Valentines Cookies

As you all well know, my mother is the queen of cookies! But not just any kind of cookies, she likes to make what my husband calls "fancy cookies" that taste just as good as they look!

Soon, she will be starting her own cookie blog(Sweet Southern Sprinkles), but until then I'm excited to let you all see a little glimpse into her cookie world.

These are pictures of cookies that she and I decorated yesterday to send out with my dad and husband to work... if only I realized my husband's offices were closed today-- looks like it will be a late valentines gift for our sweet admin office!

Hope you all have a blessed and loving Valentines Day!!

Remodel: Part 1 {The Kitchen}

I spend more active hours in the kitchen than I do in any other room in the house. Lets be honest, cooking and dishes takes time! Consequently, I always love a pretty and functional kitchen. In every remodel Lee and I have done, we've spent the most attention and expense in our kitchens. I've been told its an investment that is always returned when/if you ever decide to sell. I know for me, when looking to buy a house the kitchen is a big determining factor.

When we bought our house, the kitchen needed dire attention. The house had been sitting empty for several years and time had taken it's toll.

So first up on our remodel list was the kitchen! This is the second kitchen remodel Lee and I have done; however, this was more like a total overhaul rather than a minor face lift.

BEFORE PICTURES

Alterations/Additions:

One thing I disliked immediately was the fact that there was no bar area. It felt as if there was no divider between the living room and the kitchen. I love an open floor plan, but this seemed a little too open… So we raised the bar and extended the countertop to make the esthetics more appealing. While messing with the cabinetry, we also went ahead and raised some of the upper cabinets in specific areas to create a custom feel.

Finally, I had a pull-out trash can added. Best. Decision. Ever. I hate to see trash cans sitting out in a kitchen. I don't know why, but it is a major pet peeve of mine. Who wants to look at trash and smell it while your cooking and eating anyways? So, to fix this dilemma, we had a pull-out trash can worked into our design. I added a heavier pull to this cabinet so that it was easily pulled out even with a full trash can. Very pleased with this little gem. I would HIGHLY recommend anyone who is remodeling their kitchen to find a place to add this idea to your design. Add a hydraulic soft-close cabinet hinge and BAM, pure genius.

Once the cabinetry work was finished, we had all the cabinets painted. I chose White Dove by Benjamin Moore to be my cabinet color throughout the house as well as my trim color. The wall color in the kitchen is a customized version of Grey Moire by Pratt and Lambert and the ceiling color is Refined AF-75 by Benjamin Moore. [A big thank you to Sharon at Kolor Key for helping me pick the perfect coordinating colors.]

Next up was my sink. I debated and debated on which sink and what finish to go with for my kitchen. After visiting with several friends who had experience with the different options I was choosing between, I ended up deciding on a ROHL Shaws Sink.  I absolutely LOVE my sink!!! It is by far one of my most favored remodel items. I would highly recommend this sink to anyone in the market for a new kitchen sink.

I chose the Brizo Solna Kitchen Faucet and have been very pleased with it. I have found that the sprayer is not nearly as strong as they are when they are separate from the spout, but I love the fact that it is hidden as well as a single handle pull-down. It definitely falls more into the modern category but it fit in perfectly for my style. I added a built-in soap dispenser as well to keep a minimalistic appearance. To finish off the look, I added a marble tiled backsplash.

Once the sink was installed then came my quartzite countertop. I was able to cut out the middle man when it came to my granite. I found the granite that I wanted directly from a granite yard (I used Verona Marble Company). The general public is not allowed to buy directly from the granite yard, but the installer that you hire is able to directly purchase. After much research and many recommendations, I chose my installer (StoneTec) and granite (Super White Quartzite). This way I only had to pay the installer rather than having an up charge to purchase from a granite company. Thanks to my dear friend Nikki for that advice!

Finally after all the cutting, sanding, and painting of the cabinets, our hardwood floors were installed. Although the floor salesman thought I was crazy for wanting dark hardwood floors, I am very pleased and happy with my choice.

Now that all the "hard work" was finished, it was time to accessorize. New appliances and hardware from Restoration Hardware was added. Additional can lights were added, along with under cabinet puck lights and above cabinet lighting.  The finishing touches on our kitchen remodel is now complete! I love how it turned out and wouldn't change a thing!

