Homemade Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Homemade Salted Caramel Ice Cream by nsavage on Polyvore

What more could your family want after a long day at the pool? The Lake? While watching Fireworks? I Scream, You Scream, We ALL scream for ICE CREAM! I have the simplest and BEST homemade ice cream recipe for you that requires no cooking, this is the best kind if you ask me!! Less work means more time to enjoy a Holiday weekend with your family!

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Ingredients:
1 Can Evaporated Milk
1 Can Condensed Milk
1 1/2 Cups Whole Milk
1/2 package Vanilla Pudding
1/4 cup Salted Caramel Sauce

How To:
* In a bowl mix all ingredients together EXCEPT caramel until pudding packet dissolves and everything is combined!
* Pour into Ice Cream machine (remember to have your bowl frozen per machine instructions)
* Let the machine do it's job, about 1 hour or until everything is frozen
* Add Caramel and let machine mix it together for about 10 more minutes!
* Transfer to freezer safe container and let freeze for AT LEAST 2 hours
SERVE!!!!

You and your family will thank me! I made this up last weekend with ingredients I had at the house and Matt loved this and in fact we are still eating on this! And I have the Ice Cream Machine above, the simple and cheap one still works great for me!! Enjoy this guys!

The Free State of Jones

I love History and I love learning things I had no idea about before...... and I think that if schools taught REAL stories, the real stories behind the books then I would of done a whole heck of a lot better in school. (for real) This Free State of Jones seems like a really big deal but yet it took a movie to teach me. 

I was so excited to see this movie about a civil war deserter who wanted to fight for real issues, not cotton. Newton Knight wanted everyone to be equal, he didn't want the government to take what was yours or tell you what to do. (And that is just the bare bones jest of this)
So he created a FREE state of Jones, literally. The true story is the best part of this movie because it is incredible. How did it translate to film?? Slowly, thats how. This movie was very long and very slow but my enjoyment of the story kept me into it. Honestly this is a renter but please rent this. Watch it with your High Schoolers and you will all learn and be entertained. Matthew was amazing and when they show you what Newton Knight really looked like the resemblance is amazing. I am glad I saw this but sadly it wasn't as good as it could have been.

IVF Take 2

Can it really already be time? I know I told you all it was August and it is but SO much goes into IVF that you literally start over 1 month early getting your body ready, lining things up and that start date was yesterday. Yesterday I went in for my baseline ultrasound which showed that I have healed well from the last IVF and that I have no cysts which is always great news. And I guess it has been a long 2 months without a date with my friend the ultrasound wand! lol! Then we did blood work which will check all my levels and give them a base line reading of that as well! Lastly I started Birth Control yesterday which is confusing for some... here is the "jest":

They use it to suppress your body from producing eggs and all that stuff for 1 month before IVF as well as prolonging this cycle. I will take 30 days of active pills so I won't start my period again for 5 weeks which all works into the master IVF plan! 

During this next month we will do our IVF consent forms again, order all my meds, cough up $$$ and have more blood work. 

This is the ecstatic me yesterday......

SO last week when my show The Real Housewives of the OC started again I was excitedly surprised to see that Meghan Edmonds (Wife of baseball legend Jim Edmonds) is going thru IVF on the show! I was excited for people to see what it is like, more awareness and I'm am really seeing something on this show I can relate too. But I was kinda shocked at my reaction to her Endometrial "Scratch" procedure on screen, I cried. I cried because seeing it scares me... I have to have this done in 3 weeks and she describes it as the worst pain ever, like knives in her uterus and I felt the same. I cried just from seeing someone else display what I go thru. It's horrible. 

