February Begins...

February 1: The tales of a teacher. I always say I should write a book. I was reading a test today and it dealt with States. The student turned to me and asked how many states there were....they lost track! Keeps me on my toes and can see why I'm exhausted by the end of the day!!

Just in case you wanted to know!!  

February 2: Going with my new Pinterest rave-- I took off my fake nails. First time in two years they kinda needed to breathe. So I decided to try a newspaper nail. You will need: a clear base coat, white nail polish, newspaper, and a top coat.

Steps: 
1. Paint a base coat. I used a nail strengthener due to having fake nails for so long.
2. Paint the color white. Allow to dry.
3. Dip nail in rubbing alcohol for 3 seconds.
4. Rip a section of newspaper (2x3) is plenty for each nail. I would do this prior to painting. Once you have dipped your nail then press the newspaper on your nail and remove. The print will transfer to your nail.
5. Put a top coat on so the newspaper print does not come off!

Newpaper finger nail polish!

February 3: Date night with friends never goes as planned, but random nights are the best!! We decided to head to my old stopping grounds of Vermillion to eat at a steakhouse. I was excited to go and some of my good friends finally get to meet Rick. We headed up with another couple. Went to the Varsity first- love my old local bar. Having fun and waiting for are other four couples to get there for are reservations. We get a call five minutes before our reservation that they are running late due to someone getting called in to work. We stayed and the water was tasting amazing!!! The others decided to go to a local country club due to the crappy weather and being late for our own reservation. We decided to head to the country club on our way back a car didn't make the turn and went right into the corn field.. Yep, a corn field! I do live in the Midwest!!! We stopped but they were pushing their car so continued on our way!!! We ended up being the only ones in the county club that night. It was nice to be with friends while people waited on us and we could be loud!!! Result of the night=random night-success!!


February 4: One more week till I get to bottle my beer!!!

Stank is still waiting!!!

February 5: Superbowl Sunday! Since the Steelers are out, I watched it for the ads!! My favorite was the M & m one!!!




                        




February 6: The day after the Super Bowl should be a national holiday. Everyone needs the day off!!


February 7: Have I told you I'm in a women's bowling league?? Twice a month I drive to Vermillion, South Dakota to bowl. I have been doing it for 5 years and there is NEVER a dull moment on a Tuesday!

My shoes!!!! 

Already the end of the first month!

January 29: After a long night of brewing I had to clean up my distillery!! Took me awhile but the good thing is I have..... Bubbles!!!

January 30: Pinterest is my new love. I decided to make tomatoes covered with avocados, topped with cheese! Supposively they are one point a piece if you are on weight watchers.

Pretty yummy!!!

January 31: I think I found my kayak rooftop carrier!!! It is one of the inflatable ones. If anyone has tried it let me know!!!

First Homebrew

January 28: Well after my shipping mess up and sending my homebrew  product to school, I finally got to brew it. This is my first one so wasn't too sure about how it all would go. I read the book and thought it didn't seem that bad. Liberty Cream Ale here we go!!!

Stank is excited to brew her first beer ever!

I got a liquid yeast so you had to pop the bladder and let it swell! Well they want it to rest in temprature of about 75 degrees. I keep my house at 64 in the winter (I like it cold :)) So I put a towel on top of it and placed it in the sun to see if it would rise since I remember by dad doing that with bread while I was growing up! It worked too!!! (Forgot to get a picture)

I borrowed a pot from a lady I work with and it worked!! I think I will go buy my own. It was a canning pot and took FOREVER for the water to get up to the correct temperature.

Got my pot ready to go

I put my crushed grains in the muslin boiling bag and turned up the heat. It took a long time but finally got to 155 degrees!!!

Starting to steep

Put the malt extract in and stirred it up!!! That is how the color of the beer came to be! The bittering hops were also put in for optimal hop utilization and bittering!! They tell you not to leave your pot unattended since boil overs are messy!!

Getting some color 

Ooops...I seemed have to went to the bathroom and left it unattended. Boil over...

Ahhh man- boil over

Wort was cooled! and put in my primary fermenter and topped it off with water.

5 gallons worth

I have good color and did my hydrometer reading. It was 1.040. I tasted it and didn't taste too bad. Not really carbonated yet!! Not really a fan of room temp beer.

Looking good

Since the water took so long to boil and get up to temperature it was a late night for me. I was exhausted. I fell asleep standing up.

I was sleepy after the making

Stank loves beer. Out of the little plastic thing on top bubbles will start to form in 1-3 days!!! Sweeeet...

Stank likes the bucket-waiting for bubbles to happen 

The down fall is you have to wait two weeks to bottle!!

January is almost over...

January 21: It took awhile to decide but Liberty Cream Ale it is for my homebrew. I also ordered some bottles and caps!

January 22: New thing I want to try. Chalkboard Paint. Looks super cool!

Looks easy!

