Monday, December 8, 2014

Recent Health Kick

Good morning everyone! Recently I have been on a health kick. I bought a new water bottle in an attempt to drink more water.


I love the colors of it and it is so handy. I got it from TJMaxx and payed $10. Probably a lot for a water bottle. Maggie and I have started back walking together. She loves to get out and she doesn't get as hot since it's cooler weather. It's also fun to see all the Christmas decorations everyone has up instead of just walking by them all.


The leash shown is Lupine brand and has a lifetime warranty on it. Even if Maggie chewed it up all I would have to do is take it back to the vet's office and get a new one. They do all the hard work for me, like mailing it back in to the company. My shoes {you can barely see} are Nike Free's. Love them! They are the most comfortable tennis shoes I have ever owned. At $100 they are kinda pricey but totally worth every penny.


Maggie and I take selfies together first thing in the morning. She loves to cuddle with me, sometimes. Back to the Health kick, For Christmas this year I am asking for a FitBit Flex. A bracelet that tracks how many steps you walk, calories burned, tracks your sleep, silently wakes you with a vibrating alarm, I can set goals for myself and see my results right from my smart phone. I so hope I am fortunate to receive one as a gift! I hope ya'll are having a ton of fun getting ready for Christmas. Only 17 days left! 

Have a wonderful rest of you Monday!

~ Miss Nikki



Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Thankful Tree

On Thanksgiving this year at Mine and Grandad's house we started a new tradition. We made a thankful tree. What's a thankful tree you ask? A tree with bare branches where each member of the family put a tag with something they are thankful for. After everyone has written what they are thankful for we had to pick a random tag off the tree, that wasn't ours, and guess which member of the family wrote it. It was so much fun to see what everyone was thankful for. Even the young children had a blast and realized how special it was.


This was such a fun and special activity, I hope we continue it every Thanksgiving to come!

~ Miss Nikki

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Bust Busy Busy! {and cookies}

Well I had hoped on finishing out my thankful things but since it is already December I think i'm done. This thanksgiving was hectic to say the least.  we went to Charlie's grandparents and then to my grandparents then the next day all the way back home to Manteo to do some Christmas shopping and spend some quality time with my Granny. I'm so glad to have her. Sunday before church Caroline, my sister, and I made some wonderful sugar cookies. I fixed the dough and chilled it over night Saturday. I picked up some precious cookie cutters from a local kitchen supply store and we just had a blast.

 We had the best time decorating the cute little cookies. We decorated with all the things we had at my Granny's house.Painting them with BBQ brushes and making polka dots with shrimp de-veiners. Don't worry they were clean. 
 Caroline wanted a monogrammed deer, which turned out very cute. She said hers didn't turn out good at all so I has to do it for her. 
 Our preppy Christmas cookies (:
Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of December as much as myself. I intend on showing you much more festive things going on in my life.

~ Miss Nikki

Monday, November 24, 2014

Happy Monday!

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday so far. With the cooler weather I had been sleeping so good but last night it really warmed up and it is no fun sleeping in heat. Anyway enough with my rant. Let's catch up on the things I am thankful for.

20. I am thankful for Homecooking. My Mine is whipping up some delicious, completely from scratch banana pudding for my boyfriend, Charlie. Banana pudding is his favorite dessert. That night we had pig picking style BBQ, baked beans, salad, cottage fries, and yummy banana pudding. In the picture the ma-rang hadn't been baked yet.


21. I am thankful for good reading. I usually don't read books but I got a fabulous book from Barnes and Noble this weekend and I am so excited to start reading it. I have seen the movie and it is wonderful. I love to read magazines and such but usually don't have time to read books. This book I will have to make time for. 


22. I am thankful for my many cups. This may seem like a funny thing to be thankful for but I love my tumblers and mugs. I love always having something different to drink out of and carry to school with me.


23. I am thankful for waders. My waders keep me warm and dry while hunting. I can wade out to get the ducks when they fall and not worry about getting wet. They are a very important thing to have when we go duck hunting.


24. I am thankful for being taught how to set the table. I was taught many different things growing up about how things should be done, many of them frivolous but I am so glad I know how to set a table. I consider this act a dying art, nobody cares anymore but I think a set table is so pretty and I hope others continue out this tradition as well. 


I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of their monday!

"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter." 2 Thessalonians 2:15

~ Miss Nikki



Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Wednesday Whereabouts.

With exams and school around I haven't had any time to check the blog. I apologize about that. Lets play a quick game of catch up. 

10. I am thankful my Jesus. He is the one constant I know has always been walking with me. 

11. I am thankful for Heat. Last night it was 19 degrees here in Washington, NC and I am o thankful we had a heater that worked so i could sleep all warm and cozy.

12. I am thankful for a place to go home to. I am in school away from where I have lived my whole life and am getting pretty homesick. I want so bad for the semester to be over so I can go home to Manteo. I miss my little island. 

13. I am thankful for the first respondents. I have witnessed two terrible wrecks right by where I am living right now, one fatal. I know the people who show up first helped save many peoples lives in those two wrecks. I pray every day for people in car accidents. Since my accident in October cars are terrifying, you never know what is going to happen.

14. I am thankful for good food. I am surrounded with all kinds of food when people in other countries are starving. My dilemma is picking what I want to eat when they have to take anything they can get just to survive. 

15. I am thankful for kind people. When a stranger is kind to you it is a rare thing these days. If I can be kind to someone and make their day maybe they will pass on the kindness. 

16. I am thankful for good shoes. I have a show obsession and I believe they make an outfit. I am so glad I am blessed to have so many even though I don't need so many.

17. I am thankful for southern traditions. I am very grateful to have two lovely southern women for my grandmothers. They have tough me so much that I will always treasure in my heart and be able to pass it down to my own children today. Here are a few southern traditions you can keep alive.


18.  I am thankful for North Carolina.  I am so blessed to have grown up in the land of the pines. I believe my beautiful state has molded me into the lady I am today. 


19. Today I am thankful for my life. Most people are only thankful for things in their lives but my life is precious to me. I was given a gist by not only my parents but from Jesus. He gave me a life to live through him and to show people his story and his love. 

I hope has a blessed rest of this chilly Wednesday. I hope I will be able to post again tomorrow sometime. 

~Miss Nikki






Sunday, November 9, 2014

Life on the water

  

I hope everyone is having a fabulous sunday. I'l kick it off today with my thanks.
 
8. I am thankful for Arvin Skiffs. Arvin skiffs are the homemade skiffs my Grandpork makes still, even though he is 77 years old. He shares his secrets with my boyfriend Charlie because he only has three grand daughters. Yet another reason I have to be thankful for my Charlie is he has taken such an interest in my grandporks well being. Arvin skiffs have tremendously influenced my life. I have lived on the water my whole life. Fishing, duck hunting, and just loving the water as much as I do wouldn't be as possible if he hadn't made these boats.
 
 
  
 
 
 
9. I am thankful for Nature. I love being outside and seeing all the beautiful things in nature god has given us.
 
 
 Nature lets us have the privilege of being outdoorsman and woman.
 
 
Some think the woods are ugly and are just leaves and dirt, but I know every leave was touched by Jesus and was set right where it lies for us to see.

 
Every tree is different not a single one is the same. Just like people.
 
"He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not whither;  And in whatever He does He prospers" Psalm 1:3
 
~ Miss Nikki
 
 


Friday, November 7, 2014

Finally Friday

What a beautiful Friday today has turned into. Last night was windy and rainy and just yuck, when we woke up though it was cool feeling and sunny and just all around wonderful. I missed my 30 days of thankfulness yesterday so i'll start by catching up.
 
6. I am thankful for my Mine! My grandmother is such an influence in my life and an inspiration in he lives of so many others.
 

7. I am thankful for passed down recipes. I was given a fabulous recipe for peanut butter cookies from Mine and they are the best I have ever tried.
 
Peanut Butter Cookies
1/2 Cup Butter or Margarine (Butter makes them much better)
1/2 cup Peanut Butter
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 cup Brown sugar- Packed
1 Egg
1 1/4 cup All-Purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
 
Mix butter, peanut butter, sugars, and egg thoroughly. Measure flour, blend all dry ingredients together - stir into butter mixture and chill covered for 1 hour.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough into 1 1/4" balls. Place 3" apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Flatten crisscross with fork. Bake 10 t 12 minutes. Will make about 3 dozen cookies. Enjoy!
 
 
"This morning with her having coffee." Johnny Cash, when asked his definition of paradise. Love this quote so dearly. I want a love like Johnny and June with my whole heart. But this morning my paradise was with my lovely grandmother, Mine.
 
 
 
Her flower arrangement is beautiful. All the flowers came from her bountiful yard.
 
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" Isaiah 40:8
 
~ Miss Nikki
 
 


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

30 Days of Thankfulness

I know I am a few days late starting this but i''l bring my thanks up to speed. I will be posting something I am thankful for the whole month of November. This will be an activity for everyone to do themselves as well. You can all dig deeply and figure out lots of different things in your lives you are thankful for.
 
1. I am thankful for my Charlie Granger. I love him with all my heart! He isn't much of a picture person so I have to take what I can get.
 