You know Matt is having a hard time "getting" my emotions this time around.... Some people would think that Round 2 would be easier, knowing what to expect but for me it's the opposite. Knowing what all is to come, like how painful the procedure above is.... is wrecking me. Yes, we want to do this ..... we want a baby but who would look forward to all this AGAIN. My anxiety is THRU the roof and that scares me. I have to find a way to get this under control. But that is who I am... knowing how many times I have to give blood and by the end of the cycle both of my arms/veins collapsed from giving so much blood... yes, that scares me. Knowing how scary the retrieval was and how the propofol burns as you go under.... yes, that scares me. I have a little time to try and turn these thoughts around and focus on what will hopefully be a beautiful outcome that I will be pregnant! So I ask currently that your prayers be on turning my anxiety around so I can be strong and think positively.

Savage #staycation

So I said this yesterday on Facebook and it's true... Sometimes the sign of a good weekend is the lack of a ton of pictures! Matt's parents and brother were here Thur-Yesterday and we did a lot of fun things but honestly we were enjoying the moments and didn't snap too many pictures. And thats a good thing! BUT I do have a few to highlight the weekend!

Friday was Boys Day and Girls Day which was great.... and the guys went golfing!

 Meanwhile us girls starting the day off with a little shopping then went downtown to have High Tea like the fancy ladies we are! It's a special place that I like to take people when they come to visit and my MIL loved it!

 Friday night was GREAT we went to see Styx and Boston and we all couldn't have enjoyed the concert anymore than we did! We got to hear all our favorite songs and the weather was just perfect! I had "More than a feeling" that we would all love it and we did! (You see what I did there?? ha)

 Saturday we started off with a great breakfast here in Castle Rock before heading downtown to the Rockies game and even though it felt like we were sitting on the surface of the sun we all had a wonderful time and my husband has the sunburn to prove it!

 I wasn't as big of a trooper as these guys.... I gave up and went to find a spot in the shade for the last hour, I just couldn't hang! After the game I tok everyone to a German place I love and then we all had a friendly game of Bocce..... and Matt and I won in case you were wondering! lol!

Sunday morning Matt's parents headed out early so Landon and Matt did what else.... GOLF! Then the three of us went to the pool and had a steak dinner on our patio before Landon headed out!
I think I can speak for all of us including my dogs.... we were worn out but only because we had so much fun!

The Conjuring 2

First up friends an update on yesterdays post.... no signs of Winnie yet. Please keep praying, a member of our family is lost and we are heartbroken. We are keeping the faith. 

Now switching gears completely, yesterday I decided to treat myself to a Monday afternoon movie... one I have been so excited about seeing. You see I do love scary movies, just not these ones now a days full of blood and guts. I enjoy a good ol paranormal scary movie and one that is based on a true story?? Even better! IF you know me then you know already I am "into" all things paranormal. I have read Ed and Lorraine's books (a few of them) and so seeing something I believe to be true come to life on the big screen is awesome and terrifying. This movie is terrifying, awesome and I loved it! I did have to throw up a prayer before bed last night so I wouldn't have nightmares about this movie but then again I am a weirdo! ha! But really, if you like scary movies then go see this! And ya, I jumped a few times!

And if you think this is all hoo-haa and you don't think what Ed and Lorraine did was real, then to each their own but I am a believer in all things. Here is the trailer...

Urgent Prayers Needed!

First of all, I'm alive! I am sorry I have been away... I have been getting all my real estate stuff set up, battling a sinus infection and this week Matt's family comes to visit! So I am just busy doing stuff and busy being a bad blogger!

BUT... I need you guys!!! Remember my post last week about my animal siblings? Well Winnie needs our help! Saturday night at my parents lake house Winnie managed to escape and has not been seen since! My Mom is still at the lake house searching for this sweet little guy and we are all devastated! We know he is scared, hungry and hot somewhere and time is ticking! Please shoot up some prayers that he will find his way back to the cabin or that my Mom can find him ASAP!!!!

He is a declawed, indoor cat with NO collar so we are all just scared to death and it's not at home home.... its at Eufaula, the lake where I am scared for him even more.
Thanks friends!!! I will keep you posted!

Officially almost official!

So guess what guys? I DID IT! The day before we left to go home to Marissa's wedding I passed my National real estate broker exam! I pass the Colorado state test the week prior! I also interviewed with a few brokerages before heading home to give me some time to think things over!
When we got home last week I spoke to a few more places before deciding on one and I signed on the dotted line and WHAM it's almost official! The office is processing my state broker license so hopefully by the end of this week it will be officially official! Tomorrow I start my mentoring class at my new brokerage Realty One Premier which is based out of California. Its new, modern and fit what I was looking for! I will tell you all more after I go to some of these classes and get the word I am official! Then I will need help finding clients who are looking to buy or list their home! I am excited and scared. Starting a completely new career is scary even if it's good. That is what I always say. But for now I am proud of myself for doing the class online by myself and passing both tests.

Funny story... this weekend we got steaks and stuff to cook for my celebratory dinner but I am battling a sinus infection and feel awful. Well, last night I wound up cooking the meal and cleaning up the meal all while being sick.... so how was that a celebratory meal for me? I'm not sure but whatever! lol, men!

Sibbies!!

When I go back home to Oklahoma I not only get to see and spend time with my human family but my fur-siblings as well and they make my heart smile! So the perfect conclusion to the trip was the photoshoot I did with them all before I left! So in case you don't already know my extended sibling family here they are.......

This is Betsy Ross my mini Australian shepard sister and she is irresistible! 

 This is her favorite pose and what she is waiting for is for me to give her KISSY FACE!!!!

 This artistic picture I call "Betsy thru the looking glass"............

 This little girl is Gracie Mae and she loves to spend most of her time in the window watching the front of my parents house as well as long naps on all the beds!

This guy wasn't around for my photoshoot but I didn't want to leave him out so this is an older photo of my brother Fuzzie Bear! His favorite activity is eating, eating and also eating.

Now this little guy is Winnie-the-Poo and he is not even 1 year old yet!! God delivered him to my parents back porch last Summer and we all fell in love!

 This is Winnies favorite spot on top of the chair in the living room perfectly posed for kisses!

Now this gal is the Original OG Callie, Callie is 14 years old just like my Bella and in fact they both came into the family a few months apart!

 Callie loves posing for photoshoots and bossing everyone around!

This beautiful cat is Mom, Mom has the best heart and she splits her time outside and inside.

Lastly when I got home and told my Bella about the photoshoot she was jealous so here I present to you my love, my life Bella! That platter I had the wedding day cookies on and when I unpacked it you would of thought I brought it home just for her. SO like a good Mom I let her lay on it for a few days! ha!

I already miss my Oklahoma animals but luckily my Mom and Dad will give them plenty of love on my behalf!
Now, I am off to a clinic because I have a sinus infection.... I feel AWFUL! And I was suppose to do a garage sale today but now I am only doing it tomorrow because I feel so sick. ugh, why me?

Me Before You

Saturday after the wedding I well... everyone woke up feeling like we had been hit by a truck, I mean Mom and I were sick! It sucked! Ha! SO I called Massage Envy and surprised Mom with a facial and head massage and I got a massage that afternoon and she loved it! That little 1 hour of me time really made us feel like human beings again, which was good because I had plans that night! Let me tell you... I am so lucky. This group of gals planning around my trips home to see me... I mean I couldn't love anything more. My friend Crystal even drove in from Tulsa just for dinner and our movie! And that is something we all share... a love for books and books that become movies! So of course we had to see Me Before You!

We all met at our old stomping grounds the Moore Warren theater and had dinner in the balcony and then went to see the movie we have been waiting for! And let me tell ya that the entire theater didn't have a dry eye EXCEPT for me... I have a cold heart! lol, no really.. I mean I felt it but no tears. And no, the entire movie is not sad it is a beautiful love story. I mean the cast is perfection and I literally fell in love with both of them all over again. I literally could not have loved this movie anymore. 

