Summer Challenge 2012

As of tomorrow, the summer challenge officially begins. Myself along with two friends have each compiled a list of things we would like to accomplish this summer. Some items are events, trips, crafts, cooking, etc... Just things we say we are going to do, but might never really get around to doing them!

One of my challenges is to blog about each item! Which basically means... You get to read about each one! (lucky, lucky you)

Tomorrow is the official first day for myself! And, I have decided to kick off my summer challenge by giving up fried food and pop for two months! I have given up fried food a couple of times now and for me it is easy easy... But pop on the other hand... Well, we shall see!

Be sure to check back for mopre post about "Summer Challenge 2012!" :)

Peace, Love and Fried Food,
Bdavis

proCRAFTination

I am doing my best to enter the blogging world again. It has been a while. Almost a year, but I figured, I have so much free time on my hand these days (sarcasm) I might as well. This blog is formerly known as "Peace, Love and Extension," but I decide I wanted something a little more fun so I went with "Life Happenings in Rural America." I really, really wanted "Life Happenings in BFE," but I figured it wasnt very politically correct! Haha

So, I think my first blog back should be about my latest love interest ... Pinterest ... the best and worst thing ever invented.

Instead of Facebook, I pinterest.

A lot.

My pins include everything from green cleaning to crafts to hair tutorials. And, usually each night I find one tip, or craft or one tutorial that I just HAVE to try. Tonight, I went with The Small Things Blog messy side up-do. My hair was already curly, so I thought why not? And, I love it, by the way. I will definitely be doing it for something other than nights in front of the computer pinning. :)

Pinterest has given me so many wonderful, fun ideas for everything. And, it is an added bonus to be able to save everything right in one spot. When people ask me about pinterest, I am usually appalled that they haven’t heard of it. (It is just the best thing ever!)

The first week of October, I was asked to do a presentation to 4-H volunteers from the Southern Region. They asked it to be tied to the Home Environment 4-H Project. I knew immediately that pinterest could (and should) be tied into the presentation and was I right! The ladies in my workshop loved it and we spent over half of the workshop time playing on pinterest. It turned into more of a pinterest learning time than home environment learning time. Nevertheless, the ladies left with a new love for pinning and I left with a lot of new ideas. Every time the ladies would see a pin they liked, we discussed it and how it could be changed into something that would fit the home environment project.

Let this be a lesson to everyone, pinterest, in the right context, can be used for work purposes.

Tomorrow’s, craft night includes a ghost hair bow and packing for another conference.

Just call me Martha Stewart!

Since I have graduated, got a job, bought a house, I figure it is time to start something I have NEVER been very good at ... well, not that I am not good at it... but never had the need or want to be good at it.... and by "it", I am talking about COOKING! My grandma's are both excellent cooks as is my mom ... and when I try to cook old family recipes well, they just dont turn out tasting as good.

I decided it was time to contribute something to Christmas dinner. I made this decision for Thanksgiving dinner too.. but it just didnt work out! For Christmas, I made a cookies, cherry pie and a cherry cheesecake.

The cookies didnt make it until Christmas dinner. Two Cookie Monsters that live in the Davis Household got a hold of them!

The Cherry Pie turned out good and I even put little Christmas trees on top! My grandpa's both said it was quote "the best pie they ever had!" But, I feel like they were just being nice ... seeing as how they say that about everything I make! Love them! Nana gave me some advice to get the top to look ... to use her words "more golden" so the next one will be better!

This is the dessert that I make every Thanksgiving and Christmas. I say it is my specialty and there is really no cooking involved. Just melting some butter and mix everything and you are good to go!

For Christmas, I got tons of cooking and baking stuff... pans, rolling pin, flour sifter and even my very own apron! I was so excited! and tonight, I am going on my first solo enchilada making adventure! Michael and Red Pop are my test panel! The boys are coming over to watch the OSU Bowl game and to celebrate milestones in their life. Michael graduated from OSU a couple of weeks ago and Red Pop passed the OGET so he can student teach in the spring! We have a lot to celebrate and little do they know they are getting their very own cakes! :) Hope they dont read this before tonight!

I always thought that after you get married and become a mom, that cooking just comes sorta natural ... then you become a grandma and you get reallly good!

Hopefully, it will "come" to me sometime, but practice never hurt anyone! Good thing I learned from some of the best cooks around! :)

From my kitchen to yours... Have a wonderful Wednesday! :)

Hello World.

Lately, I have been reading a lot of blogs and today I decided I would start my own. So here goes my blogging trial run.
I graduated in May 2010 from Oklahoma State University. After traveling to Chile with the Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership Encounter (OALE), I started working for the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Services in Caddo County as an Extension Educator in July.
At the time of graduation, I wasn't sure if I was going to find a job. I moved back to my hometown in May and lived with my parents for about 4 months before purchasing a house and moving to Hinton, OK. Because I work for a county agency, I had to move with in the county boarders. So, my 2-year-old dog, Lucy, and I made the move to Caddo County.

Finally, the county and state fairs were over and Lucy and I were getting settled into our new house. There were a lot of updates to do and instead of cleaning the toilet... I choose to purchase a new one. Thankfully, my dad, grandpa and brother live close enough they were able to help me with this task (and by "help", I mean they did it without my "help!)

Working in Extension, I have realized that it is going to take a full year before I really know what is going on. Planning events and activities are fun, but there is always something that "newbys" seem to forget. Luckily, I have two great secretaries that are always willing to help me out and make sure I have the things I need. Thank you Pat and Brinda!

Of course like any proud OSU alum, I attend every home football game there is. This year was exeptionally fun and very different from the passed years. My best friend and former roommate, Cami, is in vet school at OSU and other best friend, Brody, is getting his master's in Animal Science. Every weekend, we would tailgate with my family and go to the game. I even sat in the student section most of the time... which was fun... but not near as fun as when I was there for my undergrad. Things change! My favorite part of the game is singing the alma mater ... Proud and Immortal! Go State!

Thanksgiving was extremely hectic around Caddo County. Seems like there was a million things to do and not enough time to do them in and to top it off... I was sick 5 days before Thanksgiving got here. Needless to say... my contribution to Thanksgiving lunch didnt go as planned (and by planned, I mean they didnt happen at all!) After searching the paper for the best deals, I decided that I wanted to buy a new T.V. and refridgerator and because now that its MY money... I am a bit more careful than I was when it was "Mom and Daddy's money." Mom, Dad and I got up at 3:45 a.m. and was at Walmart in Anadarko by 4:45 and was the FIRST in line for my new T.V. I finally got a "big girl" T.V. that fits perfect on my T.V. stand. and my new fridge looks great too! and Again, so glad I have my family close to help me get new things for my house! Thanks Mom and Daddy!

Christmas season is finally upon us and my house is ready to go! Tree is up, stockings are hung and presents are wrapped. All that is missing is me living in my house! I have had bit of a problem getting Centerpoint Energy to my house to turn on my gas... so until this happens... Looks like I will be slumbering with the parentals, which isnt too bad because they have great food and it's warm! BONUS!

Last week, I went to see Trans Siberian Orchestra in concert and this weekend I am going to the Oklahoma City Ballet performance of "The Nutcracker!" I just first have to make it through this work week. Share-the-Fun is scheduled for Wednesday and a Holiday In-Service on Friday and I am home free for the ballet.

Happy Monday!