LOVE my crystal knobs for the cabinet doors!

Stainless pulls for drawers

The pulls and knobs put together

AFTER

The curved architecture of the house was a favorite that we kept throughout the remodel

Coming soon-- Living Room Remodel

NLI Signing Day

Well 2014 National Signing Day has come and gone! Three of my husband's football players signed National Letters of Intent to play at various universities. I am incredibly proud and excited for these young men. Hard work pays off and they are seeing that in a big way this week.

After several offers from schools across the state, our Beggs players chose to divide up between NEO and Northwestern Oklahoma State. Yesterday, we had their official signing day at the high school with their families and friends.

Although our team and town will miss our seniors, we are excited for what the Lord has in store not only in there lives, but also for the future of the Beggs Demon Football program.

Remember Seniors, always keep first things first and the rest will fall into place.

DoLee Wolf Signing with NEO

Shaliamere Rentie Signing with NEO

Patrick Cantrell Signing with Northwestern Oklahoma State

Families, Coaches, and Admin with those signing

Football Coaches and their Signing Seniors

My Husband (Coach Blank) addressing the underclassman

For more pictures of the Beggs Golden Demon Football team, click here.

Catching Up

As you all well know, I have been terrible at blogging the last few months. Where has the time gone?! Thankfully for the snow days, I am able to grab a few free moments…

We won our first round in the playoffs against Claremore Sequoyah and headed off to Checotah to play for the Bi-District Championship.

The Checotah game is by far the COLDEST game I have EVER sat through. The temperatures were in the teens and that did not account for the wind chill. The game was postponed from Friday night to Saturday night due to winter weather. I had layers upon layers upon layers and still shivered the whole game.

It was a INTENSE game, yet our Golden Demons pulled out a 34-28 win and became the 2013 Bi-District Champions!

Time for the Quarterfinals (and Thanksgiving)! Because our team practiced through break, we were not able to go home for Thanksgiving. Thankfully, my family brought Thanksgiving to us! Football and a feast all in one. 

We all knew this game was going to be tough, but our boys gave it all they had. We lost in the Quarterfinals to the soon to be State Champions, Kingfisher.

We ended our football season this year at 10-3. We were Bi-District Champions and State Quarterfinalists! This season was definitely one to remember. The team chemistry was unbelievable. They were much more than a football team, they were/are family.

For more pictures of the Beggs Golden Demon Football team, click here. 

Christmas at the Blank's

Christmas came and with it our traditional Christmas cookies. My mother is a spectacular cookie maker & decorator. Every Christmas we decorate cookies to send out to family and friends… and this year was no exception.

We rang in the New Year by putting the finishing touches on Colonel's Horse Stall. The barn isn't quite finished yet, but we skipped ahead and finished Colonel's stall so he could get out of this crazy winter weather.

 And I must say, he is one happy horse! Especially on snow days like this…

NYE Cookies Mom & I made

2014 has been a whirlwind around our house so far. With college recruiting at its peek, my husband has been here, there and everywhere. It's exciting to see the plans the Lord has for these young people start to unfold. 

As I sat folding socks on the couch and my husband with his laptop at hand writing a football article, I started reflecting on just how far the Lord has taken us over the past year. It was last year around this time that life was the most stressful it has ever been. The Lord allowed challenges and hardships to come into our life, causing us to cling ever so tightly to Him. He showed us that our purpose in life should always outshadow our goals. Goals can and will change, but purpose always remains. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the here and now that you quickly forget the big picture. 

Although I do not miss the circumstances the Lord allowed in our paths for a short while, I am so very grateful for them. For without trials, faith would never be strengthened. It is in the hard times that the Lords face shines ever so brightly. 

I am incredibly grateful on a daily basis for what the Lord has done for us. It's easy to run to the Throne in hard times, but I pray He continually reminds me that it's on the mountaintop that strength is renewed.

As we turn the page on 2013, I will always remember this year as one that was Divinely directed. So here's to 2014, let His name be lifted through our purpose as we strive to accomplish the goals He has placed before us!