Peanut

WOW. Life has been crazy busy lately... I haven't had much time to blog at all!! I am SO sorry!!! This post may get lengthy-- because I have tons to share...including a new recipe. :) 

So lets get started....

Kyle and I went home to Ohio to visit family and friends for my birthday.  We had such a wonderful time! My dad let us stay at his home for the 9 days we were there and was extremely cool about everything! We had friends over at night and he even stayed up late with me a couple nights! It was so nice. We were extremely respectful to him and he reciprocated that respect right back to us. It was great.  While Kyle and I were home, we went to a Reds game.... let me rewind to last year just for a moment....

Kyle and I were together for 2-3 weeks when he got leave to come to Ohio.  While he was home, he spent every day with me and we went to a reds game, because we both love the reds.  While at the game, we both witnessed a grand slam.  It was the first time we had both ever been to a baseball game and saw a grand slam.  We both kind of looked at each other afterward and decided, yes. this is real life and we are meant to be.  So we have a soft spot for the reds.

Us at the Reds game last year

The game was on Saturday and after the 3rd inning, we met up with Kyle's friends.  

Us at the game Saturday

 

We all talked for a while and ate some food and just hung out... before long, I asked if we could go back to our seats and sit down because I wanted to watch the game!  Kyle looked at me and said yeah hang on, and grabbed my water and placed it on the balcony railing.  I started wondering what was going on and I look to my left and his best friend has his camera following me.  Little did I know, Kyle was proposing.  I can't tell you what his speech was prior to getting down on one knee because I completely forget and don't think I was faithfully listening due to complete shock and happiness.  He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him and of course I said yes :)  It was one of the happiest days of my life.

My ring <3

 I love everything about my ring.  It has 2 bands made of rose gold surrounding the engagement ring made of white gold.  It is everything I could ask for in a ring.

So we left Ohio on Monday to head back to Jacksonville, NC.  Now another flash back to last year--

In August of last year Kyle and I found out that we would be expecting our first baby Doggett! We were extremely surprised, yet excited at the same time.  After numerous doctor visits, we kept getting told we were sooner along than expected.  I would think I was 6 weeks, but ultrasound would say 4 weeks and then 2 weeks later, the ultrasound would say 5 weeks.  Something wasn't right.  At about 11 weeks, doctors confirmed that I had a blighted ovum, where the baby for whatever reason just stops developing, which results in a miscarriage.  I didn't want to believe doctors and undergo the surgery to remove everything 'left over' so I told myself, if I was going to miscarry, I wanted to do it naturally so that I would know it was supposed to happen.  Sure enough right around '12 weeks', I started to miscarry.  It was extremely painful, but it allowed Kyle and I to lean on each other a lot.  I'm so glad he was there for me at that time and was so supportive.  

So... we get back to NC and I had scheduled a doctor's appointment for Tuesday because I took 2 pregnancy tests and they were both (+) :) Sure enough, ultrasound showed a little peanut and we got to see the heartbeat, 121bpm. Perfectly healthy mini Doggett.  We both cried because it was something we never got to see the first time around.  It was amazing.  I go back June 11 to hear the heartbeat and I'm sure its going to be just as emotional-- We are so fortunate.

We wanted to tell our friends on facebook in a unique way and this is what we came up with:

 

haha :) We like it.

So lately I have been extremely tired and experiencing morning sickness and all that the 1st trimester has to offer--- All of this excitement is why I haven't had the chance to blog! I'm going to track my pregnancy as well so once I begin to show, I will be posting about it- I'm so excited.  I know Kyle will be a wonderful father, and I adore kids :) 
Any Mommies out there that have any advice??? Please share!!!!

Now for my "Recipe of the Week"

Three Cheese Pasta Bake

Ingredients:

• 1 (16-ounce) package ziti 
• 2 (10-ounce) containers refrigerated Alfredo sauce
• 1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
• 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese 

Directions:

1. Prepare ziti according to package directions; drain and return to pot.
2. Stir together Alfredo sauce and sour cream; toss with ziti until evenly coated. Spoon half of mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
3. Stir together ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, and parsley; spread evenly over pasta mixture in baking dish. Spoon remaining pasta mixture evenly over ricotta cheese layer; sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.
4. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Twice Baked

Hello everyone!!! I know, I know, I'm a day late on the recipe of the week--- I'm sorry!!! Yesterday was a hectic and busy day! So here it is:

 Twice Baked Potato Casserole

trust me- this is AMAZING.

 Ingredients

• 1-1/2 pounds red potatoes (about 6 medium), baked
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 3 cups (24 ounces) sour cream
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 green onions, sliced

Directions

• Cut baked potatoes into 1-in. cubes. Place half in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the salt, pepper and bacon. Top with half of the sour cream and cheeses. Repeat layers.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until cheeses are melted. Sprinkle with onions. Yield: 6-8 servings.

 

Let me know how you like it!! Enjoy :)

 

Ooey Gooey whattt!?

