I had ran across this recipe over on Hello Newlywed Life and finally got around to making it last week!  I don't know whats better than a crockpot meal. I have been doing so many lately. This is one of my absolute favs and reminds me so much of roast! The chicken literally falls apart, so good. 

Sorry, no fancy plates or cool lighting/placement. I was ready to chow down.

Ingredients:

4-6 Chicken Breasts

1 tall boy of any beer(We don't keep beer around so I went for the good 'ol cheap Keystone and it still turned out great)

8 white potatoes, quartered

1 large bag of baby carrots

1 can or frozen bag of green beans

1 stick of butter

Thyme

Season All

Salt 

Pepper

Garlic powder

Onion Powder

Directions:

+Get out your trusty crockpot and spray your non-stick spray all around. This helps the cleaning after the meal so much easier. (I just learned, thanks momma.)

+Place the chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper just a bit.

+Add in the potatoes, carrots and green beans. Spreading them around for a good mix. 

+Pour in the tall boy of beer

+Cut your stick of butter up into small chunks placing them over your chicken and veggie mix.

+Season VERY well with season all, salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder. I did a good covering so it soaks down in to everything. 

+Add a pinch of thyme across the mixture. I never use thyme so I'm not even sure about what flavor it adds, but it said to ad it and its great. Which totally works for me!

+Turn crockpot on low for 8-10 hours if frozen breasts and 6-8 hours if thawed.

+I would randomly swirl what I could around a bit for the seasoning to fall a little. It may have not done anything, but it comforted me. ha. 

ENJOY!

Hope all of you sweeties have an amazing and safe New Years Eve and New Year!

Sweaters & boots

For Christmas I got the cutest sweater from my sweet friend Ashley. I finally wore it to church today so had Brad take some pictures. Allie even made an appearance. :) Oh, and I just cut 4 inches off my hair, but can't believe it is still pretty long! Oh the joys a fresh cut can make you feel amazing!

Sweater: Target
Jeans: JcPenny Skinny Ankle Cotton
Boots: Old
Watch: Betsey Johnson
Bracelet: Finland

Merry Christmas from the North/Reese Family!

We were so pleased to find out we would be home for Christmas! We were able to continue our normal family traditions with my parents! We had church Christmas Eve followed by friends over for food and games. This morning we opened presents then made our traditional roll ups! Roll ups are pretty much like crepes, thin with lots of butter and sugar! Yummy! We ate an early lunch around 4 with Ham, mashed potatoes, baked beans, rolls, fruit and pumpkin pie! All of our favorites for Christmas since we get enough turkey on Thanksgiving! We lay in our PJ's all day watching basketball to finish the blessed day off!

It's always such a relaxing day of remembering that Jesus is the reason! Blessed to have a lord and savior that that is so forgiving and loving every day of the year! I hope you all had a very merry Christmas! Here's the pictures from our few days of festivities:)

We Celebrated my beset friends nieces birthday on Christmas Eve! I can't believe she is already 11! I have known her since before she was born and she has become a sweet, beautiful young lady!

Coming Soon….

After 10 long short months we are PREGNANT! Due July 2014! Back in the beginning of October I went to the doctor in Finland to make sure everything was ok to get pregnant, etc. She told me I don't ovulate and spoke the fear into me about being infertile/miscarrying running in my family. Just like God to turn around a two weeks later and bless us with a sweet precious baby growing rapidly in my tummy.

Last year around this time we had the talk of "in a year let's have a baby". Every month I would be hoping and praying it happened. Literally, the suspense kills ya. In October my parents had multiple people at home ask if I was pregnant. I would get so giddy her telling me, but at the same time trying to not get my hopes up. Little did I know I was pregnant and just didn't know it yet! I know that a lot of moms say all they have ever wanted to be was a mother, but it's so true. When you get in your head that you are ready to be a mom it is all you think about.

My mom took this after we told them in Finland. :)

I didn't really have time or resources to go all out and tell Brad a super awesome way. I could hear him coming home so I stood by the door hid the two tests behind my back saying " I have something to tell you". Took them from behind my back and said "we're pregnant!" As I am crying his mouth drops open and he just stares. Then hugs me up saying it better be a boy. Oh men and their scare of girls. He was so excited and pleased! He knew how long I kept wondering and would always tell me be patient because God knows the perfect timing. That he sure as heck does! We are over the moon!

I was able to have my mom take pictures of when I told my dad. They are pretty great. He had previously asked me for socks and a grand baby for Christmas and this is what he got:

I have been to the doctor twice and just seeing the baby move his little feet and see/hear that heartbeat has me wrapped around the finger already. I absolutely can't wait to fin rout what we are having!

