25 Things.

Lately, I have seen on a couple blogs out there that people have started the "25 Things" trend.... and I, of course, LOVE it and would like to follow suit.

So here we go.  First of many........25 (random) Things going on in my life right now:

1.  I made Cowboy Casserole for dinner last night..... and it is one of the BEST comfort foods.......ever.  
2.  I am trying (hard) to drink more water during the day, and I have only had one sip today and it is 12:07
3.  We leave for FL in 2 days and I could not be MORE excited!
4.  Drinking coffee on the inter-coastal for 7 straight mornings............mmmmmmmm, I'm ready!
5.  That strawberry cake that I mentioned in yesterday's post---- put it at the front desk this morning for co- workers to eat.   Gone in 30 mins.  (Thank God its no longer in my house!)
6.  The sun has not been out in approx. 7 days.  
7. Good thing we're going to FL.   I.NEED.VITAMIN.D.
8.  I saw a quote yesterday that I really liked, "Have you prayed about it as much as you've talked about it?"
9.  Makes a lot of sense...... put it in God's hands and it will be handled appropriately. 
10. I have had a Fuji apple sitting on my desk staring at me for 2 weeks.... and I just cant get the appetite to eat it
11. Does anyone else have this problem?  Seems like fruit does not taste as good at work.
12.  Have you seen the movie Contagion??   If not...... watch it.  Opens your eyes to the importance of hand sanitizer 
13. My hands are REALLY dry from all the hand sanitizer I have been using since watching this movie
14. While we're talking about movies..... Have you seen The Help?   
15. BEST movie I have seen in awhile.   Very eye opening and I am now reading the book. 
16. Its amazing how good it makes you feel to get a few new, highlights in your hair and a fresh trim, agree??  
17. Got my hair done last night and it was needed, bad.   Feel so fresh and new today!  :)
18. These students that call asking about their application to SIU, but cant walk away from the blaring radio behind them......are really starting to get to me. C'mon.  You're applying to college. Turn down the Lil' Wayne for 45 seconds while you're on the phone with me.    Get. It. Together.
19. Why am I addicted to The Bachelor?   I know that it is ridiculous drama, but I cannot stop watching.  Just cant.  I've tried.  Team Kacie B!
20. Do you think it would be inappropriate if I watched it on vacay next week?    Yes, Heather.  Just DVR it. 
21. Feeling like my "packing list" has quadrupled in the last 2 hours.   Makes me feel anxious. 
22. Haven't really come to the reality yet that we bought a house.  
23. We bought a house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    
24. My friend Kelly is probably going to have her baby when we are in FL and I am going to be bummed to miss it.  But, at least we will have something exciting to come home to!   She's due on the 26th.  
25. Did I mention we leave for FL in 2 days?!           O.M.G.       I. Cant. Wait!

Stephanie and Krystin...............your turn to start the 25 Things on your blogs!  (Steph, you can do 10 since you have a bazillion projects going on at one time)   xoxo

Our first Tine's Day

So.......we're a little goofy and refer to Valentine's Day as "Tine's Day"...... I think it came from my mom, and I just brought it into Jerad and I.... but that's more than we need to get into today.  (sorry Mom)  :)

Anyway, yesterday was Tine's Day... and our first Tine's Day as a married couple!   We both agreed that we would not spend a lot of money since we just bought a concrete fortress house and we leave on our FLORIDA vacation in 3 days---------------------------yes, 3 days!  (I am so ready to go, I cannot STAND IT!)
We also said that we were going to do dinner at home since all the restaurants would be crowded and we just didn't feel like dealing.

We drug out the 'ole- trusty Weber....

and Jerad grilled us some DELISH filets that were better than restaurant quality, I think!

Took a Tine's Day picture..... (nevermind, my coat still being on and my no-make-up face)

I received one single rose for our first Tine's Day together as a married couple  :)   sweet surprise. 

Our wonderful din din- prepared solely by Mr. Busch....

Annnnnnd the best part of this whole post....... the strawberry cake. Oh. My. Gosh. Is this cake good!
Jerad and I had so much that we needed to sit on the couch afterwards anddddddddddddd we fell asleep at 7:30.  Whoops!    

Hope everyone had a wonderful Tine's Day with those you love!  
Jerad and I def. had a great night together at home, enjoying each other's company and laughter.  

 Disclaimer:
This cake is terrible for you.... I mean, terrible.   Full of sugar.... but ....it. is. worth. it.
Here is the recipe... seriously, you HAVE to try this dang thing!   Do like we did: Make it, eat a couple pieces, then take it to work for everyone else to eat!  :)  Ha!

Ingredients

• 2 cups self-rising flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup canola oil
• 1 cup milk
• ¼ cup mashed sweetened strawberries
• 1 small box dry strawberry jello

Strawberry Icing:

• ½ stick softened butter or margarine
• 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup mashed sweetened strawberries

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients and pour into greased 9x13 pan.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
3. While the cake is baking, make the icing.
4. Mix together all icing ingredients until smooth – may need to add more powdered sugar or strawberries for a spreading consistency. Mix well first before you add extra sugar or strawberries.
5. Once the cake is cool, spread the icing on the cake.
6. Store the cake in refrigerator; it's best when it's chilled for at least 2 hours.

Our House.... is a very, very, very fine house. (soon to be)

Friday was a BIG day for us. 

HUGE DAY.

We not only ended our house hunting search, but we also began a new journey down a path to Cape Girardeau, MO.

As most of you know, Jerad's plant is in Cape and he has been commuting an hour each way to work for 6 years.  Since we met we have always talked about moving to Cape- not only to shorten his time in the car, but also to start our new journey together- do something different.  We have been on the house hunt for MONTHS (seems like years).  I honestly think we have been in EVERY house in Cape that is within the budget of $100K- $200K.   Every one.    Towards the end here, we were starting to get really burnt out.  Mostly because we have very specific needs:

• Yard for the dogs.... but cant be a lot to mow b/c we will still be maintaining our house in Murphysboro
• Attached garage
• Basement- walk out
• Neighborhood for future Busch kids
• Good location for traveling back to IL

There were other odds and ends that we wanted too--- like walk in closet, open kitchen, etc.   But they weren't necessarily deal breakers.
Anyway, through this Jerad and I learned not to get excited very quick b/c it can change in the blink of an eye.   Goes with out saying........house hunting is stressful and never easy.

As of February 2, 2012....... the hunt is over!   We are building a house!  :)
This is a completely different path than what Jerad and I had intended on going down for our first house.... however when the idea was presented to us, we just couldn't pass it up!
This subdivision is the PERFECT location, it has a community pool, walking trails, large lots, and it is just what we were looking for.

Without further adieu.....................

I present to you:  OUR CONCRETE FORTRESS!    :)

Basement walls being framed.....

Right now, its a whole lotta concrete and wood..... however in about 3 1/2 months we will be moving into our 3 bedroom/ 2 bath, ranch home on Cobblestone Court!   (more details to come)

I am going to keep updating our house progress on the "Our House" link above.... so you can see further updates there!   :)

Stay tuned... lots to do!   Flooring to pick out, paint colors, fixtures, etc........
EXCITING!!!!!


On our way to celebratory "First Time Home Buyers" dinner on Friday night....   :)     (thought I would throw this in there.... just because)   WE'RE EXCITED!!!!  

 

BRUCE IS BACK!

Today is a day to be documented! 

For a couple reasons......

Bruce, our orange cat decided to go on a hiatus 3 weeks ago.   Literally just left.......

I, of course, became obsessive about where he was, how long he had been gone, if he was OK, etc.
We would be driving down the road and I thought I would see him in ditches looking for mice.  The other night (God bless Jerad) we were coming home from Walgreens and I thought I saw Bruce...... so Jerad slows down to about 25 mph on Ava Road trying to decipher what was a driveway reflector and what I thought was Bruce's eyes.  (Seriously, Heather?!)  All while getting passed by angry drivers that just want to get to their destination... not be stopped by some "looney bins" looking for a lost cat!

Anyway.....last night...... I dreamt that Bruce came home.  He was SO dirty.... I mean, a brown cat instead of orange because he was so dirty.   I was SOOOO happy in my dream!   Its one of those that you wake up disappointed because you just want it to be real.  : (
I sadly told Jerad about my dream, and he made his usual joke: "Babe, Bruce is on a business trip in China!  He took his cat suit, and he's not going to be back for awhile."    I giggled, like I usually do when he talks about Bruce's business trips... and went about my morning. 

Shifting forward about 20 minutes.....................

Jerad goes outside to feed the dogs and quickly comes flying back in through the door and says, "BABE, you better come out here!"   I immediately think, "OMG, what happened to my car............."   

I walk through the garage door and LOW AND BEHOLD...................................BRUCE! 

Sitting in his blue bucket like he's been there for days!   I, of course, squealed with joy, snatched him up and kissed his orange face!!!    Both Tug and Rusty kept looking at Bruce and then looking at us like, "Hey guys...did you see who's home!?" 

What a wonderful day!!!!!!!!   Baby Bruce is home!!! 

God thank you for watching over Bruce on his business trip and being with him on his journey home.  Please help him understand that business trips are now over....................no more cat suits in China. 
Amen.