I'm pushy in the kitchen and thankful for Tuesday.

Family.

Such a simple word, with a powerful impact. When you leave home to begin a different life 1000 miles away you realize what that word means:

- Love
- Friendship
- Support
- Laughter
- Tears
- Respect
- Irreplaceable
- BBQ

I don't know about your family but mine, we eat. Most people plan their trips and visits around what they are going to see or where they are going to go but we plan ours around what we are going to make and who needs to visit the grocery.

Cooking is such a strong bond with my family and the Cattleman's family. What better way to get reacquainted than to push each other around the kitchen and mix a few creations your dying for everyone else to try since you've seen them last?

This past weekend parts of both of our family's came up for a visit to do none other than enter a BBQ contest. SO MUCH FUN.

We laughed, we played, we mixed a few adult beverages and stayed up way to late but had more fun than you can shake a stick at!

This being our first official contest we had high, but realistic hopes because frankly our smoked BBQ is awesome but we weren't sure we had the contest part down yet. And wouldn't you know it, we took second in both categories for ribs and beef tenderloin!!

All the boys did such a great job! That's our custom built smoker that the cattleman and cattleman dad fashioned.

So this Tuesday, friends, I am thankful for BBQ. Specifically St. Louis style ribs.

Thankful Tuesday: Motivation = Inspiration

The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan  

It's been a while since I have posted for Thankful Tuesday's, but let me assure you there are things day in and day out that deserve more praise and thanks than I could ever write about. Today I would like to spend some discussing motivation and what has led me to the journey I am currently mapping.

If you would have told me in the spring of 2010 that I would be moving to BFE Kansas and starting the most important stepping stone to my career, an irreplaceable experience most could only dream of, I would have quite literally laughed. In your face to be exact. 

You see although I always had every intention of a career in the agriculture industry I was raised in a society that deemed agriculture as dead, that there was no room for some random girl to make a livin. Honest.  But, let me also tell you that these things were said with love and my best interest in their hearts. The people involved did not view agriculture as it's whole, and the variety of paths you could choose and neither did I. But, determined not to let my dreams die I did not settle and kept pressing on.

I may have gone about this backwards, not going to go college right out of high school, but how do you in your right mind rack up that kind of debt having no idea what you wanted to do only who you wanted to be? Unlike the majority of my peer group I opted out of being riddled with debt (and am actually on my way to being completely debt free) by working and then figuring out exactly what type of education I wanted to spend MY money on!

I started out at the very bottom, a harvest time scale girl. Amazingly I LOVED this job and every harvest a part of me wishes I could be back out there chatting up the locals as they delivered their hard earned grains. My love for this position translated into above average work ethic and job satisfaction so the company I was with decided to take me on full time at the main mill, which for Ohio is a pretty good sized operation. But, with this move I lost my motivation when I was trapped in an office all day never seeing anyone besides my co-workers and the glare of a computer screen. I wanted something more than to be a pencil pushing number cruncher. I wanted a career not a job. I wanted to be apart of something bigger than me and to know that at the end of the day the team I was working with was effecting peoples lives positively in the form of agriculture!  

I stuck it out though, and gleaned as much knowledge as they were willing to give me. Unfortunately some company's have no desire to grow certain positions, all they want is for you to come to work each day follow the rules and go home. You know that's fine if that's what your looking for but at that point in my life I was yearning for more. 

One day I was having an issue contacting one of our DDG (dried distillers grains) trucking company's and went to google the main office number when God intervened. I happened to click on a link with the exact name I was looking for but it was different, it was a Agriculture job placement agency based out of Kansas City. I immediately got out of the site in fear of my manager somehow finding out I was on a job hunting site even if it was by complete accident (or divine intervention as I like to see it.) All week long it tugged and tugged at me I looked at the site again, none of the job listings seemed like they would be a fit for me. I sucked it up and spent the next weekend perfecting my job resume for a what the heck all they can do is tell me no, and sent it in.  

 With strong prayer, faith and a stroke of good luck I stumbled upon my current company where I was offered a job as a risk manager. Yep me. A lil ole farmers daughter from southwest Ohio and they wanted ME. :) makes me smile and happy all over just remembering that call!

I guess the point is I was motivated by all the negative commentary on my life decisions that other people thought would get me no where. If I wouldn't have followed that yearning God placed in my soul from the time I was a very young girl I would have missed the inspiration to reach out and discover a world I had no idea existed. If your reading this don't give up on your dreams there is a reason your passionate about certain things and sometimes all you have to do is let go and enjoy the ride.

I know that this kind of jumped all over the place and there are so many other amazing details to this story that I left out, but I guess you'll have to wait for my book in ohhhh say 20ish years, you know once I've taken the cattle industry by storm.

I am thankful for the career path I have been given through hard work and determination to prove that my dreams WILL become reality.

Love to you all,

High Five Friday's

Aww young ones we meet again for our Friday social.