Good evening bloggers! How was every one's weekend? I had a wonderful weekend.  Kyle's sister came into town out of the blue and we decided to surprise him and he actually was pretty shocked... I'm not very good at keeping surprises a secret but this one was definitely a success!! We went to dinner at Applebee's Friday night when Kyle got off work and then on Saturday it was gorgeous outside so we all went to the beach and she flew back to Ohio on Sunday- burnt and all :) 

Kyle and Britt at Applebee's

Britt and I at Emerald Isle

 Today starts the Recipe of the Week for my blog!! I hope you guys at least try making these delicious items... I promise whatever I post is good :) This week I decided to start out with a desert because I absolutely love baking.  One of my favorite recipes that I have stumbled upon thanks to Pinterest and Picky-Palate.com is the:

Ooey Gooey Cookies and Cream Cake Bars

Be prepared-- these can be messy once they are ready to eat--- but they are very worth it!

What you need:

• 1 Devils Food Cake Mix
• 8 Tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cups choc. chips
• 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 14 oreos, broken into bite size pieces
• 13x9 pan, foil or wax paper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line a 13x9 baking pan with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. 

 

Mix devils food cake, egg, and butter into large bowl

 

After mixing, you can use your hands if you want in order to get a very dough-like texture, like so:

 

 

 Place dough into lined pan in chunks

 

Take palm of your hand or spoon and smash dough to form an even surface

 

Take your 14 oreos and brake them into bite size pieces

 

Spread pieces over dough evenly-- if the oreo's don't cover the dough completely, you may need to break them down into smaller pieces

 

Take the condensed milk and pour entire can over the oreo's to cover completely

 

 

Lastly, add the chocolate chips

 

 

Bake for 23-25 minutes and remove from oven.
After 5 minutes of cooling, run knife around edges to loosen--this makes it easier to remove from foil. Let completely cool and remove foil from pan.  Cut into squares and serve! 
Makes 12 bars.

I hope you enjoy them! They are extremely good!! Let me know how they turn out!

Good Vibes

Good afternoon everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  As I previously mentioned in one of my posts,  I had a phone interview with Enterprise.  It went really well and the interviewer asked me to come to her office for an in-person interview on Monday.  That also went very well, and so now I have another interview tomorrow with the area manager.  Something she recommended to me was wearing a suit to the interview tomorrow.  Well I don't have a suit and also don't have the money to splurge on one for a one time thing.  IF I do get hired, yes I will go get a suit, or three. But the way I see it, I'm sorry, if a company doesn't hire someone based on self-induced conclusions about their dress code, then it probably isn't the place I should be working at.  I am going to wear black slacks and a nice shirt so hopefully it will be enough, I am crossing my fingers at least.  I would love to get the position. Please send up a prayer for me, or two :)

So on a different note, Kyle and I decided that our best option for moving is going to be moving into a townhouse/apartment.  He gave me a link to a place called Stonebridge Apartment Homes.  

I looked online and they have a special going on right now where the rent is lowered, allowing it to be in our budget.  Its right by the Greene, which is really close to my best friend Katie Taylor's house so I got really excited about that as well-- and the Greene is only about 15 minutes from both our parents' houses.  So I decided to call them and see if there was any way we could 'lock in' the sale rate but not have it applied until we moved in.  They said that would be fine. (YAY) and so when we go home we will walk through some of the units and see if we fall in love or not.  I'm looking forward to it- I think it will be nice and its a good location :)

Something I will definitely miss, however, is being so close to the beach.  Kyle and I got our first true sunburn this past weekend- Kyle looked like a lobster, I just looked like a shade of pink hahaha.  We went with another couple that we enjoy spending time with, the Combs family and Kyle's friend Shawn.  It was a lot of fun.  A little windy, but still wonderful. 

Here are some pics from the day:

 

So as you can see- we really enjoyed just being out in the sun and getting some color.  I think we are going to go back this weekend- probably bringing Bailey.  She hasn't been to the beach since she was a puppy and was terrified of it lol.

This was back in January and she was literally only 4 months old. So were hoping she actually might enjoy the water this time around.  She is such a skittish dog naturally so it may be a struggle. 

Alright everyone, I feel like I am rambling on-- I am going to start a "recipe of the week" series and post some creative recipes that I, myself, either am going to make or have made.  I think it will be fun-- especially because I love baking and cooking. So check back on Monday for the recipe of the week starting next week! Have a blessed day.

Count your blessings--

“Being a Marine is inherently dangerous but this is a shock to all of us.  Our primary focus right now is making sure our Marines and their families are taken care of.  We send our prayers and sincere condolences to the families of these Marines and mourn with them through this tragic event.”
-Col. Frank Donovan

 Being in a relationship with a Marine never comes easy.  I think anyone you ask that is in a relationship with one would confess that as well.  And its not just marines that this struggle comes with, its anyone in the military.  I know some people belittle other branches and challenge other branches, but at the end of the day every branch does some part in keeping us all safe.  Just recently 2 marines were killed and 2 were severely injured in Morocco due to an MV-22 Osprey crash. This crash didn't happen because of a mission the marines were on, it happened during a bi-lateral training exercise. These marines just left 2 weeks ago for deployment.  Their unit was literally next door to my boyfriends unit.  It's so close to home that it really tugs at my heart- so much that I'm writing about it.

