved to Texas as early as we did if Aaron hadn't had planned on teaching. We moved into Aaron's parent's new home. And it's been GOOD.  I have really fallen in love with my in-laws. Haha, I finally feel comfortable with saying "mom" and "dad." Isn't it the small things in life that reminds us how loved we are?

                      We went to Ripley's Believe it or Not and Madame Tussaurd's Wax Museum.

 

Sentimental moment. Baby Buddha meets Buddha.

This Rocky was legit.

Saltgrass at Riverwalk. Their mac n' cheese is Heavenly.

Have I mentioned that I've loved being home?

Yours truly,  me

Summer Happenings

Summer. Slow-paced. Relaxing... finding yourself bored kind of relaxing. Extra time to read really good books. Pondering time. Swimsuits and tan lines. Sigh...

This summer has been a busy one for us and I am craving some relaxing time like cu-razy!

These past few months have been incredibly fun for us. We went on our third cruise!

It's our favorite way to vacation. The only thing I'd change in the future is the cruise line, no offense Carnival! We have your menu memorized, your activities...we've done them all, destinations were all gorgeous in their entireties.

Aaron scored a Nikon camera for his birthday!! He kept sneaking away every chance he got (a.k.a. Every time I was laying out!) to play with his new toy. He was SO pouty when his precious zoom lens' motor died on the first day! But thanks to Nikon's amazing warranty that we didn't technically qualify for...his spirits have been restored!

Catalina Island's Finest: Get this...tow trucks for golf carts--their usual transportation. So rad.

Then we hiked the Provo "Y" with my sister and her hubby. 

Since we've moved to Texas...we've really really missed them.

I also miss these beautiful smiles : )

Aaron scored a teaching position for Vidor High School this coming school year .  Aaron submitted his dental school application(cross your fingers!) and he's always wanted to teach high school for his off year before grad school. Good thing we got his braces taken off last month before he starts teaching his chemistry class, ha! Maybe he should grow some facial hair , too...And how about I break it to the high school ladies now and decorate his classroom with pictures of me .  Hmm.. we'll see.

So we sold our things and packed our Malibu and hit the road to head back home to Texas. The drive went really well! Thanks to our Mac and a ton of redbox movies.  I kind of really like road trips. I LOVE love  talking with Aaron about everything on my mind and he has no where to go : ) Poor guy. What's the first thing we so happened to buy in Texas?

MMmm...Happy Tracks! It's a new one.

We really love being from the south. The pride is just ridiculous.

Home Sweet Home

Yours truly, Me

BOND: Fun shots!

My brother-in-law Keith got a sweet, new camera a while back and we decided to do these fun shots around Provo. We had a blast doing these shots, but I'm not gonna lie...I'm a horrible and embarrassing model!! 

                                               

Yours truly,  Me