Indiana State Fair

We went to the Indiana State Fair tonight with the McCords! It was a good time. We had suspicions that it was free admission night at the fair but thought it was probably too good to be true since it wasn't advertised. Luckily it really was! And we parked inside the fair for free too! Saved a whole $21!! Don't worry, we spent it on the food. We didn't really see too much or go in many buildings, but we ate a lot of good food! I had a sno-cone, cotton candy, fresh lemonade, and a blooming onion! Derrick shared all those with me and had a steak on a stick and fries. We also got to try Kaylan and TJ's funnel cake and chips (like Chip's chips) :) yum!!! Now I'm good for another year again! I sure wish we could have made it to the Iowa State Fair this year too!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Day 30

Day 30 - Plans for the next 365 days

Don't worry, I plan to keep you all up to date on what we're doing around here in the next 365 days.  It will be something like this:

Go to Iowa for Jen & Curt's wedding
Go to Ohio with Mom, Scott, Kaylan, TJ & Miles for Labor Day
Celebrate Miles' 1st birthday
Baby shower for two girls at work
Go to Iowa for Thanksgiving
Go to Iowa for Christmas
Celebrate one year at Stewart Richardson
(No plans from January to July...except planning a wedding!)
Go to Iowa for Derrick's five-year reunion & wedding parties
Get married in 347 days ;)
Go on our honeymoon
Go to Joey & Lindey's wedding
Come home!!!

And we will still have a few days to spare!

Day 29

Day 29 - Your favorite book

This one is an easy one!

All of the Harry Potter books!  They were all such great books, and I love all of the movies equally as much! 

Day 28

Day 28 - Where I live

Well, I live in Plainfield, Indiana.  It's a suburb right outside Indianapolis.  We live in an apartment complex and we live on the first floor ;)  I already did an apartment tour here.  Feel free to check it out again...or you could just come visit! :)

Day 27

Day 27 - A YouTube video

This YouTube video is probably my all-time favorite.

But I'm also not an avid YouTuber. 

However, I do love watching this little man's YouTube videos too!

Day 26

Day 26 - A recipe

I've already shared these recipes with you before, but I just made it again, and it is delicious!!!  It's is fettuccine alfredo with grilled Italian chicken tenders.

Fettuccine alfredo:
2 sticks butter
1/2 blg grated Parmesan cheese (whole container), plus more for serving
1 tsp garlic powder
Salt
1 lb fettuccine (one box)

Using an electric mixer, beat butter, garlic powder, and Parmesan until creamy.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook fettuccine according to package instruction until al dente, about 12 minutes.  Save about a cup of cooking water; drain pasta.

Return fettuccine to warm pot.  Toss pasta with 1/2 teaspoon salt, cheese mixture, and 1/4 cup of the pasta water.  Add more pasta water as needed.  Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.

Grilled Italian chicken tenders:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
4 tsp minced garlic (I used 3 fresh cloves)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp Italian seasoning (I used Pampered Chef)
1 lb chicken tenders

Combine all ingredients except chicken tenders.  Mix well.  Pour over chicken tenders (I use a Ziploc bag) and marinate in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.  Grill until done (165 degrees).
The first time we made this, I only marinated the chicken for about an hour just because we didn't prepare too well and it still turned out with a ton of flavor.

Add the grilled chicken to the alfredo, and you have a delicious chicken fettuccine alfredo!! 

Enjoy!

Day 25

Day 25 - An art piece made by you

I just showed probably the best and most artistic art piece I have ever made yesterday.  I am no artist by any means.  I just like to be crafty and make DIY projects.  I'm pretty sure you have already been introduced to all of my art pieces in this 30 day challenge. 

Here are a few of my baby quilts I have made recently.

This was Miles' blankie I made him when he was born.  I couldn't find a picture of it, so I stole this one off Kaylan's blog! :) And speaking of this little man, he will be one one month from today!! Wow, how time flies!

This is the blankie I made Quinn! 

And this is a blankie I made for Rose at my office.  She just had a little boy, Maverick.

Blankies might not count as art pieces, but I'll keep you posted on the next art piece I make!



New toy!!

I finally got my new toy in the mail today!!


We'll be using this bad boy to make our invitations and much more! I can't wait to get it out to try it out!! Stay tuned for some masterpieces!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Day 24

Day 24 - Your favorite quote

A couple of my favorites are from Dr. Seuss.  One I actually put on a picture that I painted for Miles after he was born.  "Today you are You, that is truer than true.  There is no one alive who is Youer than You."  It's now hanging in a frame in his room! :)

Another one is "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..."