I have been wanting to shout it from the rooftops that we are pregnant and now I finally can! We are continuing to pray that I have a smooth pregnancy and can not wait to meet our sweet babe!

Just hold on we're comin' home

The time has come that all our bags are packed.

WE ARE GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!

Of course, due to Brads injury it is a little bittersweet to say we are leaving what we made a home in Finland until February. If his rehabbing goes as expected at home then we will be headed back this way so that he can finish out the season. We have been beyond blessed to have this team here be more of like a family. They truly do all they can to help us. The fact that they want Brad back after he heals from his injury is a miracle because literally that just doesn't happen. Most times in this career with Basketball the minute you get hurt you are cut and on the first flight home.

God has continued blessing us throughout this journey and even through Brads injury. It is always just like God to show you all the love and good in the things which you may think are bad. Brad is going to return better and stronger than ever.

We are so excited to spend the Christmas and the next two months with my family as we missed out on that previous. There is nothing like being home with your loved ones during tough times. By the grace of God we are such a blessed couple and can't wait to witness the rest of our story.

Zombies

Cue random weird post...

I have expressed previous that we just love zombies. They are so creepy and weird, but yet so fascinating. Walking Dead started my obsession and on it goes. A while back Brad and I watched World War Z. All in all it was a decent movie, kinda creepy, but decent. I mean Brad Pitt is just great, as always. The one thing that nerved me was the way the zombies were. Let's just say those are not how "zombies" are supposed to be. I know in the movie they call them the "undead", but yep basically zombies.

Zombies do not break all bones in their bodies as they are turning like werewolves.
Zombies do not run fast.
Zombies do not jump.
Zombies do not bang their heads with full force against glass.

I am supposed to be able to out run a zombie. I would take my first stride and the zombie would be all over me. Yeah, these zombies in World War Z must come from a different blood line. Also, how do they not know that stabbing, shooting, or what have you in the head kills them. Get it together people.

Oh, and if you think I really believe zombies are real, I don't. The shows/movies are just fascinating. hehe.

Snow Day in Finland

Today Brad and I braced ourselves to finally get out in the snow for some fun and pictures. We made sure to bundle up! We caught a good time since it was currently snowing outside, even though you can hardly tell in the photos. Brad even threw down his crutches for a picture! :)

The weather has been getting down to as low as -8.  I swear my runny nose turned into nose icicles last night coming home from the store. They also have to officially plug in their cars during the nights. I love the snow, hate the cold. Needless to say us Floridians and Texans will be ready for the 50ish Texas weather next week! Here's the pictures from today. Enjoy!

L'Oreal Mascara Review

This right here is my all time favorite mascara.

L'Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions

I started using it in April and haven't skipped a month. I personally can't use mascaras that have a thicker soft bristle brush because it always ends up touching my eyelid so this works perfectly. My eyelashes are pretty short and not very full of life and this perks them right up. Nothing makes my eyelashes magical, but I love how easy and clump-free this is. I like to use this mascara because you can do just the one coat for everyday wear or with just two it make my eyelashes come more in depth for a night look. If I need even more flare I put one coat top and bottom lashes first, then curl them and then add another coat and wa-lah!

What's your favorite Mascara?

*These opinions are all my own. 

Mom & Dad in Finland!

We were both so excited and thankful that my parents were able to come to FInland and spend Thanksgiving with us! We were able to take one little trip to a near by city Seinajoki. After that Brad had his surgery and isn't able to walk much or rather he walks very slow with his sweet crutches. We stayed home and spent a lot of quality time together and caught two of Brads teams basketball games. They were able to experience the nice snowy weather and the cold blizzard weather all in one week. We had a lot of fun and already miss them so much! They should be almost to Dallas by now. We took TONS of photos so figured this post would mainly consist of them. Enjoy :)

Mom & I explored Lapua

One of the malls in Seinajoki. 

My dad & Brad at a yummy pizza buffet.

Sara and Pia

Brads last game before surgery

Thankful.

I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving! We had Brads surgery on Thursday so we celebrated our Thanksgiving on last night (Friday). We had the coach and his family over, the teammates, my friend Sara and of course us four (including my parents, YAY!). It was such a great time of food and fellowship! I am truly thankful for all of the awesome people we have met here and formy parents being here to help us put during Brads recovery.

Our Menu:
Chicken (we did whole chickens since Turkeys are very sparse around here.)
Stuffing
Green Bean Casserole (& reg. green beans for Brad)
Mac&Cheese
Homemade Rolls
Pumpkin Bread
Deviled Eggs
Pumpkin Pie Bars (with tons of whop cream!)

Here are a few photos we were able to get of our Thanksgiving celebration: