9.29.2010

it's probably the weather...

Amidst a study-sprint that ends today at 1:30, I decided to stick on the tennis shoes (yea, shocker) and get outside. This weather...it makes me giddy. I don't know a better way to explain it. I was asking the Lord why every day can't feel like this. He assured me He's got everything under control. I wonder if He's tired of having those conversations yet.

So here's a big HELLO to my favorite season!

9.20.2010

no recipes allowed



This Friday turned into a cook-without-recipes date night. I'm sharing because it was a surprising success!

















You can add grocery shopping to the "Every day things I love doing with the boyfriend" list.

D got the recipe idea ball rolling by saying, "Can I shoot something up?" Love it. Translated into Top Chef lingo, that means injecting the meat with marinade before you cook it. In this case, Tony's creole butter marinade. Yes, please!

From there, we mainly used what was already sitting on the pantry shelves, picked a favorite cheese and stuffed it all in a pie crust.

This creation is currently nameless and suggestions are being accepted. Think creole...spicy...cheesey.






















Bake at 450 degrees for about 10-15 minutes. And if you are like me and feel as though every meal needs dessert, keep the oven at the same temp and try this awesomely easy thing. And fall-ish, too!
















The "cream cheese mixture" is just cream cheese (a little bit softened), sugar (I prefer brown) and cinnamon. Just taste as you go. "You can't hurt it," as the women in my family would say. Enjoy!

BONUS:
If you are uber sensitive to onions and cry your eyes out at the thought of them, then these are your new best friend.
They work. Promise. Check them out here.

As D always says (and teaches me) when he prays, "Thank you, Lord, for this food and the means to buy it."

And thank you, Lord, for taste buds!

9.13.2010

these people

I am loving baton rouge and senior year. The Lord continues to bless me more than I would ever deserve.

At the same time, I miss these people so much that it makes my heart hurt. I wish you knew them too!

9.09.2010

Andrew Peterson - Dancing in the Minefields from his Counting Stars album. It's one of those listen to over and over again songs.

Also a huge fan of World Traveler. Ok the whole album.

So, lend an ear. Smile one extra time today than expected.

Thanks, Abs.

9.08.2010

labor day surprise for an animal lover

On Labor Day, D picked me up early and we headed south to a previously undisclosed location [to me, at least]. We were driving through Small Town USA, passing your standard local grocery store and world-famous fried chicken hot spots, flying by several different camp grounds. All of a sudden, we were turning into Global Wildlife and quickly surrounded by lots-o-animals. And, of course, I was in heaveeen!

Be prepared for an above average amount of pictures. Mainly because I couldn't choose what animals to include and which animals to not. They might feel left out. Animals have feelings, right?





















































Creation is SO COOL, don't you think?

You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. Nehemiah 9:6

9.04.2010

homeward

At the last minute, i decided to make the trip home to visit with the fam. Because I was still in camp world for Audrey's birthday, we had a mini morning celebration complete with princess packaging. 
She's three. But if feels like this was, well, yesterday:

















My old dollhouse made its way out of the attic. There's something cool about seeing your old toys. Especially those that you spent hours playing with. Nostalgia - I love it.
I also realized that I'm old and the wallpaper in my dollhouse is peeling off. I'll get over it.

















I love those moments when I feel like my Southerner Points sky rocket. This morning, I woke up to my family sitting and swinging on our front porch, enjoying the surprisingly beautiful weather, waving at the neighbors as they drive by.













I revamped my trusty jorts. By the end of the summer, the button had fallen off and the safety pin just wasn't cutting it any more.













Going to the park with my fam and bestie. Wearing my jorts, of course.

What makes you feel Southern?