These are a good boost to remind me that my destiny is in my own hands and that being me is good enough! :)

Day 23

Day 23 - A photo of somewhere you want to go

Hint for the honeymoon!!?!! :)

Our NEW wedding date is...

July 28, 2012! It's official! We've picked a new date! This is only one week before Joey and Lindey's wedding, but we plan to come home on the 25th, have our wedding, go on our honeymoon, go to Joey and Lindey's wedding, and then go back to Indiana. It should work out nicely, and we only have to come home once for both our weddings! We booked our reception hall last night and got the church date switched, so now we just have to plan the rest!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Day 22

Day 22 - A habit you wish you didn't have

I wish I wasn't such a perfectionist.  I tend to be a freak about perfecting anything that I do or make.  By all means, I usually end up with a "perfect" result, but somethings don't always need to be perfect!  I think this trait also leads to my freakish need for things to be picked up not a mess.  If something is out of place, I have to put it away.  This is probably one Derrick would complain about since he isn't the "cleanest" roommate ever!  I am constantly on him to put his stuff away so I don't have to pick up after him.  I have thought about leaving his things out until he finally decides to put them away on his own, but I just can't wait that long!!  I need them to be put away NOW!!!

Yeah, so I wish I wasn't always that way!  :)

Day 21

Day 21 - A photo of the item you last purchased

GAS - big surprise.  What an amazing last purchase!

I will say that I had a great shopping day yesterday though!  In Indiana on the first Saturday of every month, all the Goodwill stores have a 50% off everything sale!  I found lots of treasures yesterday at Goodwill for $18.00 total! 

 I purchased a pair of jeans, two cardigans for work, a sweater, a dress from Dressbarn, a "Season's Greetings" sign, a brand new water bottle from Target (Target sends all their things to Goodwill when they don't sell them), a game, a little something for Kaylan (she doesn't know what it is yet), and a little something for Miles (he doesn't know what it is either ;) and he can't technically play with it for a while and it was brand new too!)  I'd say I had a successful day!

Day 20

Day 20 - Your dream wedding

This is funny considering I am now planning my real-life wedding :) 

My dream wedding consists of me in the perfect white dress, and Derrick waiting for me down the aisle surrounded by all our friends and family.  I love a huge church with a ton of stained-glass windows and a fancy reception with great food and great music!  I can't wait to make the memories of our wedding day!

I would also love to have a destination wedding to somewhere on the beach!  That would be amazing, but that's a little impractical if we want all our family and friends to be a part of our big day!!

I'm sure our wedding next summer will fulfill all my dreams for my wedding! (I've only been dreaming about it since I was 11!!)

Prayer request

Hey everyone, 

I just got an e-mail from a co-worker about a fellow co-worker of mine.  Her little boy, who is three, just got diagnosed with leukemia yesterday.  He is having surgery today to place a port to start chemotherapy treatment.  They have a very long road ahead of them, and I am writing to ask everyone to keep them in your prayers!  I can't imagine going through something like this with a child, and it really puts life into perspective.  Don't take things for granted, and don't sweat the small stuff! 

Thanks for keeping them in your prayers!

Day 19

Day 19 - A photo of an animal you'd like to keep as a pet

I want one of these...

and one of these!!

Nothing too crazy, just some adorable puppies!

Recipe update

I wanted to give you an update to a couple new recipes we've tried yesterday and today. Yesterday we had BBQ pork ribs. They were amazing!! I found the recipe here.






Does that look delicious or what?? They turned out great and we'll definitely be trying those again!

Tonight I tried another recipe from here. It's called cheetos chicken fingers! Sounds good, right?



This is all you need to make these! But you'll have to go to the link to see them when they're done because I'm horrible and forgot to take the after picture! We dipped them in honey mustard dressing and they were amazing!!

Hopefully I'll be better about taking pictures for new recipes in the future!

P.S. This is the first post I've done from my phone, and it's kind of crazy for me to figure out. So if it didn't work out right, forgive me!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Our wedding date...

has been changed.  Most of you might not even know when we had initially planned for our wedding to be since we just picked a date last week!  However, it was going to be August 4, 2012.  Yesterday some friends of ours also posted that they would be getting married that day next year, so we have surrendered and will be picking a new date.  How does it happen that we only know one other couple getting married next summer, and they just happen to have picked the same date?!?  Oh, well!  I'll keep you updated as to when our new date is. 

Day 18

Day 18 - Something you could never get tired of doing

Blogging!!  Just kidding, everyone.  I have a feeling that at some point I might get burnt out from this every day stuff.  ;)  But for now I think it's been fun!

