Girls, GiRlS, GIRLS

Girls just want to have fun, "girl-power", girl-talk....that's what this past weekend was for me! Many of my college girl friends and fellow phi lamb sisters decided to travel back to college for a girls weekend! It was so amazing and even better than I could have imagined. It's weird how we are all at different stages of life, yet we can come together again like nothing had ever changed!! It was so great going back to Tech and seeing all the changes that have been made and getting to feel like I was in college again! I just thought studying for exams and writing papers was hard; now its work every day 5 days a week with no summer or Christmas vacation to look forward to - just ONE BIG LONG YEAR!!! (good thing we have seasons or I would never know what part of the year I was in) I would take back my college schedule and those tests ANYTIME (but I would still like to be married; can I do that????)

Can I just say that I have the most AMAZING friends EVER!!! Each one is so special in their own way. I Cherish them each so much and getting to be together this weekend helped remind me of my many many blessings. College friends are different than junior high and high school friends (although two of them have been with me the WHOLE time - how amazing is that!). When you go to college you no longer have your family there and in a sense you form your own little family. The bonds are so much closer. Not to mention that we were all in phi lamb together which means that we are not only growing in our friendships, but we are growing together in the Lord. I have grown closer to the Lord in the past years in many ways because of what my girl friends have taught me. The Lord speaks to us each so differently and in turn we can show each other prospectives of the Lord that we did not previously know! He just always seems to know what He is doing!

These girls are funny as all get out, spunky, loving, talkative, creative, musically talented, intelligent, artistic, and did I mention HILARIOUS??? Each one of them, all 13 that were there, love me and accept me for who I am, faults and all. I could not ask for better friends. So look out for us on the last weekend of April, we might be coming to your city next!!! (We cover cities all over the US - Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Amarillo, Abilene, Washington DC, Virginia, and Lubbock - kudos to Amy and Brooke for traveling the farthest!!)

I have been waiting to write this post all week until I got all the pictures in (and I mean ALL). I wanted to share just a piece of what we experienced. Yes, we might have all dressed in black, red, and white and took pictures on campus - but you wouldn't expect anything different from us!!! I tried to narrow down my favorite pictures, but it was hard, so there might be more here than you care to see!!! I love you girls and I thank you for a great weekend; I am already looking forward to next year!

SIDE NOTE: Before you scroll down to look at the pictures you must vow not to make fun of us b/c yes we are dorks, and yes we pose every shot!

Texas Tech University

Mandy, Megan, Magen, Ashley

Roomies

Crazy girls!!

MMMAA

Jump, Jump!!!

(I didn't get off the ground much, I am just goint to

say that I got a late start to the jump!)

Gun's Up!

Black, red, black, red (and Amy in the back in white!)

"Sexy" Cookies

That is if cookies can be "sexy". That's right I made panty & bra cookies for a bachorette party for one of my girlfriends -Tess! We had dinner, played some cute games, and shared our favorite memories about Tess over I my house. We had to have some cute desserts to go with it all!!! It was a very special night. I of course took lots of pictures trying to catch the best shot of my best cookies, so sorry that there are so many! As you will see I also decided to try to make a bouquet of panties and some cupcakes to go with it all!

I made the sugar cookies with a new whole wheat recipe. I worried that they would not be as good, but they seemed to go over very well. I'll have to share the recipe soon. Which brings me to my next point. I have had several people ask me on here and through email for recipes of some of the stuff that I have posted. I am actually working on starting a new blog that is all about my adventures of baking. On it I will show the things I have made, the things that I am learning, and also share SOME of my recipes. Now I am not trying to be a recipe snob, but some of the things I just can't divulge!!! I hope you understand. So be looking for this new blog; I am super excited about it. Also, please let me know if there is anything specific that you want me to share on the blog. It will all just be about me, an amateur baker, doing what I love to do! I also made some cookies for this weekend, in which I will show pictures soon, for my first real paying customer. I am super excited, but can I just say that baking for pay caused me much more stress!! I was so worried this time around and obsessed with getting it all perfect, but hopefully she'll still like what I did! The crazy thing is that I live in Dallas and my paying customer is back at home in Amarillo. So that's right, I will be flying these cookies home! All I have to say is if you see me at the airport, don't get near my suitcase because I might freak out!!!! hahahaha!!! I'll have to pack them very well!