 
2. I am thankful for my Maggie Girl. She is my fur child.
 
 
3. I am thankful for my baby sister Caroline! She is my best friend and I am also thankful we are so close.
 
 
4. I am thankful for my middle sister Kate. We don't see much of each other these days but I still love her dearly and keep her in my prayers.
 
 
 
5. I am thankful for my Daddy! He treats my sisters and I so good and I love him so much. He has done so much for me growing up and if I could be half the parent my Daddy has been to me I will have accomplished a lot.
 
 
Those are the things I am thankful for in my catch up of 30 days od thankfulness. I hope to be able to post every day of thanksgiving but if not I will of course catch up and make there be 30 thanks.
 
"Give thanks always for all things unto God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" Ephesians 5:20
 
~ Miss Nikki
 
 
 
 
 
 


Sunday, November 2, 2014

Happy (Late) Halloween!

Happy Late Halloween everyone! This week has been terribly hectic for me. With school work, a Halloween party with my family, taking the younger kids trick or treating and all the car problems I have been having. I have been having a time! Last night Charlie and I took my step sister to Golden Corral because she wanted to have an "Charlie, Nikki, and Sophie day" which is absolutely fine with me. She went and filled up on plenty of food and then came home and ate chili with my dad and her mom. That child can eat!

 
Here is her ice cram she decorated herself. The bear climbed to the top of the mountain and the candy corn are trees. Sweet Sophia. After supper we went to Tractor Supply to find Charlie some Carhartt pants and Sophie picked out a toy set she wanted for Christmas. It was little hunter figurines and tree stands, bows, ground stands, tripods, deer, bears. elk, a bot, a fisherman, some fish and she was so excited about it. She likes to talk in a little country accent to sound like Charlie. She is so silly. We love her so good.
 

This is my LL Bean sweater I purchased from Goodwill. I love it so much. Please excuse my old yucky Uggs. They look pitiful. Miss Maggie laying down has her eye on the ducks over at the pond. She wants so badly to go get them.
 
 
 
Here's another picture of me sipping my hot tea. This chilly weather starting to appear in North Carolina is making me want it every morning. I'm not much on coffee and I love hot chocolate but too much of it isn't too good for my waste band.
 
"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless" Isaiah 40:29
 
~Miss Nikki

 

 


Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Finally Cooking.

 I finally got a chance to cook something wonderful last night. I made a cheesy potato and smoked sausage stew which was fabulous. I picked up some wonderful bread bowls from the store and they were frozen so they were so easy to fix. Just thaw and stick them in the oven for only 9-11 minutes. Charlie loved it and I was so glad. Cooking for the two of us I have to really think because both of us are pretty picky. Charlie asked for me to make again sometime soon and he even brought some leftovers to work with him. We could have split one of the bowls it was so big. Comfort food at the max.


I love to have the table set nice and my fall apple scented candle from bath and body works helped set a lovely atmosphere. As you can see the bread bowls are HUGE! They took up almost the whole dinner plates. 


The stew is so simple to fix.

Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Potato Stew

  • 1 package of smoked sausage.(I cut into slices and cut the slices into 4 parts)
  • 32 ounces Chicken Broth
  • 4-5 Yukon Gold Potatoes, cubed
  • 1 whole chopped onion (optional)
  • 1/2 cup cream or milk (I used cream)
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper (I used more because I love pepper)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese
I also put in some crushed red pepper just for a little kick. Charlie requested it, the boy likes his food spicy. 

Cook stock potatoes onion, and sausage until potatoes are cooked
Add cream and cheese as well as spices and let simmer until thickened.
Enjoy!

~ Miss Nikki

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Bean Boots.

The title of this post is Bean Boots, but the post is really about LL Bean in general. I love it so much. My Bean boots are quite fabulous though. Those ugly little boots are just as comfortable and durable as anything. 


I can do just about anything in these shoes. Just slide them on and go. I recently went to goodwill and found another LL Bean find. I found a vintage sweater, LL Bean embroidered label, warm and cozy, right size and all. I was so excited when my sister Mattie found it rummaging through the aisles. That sweater will last me a lifetime. As it may have lasted someone else too. The sweater is a peach color with a lovely design with blues and greens and whites. Pictures will come later.


Another picture of my wonderful boots because one just wasn't enough. 

So I haven't heard from one of my viewers since I started my blog and I would love to hear from all of you. Please Tell me how you feel about any part of my blog, my posts, the bible verses, my topics, Hope to hear from y'all soon!

"Let all that you do be done in love" 1 Corinthians 16:14

~ Miss Nikki 

Monday, October 20, 2014

New Mugs!