I really couldn't ever get tired of crafting, playing with my nephew and niece, having "date night" with Derrick, watching my favorite shows (check Day 9 for list ;)), vacationing, etc.  That's all I can think of for now. 

Is there something I missed that you could never get tired of doing?!

Have a great day everyone!

Day 17

Day 17 - A photo of somewhere you've been

I decided to post pictures from our most recent vacation, which was to Florida in January of 2010.

We went with Kaylan, T.J., Mom, and Rhonda. 

And we enjoyed Sea World and got to see Shamu! 

NKOTBSB

Last Tuesday I went to the NKOTBSB concert with a few girls from work.  To say it was amazing would be an understatement!  I even lost my voice a little from screaming like a 10-year-old girl!  This blog will be picture overload.

Very excited before the concert started!!

Matthew Morrison from Glee.  I'm not a huge Gleek, but he was really good! 

It's almost NKOTBSB time!!!! 

All of NKOTBSB!

NKOTB!  This think was at the end of their runway.  When it would raise up, they were really close to us! :)

BSB!!!!   

Nick Carter!  I was going to marry him one day...when I was 8. 

BSB looking for some girls! 

Old lady on the left was so cute!  Her shirt said "Old kid on the block!"  And the girl on the right couldn't stop crying!!  She was with Nick though, so it's understandable!

Donnie Wahlberg!!  He's my NKOTB fave! 

All together again

NKOTB with their Pacers' jerseys on!  They said they all got to meet Larry Byrd earlier that day! :) 

NKOTBSB finale!!  Backstreet's Back/Hangin' Tough.

I hijacked these photos from Jade.  My iPhone didn't take great pictures with all the lighting, but I'm sure glad she got some good ones!!



Day 16

Day 16 - Who are you?

Well, here comes by bibliography.  My name is Keriann Parker.  I was born in Des Moines, Iowa and was raised in Baxter, Iowa.  For the beginning part of my life, my family consisted of my mom, dad, Matt, and Kaylan.  While I was in elementary school, I mostly could be found with my best friend Steph playing barbies, school, or power rangers. :) 

In fifth grade my parents got divorced.  A couple years later, my family consisted of my mom, Scott, Brandon, Amber, my dad, Carmen, Leeanna, Kaylan and Matt.  Once I was in middle school and high school, sports and other school activities basically ran my life.  To be honest, I still miss some of my high school activities like volleyball, dance team, softball, and track.  Kaylan and Matt both got married while I was in high school to T.J. and Becky, respectively. ;)  My dad and Carmen also added to my family while I was in high school by having Russell, who is now 7. 

I went to college at AIB, DMACC, ISU, and AIB.  Don't let the ISU thing fool you.  I am a Hawkeye fan through and through!  My first year of college, Derrick and I started dating (December 2, 2006 to be exact.)  We've been together now for four years and eight months (yesterday).  My family also grew by one more while I was in college.  My dad and Carmen had Dakota, who is now 2.  (If you can't keep track of my family, I don't blame you!) ;)

Last year, Kaylan & T.J. had Miles Owen McCord in September.  He was my first nephew.  He was followed shortly after with Matt and Becky's first child, my first niece, Ellaquinn Ashley Heeren who was born in November.

Derrick and I moved to Indiana in January 2011 where I work as a court reporter, and he is working part time at TSC while still looking for a law enforcement job. He proposed in April, and we're planning a wedding for August 4, 2012 (Save the Date!!!) 

I didn't give too many details about my life, but that could literally turn into a book! 

I guess on another note of "Who am I?"  I love crafting.  I love watching movies.  I love spending time with family and friends.  I love my life! :)  And everything to this point has made me who I am!

P.S.  If this doesn't make sense while you're reading it, it's because I was too tired to re-read it! :)

Day 15

Day 15 - A photo of something that means a lot to you

This picture is meant to represent ALL of my and Derrick's families.  Of course, that would require a lot more planning and hard work to get pictures of every single person in our families considering that we both have ginormous, never ending families! :)  You all are special to us!!

Day 14

Day 14 - Something you crave a lot

In no particular order:

Onion rings
Mexican chips & queso
Baked red potatoes
Chicken alfredo
Strawberry lemonade
Coldstone cake batter
Cookie dough (without raw eggs) 

Now, I'm getting hungry, so we're heading to the McCord's for dinner. 

We just got back from Iowa about an hour ago, and I'll have to write a post soon about the bridal/bachelorette party festivities.