So i've been contemplating starting a petition to change the name of Friday to Firday. Why you ask? Well I have a couple reasons, the first is, I inevitably spell Friday as Firday (I just did it again...) every time I type the word out so this change would save me the hassle of using the backspace button and second because it just makes it sound so warm and cuddly like a soft place to warm after a long hard week. Genius, I know, now only if we can train it to start serving the margaritas at noon, I think I would be on to something....

My High 5's this week!!

1. This has been my gorgeous forecast all the week long! I love living in the dessert! 

2. I received Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman's new cookbook on Tuesday!! I was so excited because I pre-ordered it back in December so I didn't even have to think about it, the book just came to me. 

Yes I had it delivered to my office and yes I now own both books!
Groupie in it's highest form.

This cookbook is jam packed full of amazing recipes and I plan on trying a couple this weekend for our Shake Your Shamrocks party!! 

3.I discovered this excellent article about the correlation of red meat and a healthy diet and how the scientists who originally were "informing" the public that it was bad for your diet, didn't even use a relevant scientific study to determine this. It then shows you that red meat is NOT bad for you. Check it out here, you will be glad you did!

4. THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY won in the second round of the tournament last night!! On the road to the championship, GO BUCKS!! If you couldn't tell I am a lil hometown proud... Oh and Go KState Wildcats, I guess your my new hometown lol.

5. I found this and it's freakin hysterical. Your welcome.

Happy Firday my lovelies!!!

Armpits and Horny Toads

Well I had an action packed weekend all the way from Friday through Sunday! Do you know why?? I got to spend it with these guys

Doc and his Human

After work on Friday I met Cattleman at the truck stop and we took off like the modern day Bonnie and Clyde!  We were Oklahoma bound to see his nephew before he ships out for oversea's deployment, plus he has a 5 month old small human so obv a play date was in order. It's a two hour drive between here and their little corner of Okie so we had plenty of time to entertain ourselves whilst driving through towns such as Hooker and Tyrone a.k.a. the armpit of America according to the Cattleman, (please pardon his French if you Okies find that offensive, he happens to be a Panhandlonian as well...) he makes me giggle.

Never mind the terrible quality of the photo... 

Then we proceeded to play with this little fella which is never a dull moment. He farts a lot. *giggle*

C'mon girls say it together now d'awwwww, yep I got a keeper 

On our way home we of course had a dance party, where Cattleman definitely broke out in song to Spice Girls, LFO, OPP annnnnd Sugar Land. I love this man. :)

He also decided he wanted to see what it was like to be a dog.
While driving.
I was thrilled of course.

Off to Saturday, WE WENT ANTIQUING and it was fabulous! I found all sorts of neat things but only left with the least expensive / most sensible / useful treasures.

An old blue scale, 2 cook books, a quality rolling pin and a pyrex mixing bowl

Best of all, I got all my laundry done AND the house cleaned on Sunday which in my world is the most exciting part of the weekend. Yay for clean clothes in my closet!!

What did you do this weekend??

Grammy's Got a Point You Know...

Do you remember, as a small human or even as a tweener, all those repetitive sayings that your grandmother, uncle or mom were famous for drumming into your skull? Thing's like, "No! You'll poke your eye out." Or, "I'm gonna smack the crap out of you if you don't quit!" Haha just kidding about the second one, Mom *wink, wink.*

"No Ralphy!! You'll shoot your eye out!"

I have three from younghood that stick out the most clearly, I mean out of the constructive life goal encouragement and educational type of sayings, not the I'm going to beat my child ones. Once again, kidding. Sorta.

Oh and if you haven't noticed yet I'm a list and numbers person hence the job in risk management...

On to more important things.

1.  Never write something down that you wouldn't want to see blown up on a court room wall.

Kudos for this one goes to my cousin Richard, he's a big snazzy lawyer that says important snazzy things like that.

But seriously everyone take this to heart. DO NOT EVER right down anything you don't want to see in court. That goes for every aspect of life these day's, you can have a case against you for ANYTHING these day's. Folks are just plum loony.

2. Do not finish sentences with "at." i.e. Where are you at?

My sudo grandmother was an English teacher in a her past life. She was an extremely intelligent woman with very wise and endearing things to tell you about but, for today this is the one that makes the list. It's just bad grammar.

I'm not sure where I picked up this dirty habit but I have been known to drop an at bomb once or twice then proceed to kick myself in the bum, hearing her repeat the mantra in my head.

This one is for 1. and 2. My wonderful family!!!

3. Push that wall of fatigue back. One more!!

Coach Frazee, if you ever read this, please know that this phrase has followed me around since the 10th grade. It is the single most motivational thing I acquired from my entire career in high school sports. I not only repeat this while running or during an intense work out when I feel like giving up but need to give it 10 more second, 10 extra feet or 10 more free throws but also during my life when I hit a tough moment in my career or with my family.