 So gals, thank you for the perfect ending to my trip I don't think they really know how much it meant to me! And I was lucky enough to surprise everyone with leftovers from the wedding.... Cookies, Seed Packet Favors and Popcorn!
Here is the trailer..... GO SEE THIS MOVIE

Wedding Week, Part 3

Today is THE WEDDING on Wedding week and I have a real treat for you all, some of her professional sneak peaks have ben released! You know, I wish Pinterest was a around when I got married.... I believe that if you got married "pre-pinterest" you should get a do-over!! FOR REAL!

So how beautiful does my mother look?? It thrilled me to no end when the blush I put on her matched her dress to a T!!! We all got to pick our own dresses for the wedding and I loved this one, it was comfy and original!

 Two of my friends Melissa and then Becky (below) got invited and I was so excited to see them!! It was so nice of them to share in this day with my family and ya....... look at her daughter Ashton, what a knock out!

 Matty and I looking dapper...

 We had fun at the reception there was a Photo Booth, Popcorn Bar, she gave away custom seed packets as her favor and everything came together perfectly! This is Matt and I cheesing with my brother and sister-in-law!!

These are the professional sneak peak and there photographer is based out of Portland, Melissa Marshall and you can check her out HERE

This is amazing isn't it??

Pretty amazing isn't it? Pinterest Worthy for sure!!!
Cake- Amy Cakes, Norman Oklahoma
Photog- Melissa Marshall
Venue- Southward Hills
Flowers- Poppy Lane Designs
Make-up- Nicole Savage

Wedding Week, Part 2

The morning of the wedding Marissa scheduled a make-up session at a place in the city and since her photographer wasn't coming until Noon to the venue I got to be her "Getting ready" wedding photographer! I was so excited to pretend, but luckily I have a professional camera and it was nice to get to use it! First up was the Starbucks Bride shot.....

 I like pictures of the details and I will post all my photos on Facebook at the end of the week but here it just a few...

 She makes the funniest faces while having her make-up done.... I will let you in on a secret, Marissa didn't like her make-up AT ALL so.... I had the pleasure of doing her make-up and my Moms for the wedding! I was beaming at how pretty they looked and how I made them look that way!

 CHEESE.....

 I thought Marissa looked stunning but I knew exactly what she wanted and how to make it better, when I was finished she loved it!

 Marissa and Ryan made these cute signs to direct wedding guests.....

 And this is the GRAND entrance to the venue, so pretty and although it did rain ALL day... the sun literally came out 1 hour before the ceremony! Praise the lord!

 This is the walk up to Southwind Hills, I wish this had been around when I got married! ha

 My my pledge sister Saradee makes cookies that are works or art and I had her make some custom wedding day cookies to match the wedding as a surprise for Marissa and the bridesmaids! Everyone loved them and Saradee is amazing!!!

 I don't have any pictures of us all in our robes but Marissa provided us to get ready in! The venue had a beauty shop themed Bridal room for us all to get ready in which was fun! The guys had a man cave on the 3rd floor with pool, shuffle board and TV's!! The chef created special lunch menus for us girls and then the guys while we were getting ready! Something fun I did was create a special wedding day playlist that the venue played on the intercom all day for us... even the guys LOVED it!! Here it is.....
White Wedding, Billy Idol
Can't Stop The Feeling, JT
Love me like you do, Ellie Goulding
Hey Ho, The Lumineers
Marry You, Bruno Mars
Adventure of a Lifetime, Coldplay
Love you madly, Cake
You're my best friend, Queen
Send My love, Adele
Can't Feel my Face, The Weeknd
Sex on Fire, Kings of Leon
Cake by the Ocean, DNCE
Home, Phillip Phillips
Work from Home, 5th Harmony

 You can catch a glimpse of the venue behind my Dad getting all gussied up!!! He was cool as a cucumber but this is the 3rd family wedding so we were all pros!

It was a wonderful and LONG day!!! Tomorrow I will share pictures from the actual ceremony and reception!