 Since being with Kyle, he hasn't deployed and I am beyond grateful for that.  He almost deployed, but in the end never did.  He is getting out of the Marines in September/October of this year and so from here on out he wont ever have to deploy again.  Kyle has deployed 4 times.  I still get to hug him everyday and hold his hand.  I get to eat dinner with him and be goofy with him.  I get to love him. The wives of the 2 marines will never be able to hug their husbands, hold their hands, kiss them in the morning, just touch them.  It breaks my heart. 

 I preach all the time about how short life is and how each moment should be cherished and never taken for granted.  God has a plan for all of us...a plan that we aren't supposed to know the blueprint for.  We need to live as if each day is our last day here on Earth. I can only pray for the families that have been affected by this crash, and that includes the 2 marines that are injured as well.  It has to be a scary, tough, and confusing time.  Sorry doesn't fix the pain and only time will.  The Lord will never put you through something you cannot handle.  I have learned that over time and it is very true.  Always cherish every moment that you have with someone, because ultimately anything can happen.  Your husband doesn't have to be in the military for an accident to occur. Anything can happen at any time under any circumstance.  I just ask that you be thankful and count your blessings. 

R.I.P. Marines. All gave some, some gave all.

Fly high. Semper Fi.

For Rent--

So lately life has been pretty stressful... My birthday is less than a month away and Kyle and I are going home to be with family for it.  We are planning on going home around May 6th and staying for about 8 days.  I absolutely cannot wait-- I miss my family so much! When we get home we are going to look around at townhouses/apartments for when we move back in September/October.  Originally, we were going to buy a house that way we only had to move once and everything would be great- but as we all know 

>>>its not that easy<<<

So of course as I am looking at houses I find one that would be perfect. Literally in every aspect.  It had wooden floors, a basement with a bar in it, 2 car garage, it was under our budget, and it had a flag pole in the front yard for an American Flag and Marine Flag.  It was gorgeous.

This is it. Perfection in a house.

So after looking at steps necessary to buy a house, we then realized it was next to impossible to do. Reasons are as follows:

1. Kyle and I would have to be married for me to be on the VA loan and were not rushing a marriage because we want a house.
2. He had to have a verifiable job set up in Ohio in order to be eligible for the VA loan- which isn't going to happen right away as well.
3. As much as I wanted to, we weren't ready to plunge into being home owners yet, I mean, were not even married.

 So I swallowed my pride and let it go.  So now were currently looking at townhouses and apartments near home that is within our budget and allows pets :) As exciting as it is to be back home and with family, it can really be a big stress.  Any of you looking to buy homes-- take your time because it really can be overwhelming.

On another note, my best friend Emily has been staying in the hospital here because her 2.5 month old developed RSV and it kept getting worse-- BUT she got to go home today with a healthy baby and a happy husband.  God is so great. I'm so glad they are finally home.

I got an email the other day requesting a phone interview for Enterprise Car Rentals so I'm excited about it! I hope I do well!!! Fingers crossed.  

How was everyone's Easter by the way??!?! I had to work the morning of at the hospital but then I got to go home and be lazy-- it was nice.  I hope everyone had a very blessed day. 

Well the Reds are playing and I need to start watching it-- My boy Stubbs, #6, is up to bat...he's the best by the way! I cannot wait to go to a game when we get home for my birthday :)

Go Reds! Beat the Cardinals!!!

Have a wonderful night everyone...

Intro...

So this is my first time making a blog and I'm actually pretty excited about it! I needed a place to just go and write and post various things so I could get things out of my head all the time! I guess I will start with a little about myself.

My name is Erica Bedel and I am originally from Dayton, Ohio. I was raised in Dayton and moved to a town called Miamisburg at the start of the 4th grade.  I went to college at Bowling Green State University- Go Falcons! - and graduated in May of 2010.  I just recently moved to Jacksonville, NC and have been living here since August 2011.  

I have a beautiful sister named Jenna. She is my best friend and what my world revolves around.

My sis :)

My Dad and I

My Momma

My parents mean the world to me and are constantly guiding me through life.  They have such selfless love for my sister and I and I couldn't ask for better parents.

So the reason I now live in North Carolina, 11 hours away from the people that mean the most to me is because I met this man: 

Kyle <3

This is Kyle. He is currently in the United States Marine Corps and has been in for 9 years.  He is one of the most amazing individuals I truly feel I will ever meet.  In just 11 months, we have been through so much together, battling life's complications and learning to love again after being hurt in past relationships.  We really have grown together and stuck by each other when any other person most likely would have left.  He is my rock. 

 Meet Bailey: A Chocolate lab/Australian shepherd mix.

Bailey was a Christmas present from Kyle in November of last year. She was born on September 26 and is one of the best gifts I've ever received.  Kyle was working night shifts and I would have a hard time sleeping at night due to anxiety of being in a new environment alone and so he figured what better gift than a puppy to keep me company! We treat her as if she were our daughter and love her beautiful self so much :)

So that is a little bit about me, I don't want to give away too much right off the bat! I am very excited to blog about various topics and I hope people enjoy it! :)