I was recently piddling around downtown, shopping around some little stores and I stumbled along a quaint little store called the Cottage Junkie. I loved it! They had old rustic southern everything. I found the cutest set of mugs for Charlie and I.

I bought them and loved them, yet have not used them for an odd reason. I bought them and gave them to my sister so she could in return give them to us for Christmas. I was hoping it would help my little 15 year old sister out too. Since she has no money of her own, she can still give us a gift and we know we love them. I will still be as excited as I am now when I get them at Christmas.

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 18: 10

~ Miss Nikki

Friday, October 17, 2014

All the toils in life.

The day before yesterday,October 15th, I was in a bad car accident. I was rear ended while I was completely stopped and the other car was going about 45. My car was totaled and needless to say I am aching and sore. I ams still waiting on a rental car to come my way, so my morning is being spent relaxing and trying to recooperate. 


Hot tea always makes me feel better, especially if i'm sipping it at my Granny's house out of her antique mugs. Hopefully I will make it back home soon though to get back to school  and work. 

"O LORD my god, I called to you for help and you healed me." Psalm 30: 2

Hope y'all have a wonderful day and be safe out on the roads. 

~ Miss Nikki

Friday, October 10, 2014

Happy fall y'all!

Fall is in the air and it's beautiful. Mums and pumpkins everywhere. My Mine (grandmother) is the president of a garden club board and is crazy about flowers. She makes beautiful arrangements and her flowers are always lovely. My uncle and his wife were recently married in Newbern NC, where a mumfest is held. Needless to say we had plenty of mums left over after the rehearsal dinner. 


Today was 81 degrees but I still decided to dress for the season. I love when i get to get my jeans out. The little bear in the mum was because Newbern's little mascot are bears. I thought it gave my mum a little more character so I kept him. He is just too cute.


I'm only in college and can't afford much of an extravagant fall arangement but I printed out a cute  monogram and got some baby pumpkins to add a little festivity to my humble abode. 


Please excuse the cord. In the process of decorating I was also hiding my phone charger. My rustic wood frame was only $8 at walmart. I'm sure they still have them, and I made my print out myself. This decor will take me through halloween and then up until thanksgiving. Then i'll break my bank trying to make everything as Christmas should be.

~ Miss Nikki



Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Pinning fool!

As many people are now-a-days, I am addicted to pinterest. I don't have facebook or instagram or other social media at all so pinning is my vice. I love all the recipes, clothes, crafts, even home decor. If only I had a house of my own to decorate. Holiday decor is wonderful as well. I love the holidays, fall, thanksgiving, christmas. I could be an elf in Santa's workshop and see christmas decorations and listen to christmas music all year and be perfectly content. 

http://www.pinterest.com/nsnapp/

Above is my pinterest address so all my new blog followers can follow me on pinterest as well. I would love for anyone to also send me pins you think I may be interested in as well. 

~ Miss Nikki

Pretty is as Pretty does.

"3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self,the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." 1 Peter 3: 3-4

Above is a verse I believe in strongly and think every girl should read. My granny always said to me, and still says to me, "Pretty is as pretty does!" You should strive to be beautiful and look your best, but what means the most is what comes from inside. Your actions speak much louder than any words. 

 Here are a couple pictures of my love on this lovely Wednesday morning. Maggie is enjoying the cooler weather just as much as I am. It's now getting into the season for slow cooking and baking cookies. I'll have some recipes up before too long so you can follow along and try your hand at cooking! 

~Miss Nikki


Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Introducing Miss Nikki

Hey ya'll!
My name is Nikki, I am 19 years old and live in the wonderful North Carolina. I believe in Jesus Christ and lots of old southern traditions. I cook the old fashioned way and I send thank you notes. I love crafting and country music. I intend to share my recipes, crafts, and lots of life's adventures with ya'll. 

Above is my wonderful boyfriend Charlie, who has been waltzing around with my heart for almost five years now. I'm sure you will all be getting to know him just as much as myself. We have the most perfect little family, Charlie, Maggie (our black lab), and myself. 


We love Miss Maggie very dearly and spoil her accordingly. We love to go hunting together, all three of us. What a better way to understand what all god has given us. "Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me" Genesis 27: 3
Although we don't always take a bow. It's rather hard to shoot a duck out of the sky without a shotgun. 


The view from our duck blind is one of my favorites. If only I could see it all the time. Hunting makes me feel so much closer to god. Most people would think otherwise but he gave us the beautiful days and the wet, cold days, he gave us the birds in the sky, gave me the recipes to fix him up with, and he gave someone the tools to invent my gun. It's much better to be sitting in a blind or a deer stand thinking about God than to be sitting in church thinking about hunting. 

~ Miss Nikki