That's been seven years ago and I can still visualize the scene in my head, fall basketball conditioning, we were running down and backs finished with layups and I was coming to the brink when he shouted, "Push that wall of fatigue back. One more!"

Ha. We are the only two not looking at the camera for the
ONE and ONLY picture taken after winning districts...

Thank you, Coach Frazee for that moment of definition in my life.

My point in this post is to tell you that you never know when your giving someone a piece of advice or encouragement how it can effect the rest of their life. Even if they only repeat it in their head and never share it. Remember there is always someone looking up to you, please fill them with confidence, support and constructive criticism!!!

Thankful Tuesday: Peanut Farmers

Well here we are again my little dumplings, it's Tuesday and that means we are 2/5's our way through the work week. 2 day's closer to Saturday. 3 day's away from coffee on the patio (weather permitting.) And 288 hours away from hogging my cattleman selfishly to myself for a precious little while. It will be our second weekend in a row with little to NO schedule *insert happy dance*!! Please tell me your as excited as I am?!!


Anywhoooo, it's time to get thankful and remember to find life's little glasses of lemonade. This week I am thankful for the peanut farmer. I'm sure your saying to yourself, that's random, but I'm Aly and I am random. My inspiration for agvocating the peanut farmer came to me last evening while I was happily munching away on a dozen couple peanut butter-chocolate chip cookies. They were delicious, obviously, and if you don't believe me just ask me. 


So here are a few facts about peanuts and there effect on your daily adventure.


Peanut Facts: Found at the National Peanut Board website located here


Farming:

• There are four types of peanuts grown in the USA — Runner, Virginia, Spanish and Valencia.
• Peanuts are planted after the last frost in April or early May and heaviest harvesting months are September and October.
• The peanut growth cycle from planting to harvest is 120 to 160 days or about five months.
• The peanut plant originated in South America.
• The peanut plant produces a small yellow flower.
• Peanuts flower above ground and then migrate underground to reach maturity.
• A mature peanut plant produces about 40 pods that then grow into peanuts.
• Most USA peanut farms are family-owned and -operated.
• The average peanut farm is 100 acres.

**Funny side note, I never knew peanuts were a root plant or honestly how they grew at all until a year ago. One of the guys I work with grew up on a peanut farm and explained this phenomenon to me. See even though I am in ag doesn't mean I can't learn new things too.

Peanut Plant Diagram

Nutrition:

• The peanut is not a nut, but a legume related to beans and lentils.
• Peanuts have more protein, niacin, folate and phytosterols than any nut.
• Peanuts have a higher antioxidant capacity over grapes, Concord grape juice, green tea, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, carrots and many more. 
• Peanuts and peanut butter contain over 30 essential nutrients and phytonutrients.
• Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free.

And just for kicks

Holiday's:

January 24 – National Peanut Butter Day 
March – National Peanut Month
March 1 – National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day
March 8 – National Peanut Cluster Day
April 2 – National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day 
May 18 – I love Reese’s Day 
June 12 – National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
September 13 – National Peanut Day 
November – National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month
November 20 – National Peanut Butter Fudge Day

If you ever wonder how life would be without the peanut, just ask someone that is alergic to them. They can't do anything fun...


Did you know that there are over 108 different products made with peanuts. They range from foods, to houshold products, beverages, medicines, cosmetics, dyes, paints, stains and other general products.


Products made from Peanuts found here


If you want to learn how relevant of a commodity this is challenge yourself to go for 2 day's without a single peanut influenced product. 


So thank you peanut farmers for Reese's, Snickers, Coke and most importantly peanut butter cookies! 

**Also, we have had two peanut farmer presidents, Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter. So they are obv oober important.

Life's Sweet Lemonade

Ok, I know I'm a few months late, literally, but I thought I would give you a post on my 1 and only New's Year's resolution which I actually did come up with wayyy back on 12/31/11.

Again, I am aware my timing is
a smidge off....

Cheers my friend!

I have resolved to find life's sweet little glasses of lemonade. If your not sure what I mean by that it is my twisted interpretation of the old adage: When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

I am sick of people only telling me negative things friends, family, news, workplace... your all guilty. Yes you. We live in such a negative culture it's almost shocking. It's like everyday is doomsday round hur. So to keep my sanity I will consistently be looking for the glass half full part of any situation. I've nearly always had this quality in my personality, yes I am one of those people that awesome, but I have never made it a point of practice.

One way I have come up with to keep me accountable is by posting regular Thankful Tuesday and High Five For Friday posts. It will be two set times a week I need to reflect and enjoy the great things I have been given along with another day to live, another breath to take and another key to strike.

So I guess what I'm saying is, get up Negative Nancy and go to something productive for your community and world. Plus you know if you keep making that face sooner or later it's gonna get stuck that way... seriously.

Let's get this Lemonade Stand crankin!