January 23: I love random text messages. Here is a Special Snowman from my Nephew! It is hard being so far away but, messages like this warms my heart!

At least his nose is in the right place!

January 24: I pondered where was my homebrew today. Checked an email-no luck. Checked another- bingo! Clicked on it with the hopes of it being delivered tomorrow. Good news- it was!!! Bad news- I shipped it to my school.... SERIOUSLY?? My school??? What was I thinking- obviously I wasn't!!!! Talk about frantic Frita! I called the place where I bought it and they said there was nothing they could do about it. I called Fed Ex to see if I could get my package re-routed. I had a lengthy conversation with them about how I needed it re-routed....

January 25: Come home from work, package is on my front steps. Good job on the re-route! I guess I type my school address in way to much with all the paperwork I have to do!

January 26: I love when a pet falls asleep on my lap.

Simon loves my lap!

January 27: Some mornings I love wrapping my cold hands about a cup of a warm drink.

Amazing!

January Days

January 13: Friday the thirteenth, oh how I despise you. I swear nothing ever good happens.

January 14: Pinterest!! Enough said--can't get enough of that website!! I'm soooo addicted. Great ideas!!!

I think this would be super fun to do....wait I did that when I moved to Nebraksa

January 15: Showering after a good workout and curling up with a good picture book is a nice way to spend a Sunday. P90X is a great workout...I am going to have a rockin' body :)

January 16: Why doesn't Nebraska schools' have Martin Luther King Jr. Day off?? Aren't we trying to get kids to have their own dreams??

January 17: A year ago I went on one of the best vacations ever!!! With my wolf pack!! We went to Deadwood, South Dakota...best vaca ever.

Cheering on the Steelers 

January 18: Salon 10 in Deadwood-what a great place! They had minnow races, I got 3rd place. Won two tee-shirts and a hat. Not bad for a 5 dollar entry fee.

In action at Minnow Races--yeah I beat him...woop

January 19: The wolf pack figured out how to vacation on a budget. Went to Custard State Park, The Bad Lands, and Mt. Rushmore. We hit all the National parks out that way! Christened them too!!!!

Custard State Park

Mt.Rushmore

Badlands 

We had all the parks to ourselves or just shared it with two other people. Pretty Cool

January 20: Watch a movie that makes you laugh. Bridesmaids! So can see this being rein-acted this summer. 6/22/2012- Love you Moose!!

Went to the World's Only Corn Palace...

P.S.- In case you want to know result of the Wolfpack weekend.....

Pink Eye....I think someone farted on my pillow

Everyday Something New!

January 5: I wish there was a magic pill that would keep fit.

Everything is sore. Tony Horton kicked my butt in core synergistic this morning. Then I thought since it was 66 degrees in Nebraska today to go for a walk. A three mile walk! Bad bad bad idea....but I can't complain about the weather!!

I wouldn't mind seeing this temp everyday!!!!

January 6: Remember when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown. But, it only takes 4 muscles to reach your hand out and smack them.

Sooooo mad :(

January 7: Sleep in! If you need the sleep take advantage of it! I slept 10 hours last night. All that traveling and starting to work out must have really got to me! But I did accomplish getting my Christmas tree down! Sweet one thing checked off my list!!!

Happy Birthday to Moo!!!! I misssssss you 

January 8: I found a new thing I want to tackle. My scrap booking is piling up!! Or maybe I will start quilting again :)

My first tee-shirt quilt!

January 9: Working out is it really worth it?? Well I hope so lost 5.5 pounds my first week! Lets see what the future brings!

January 10: Remember family is the most important thing. Miles apart but always in the heart.

Brother, Sister, and Nephew's at Christmas time!!!

January 11: Where's the snow??? It is the 11th and I have seen snow twice..I am getting nervous what may happen!!!

Two years ago all the snow!!! The truck can get through anything!!

January 12:  I look back at some of these pictures and wonder how I got my belly....Hmmmm....ya I think I know!!!

The wolf pack!!!

Something new everyday! Happy New Year

I thought it might be fun to blog a different thought, idea, quote or etc., everyday of the year. Let's see what I can do!!

January 1: Make goals for the new year or update your bucket list.
1. Lose 30 pounds by April 30th. I'm starting P90X again. I'm sick of being fat! BRING IT!!
2. Go to Ireland.
3. Kayak all summer long.

    (check out my new hot body!!)

4. Make a great home brew. Just gotta get some hops!
5. Take my Christmas tree down.

 

Why would I want to take this beautiful thing down???

January 2: If you lose your wallet check the refrigerator. You might have hid it from robbers in there. (Yes, I did that! oops--)

January 3: Missing a friends birthday celebration stinks.

Sorry Mills--I was sad too--

January 4: An unsuspected lunch with friends is sometimes just what your mind needs. Shout outs too J.C, Twinky, and S.H. La Wa's to be my last good meal before my diet starts on the 5th!!!

Taco, Burrito, What's that coming out of your Speedo?....