Happy Late Birthday!!!

I wanted to take the time to give another birthday shout out!!! Yesterday (I never get on the computer on the weekend, so forgive my lateness!) was Richard's 28th birthday!!! We got to celebrate with a great cookout and a Wii tournament (I'll keep the results to myself, but just know that Sam and I might have done pretty good!). So, HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY bro! We love you very much!!!

I couldn't resist!!!

Softball IS LIFE!!!

That was the motto of the team that we played tonight...they were SER-I-OUS!!! Basically all I have to say about the game is that next game I will put my foot in my mouth and not state any goals (it seems all my "dreams" came true). So I have some good news and some not so good news.

GOOD NEWS: (good news always first) I got a hit every time up to bat and did not get out! OK, I might have only got up to bat once, because we might have got run-ruled in three (yes, I said three) innings!!! But a goal is a goal, and I met that goal!

NOT SO GOOD NEWS: I got a chance to prove myself in left field (that's why its not bad news, but just not so good). Where it turns towards the bad side is the fact that I not only got one chance to prove myself and try my skills, but NINE times (did I mention we only got to play three innings???). Needless to say we were in the field for most of the game, and well it seems that this team was great at hitting. Here's the story: Third person up to bat - a guy, the pitcher to be exact. Sam pitches the ball and it goes straight over my head and hits the fence right before it goes over. So I run (which is the ONLY softball skill I seem to have) and get it it pretty quick. So I am thinking, "Sweet I got some action, that was fun, but I still wish I could have tried to catch it." Next batter, a woman (well we think, sorry that was rude, but slightly true). First pitch and its a fly ball coming right for me....I CATCH IT!!! That's right, I catch the ball, begin jumping up and down and yelling as loud as I can! So far, so good - then things begin to take a turn for the worst. A few more batters later ANOTHER fly ball right to me, this one is harder and higher - it goes right off the edge of my glove. That's where it begins...lots of action and lots of not so good plays by me. Yes, some of them I just had to field and get it, but some of them were not so pretty - I have a hurt foot from trying to stop a ball with my foot and a huge knot on the top of my right knee from a ball popping up and hitting me right in the knee. I scream, can't walk b/c its like I got hit in the funny bone (but not so funny) and that's where the game ends b/c we have now been run-ruled in THREE innings.
So I got what I wanted and I think I can say it was a nice way to figure out that I am just not sure softball is for me, or maybe just left field. I think maybe I should right field next week - they get less action than me (I want to go back to the days of laughing and cheering in the outfield)!!!

SIDE NOTE: Sam played great as usual. Great hits, great running, great pitching, great plays! Too bad I can't be there to help me out! :)

Happy weekends to everyone!

Just for Fun!

Can I just say that I can not express how thankful I am that it is Friday! First off, because this week was crazy at work with the tax deadline being on Tuesday. You would have thought that after Tuesday things would have calmed down - NOPE - I just had to get to all the things that I had been putting off done. Second reason is because I have woke up every day extremely tired all week and today was the first day I could say, "Tomorrow is Saturday and I get to sleep in!!!" I love waking up on Fridays knowing the glory of getting to sleep in the next day (sorry for those of you that have kids and just had to read that; do know though that I don't really sleep that late, like maybe 9:00, its really just the fact that I get to lay there AS LONG AS I WANT and be LAZY!)
Enough on that....Since I can't post pictures of the cookies I made for this weekend yet (I know you are on pins and needles to see them), I thought I would post a picture of the spring flower cookies that I made with my leftover dough and icing. I think they turned out pretty cute! I think I'll have to make some more soon! Enjoy!

SOFTBALL UPDATE: (why have I not been doing this the whole season) Tonight is my last regular season game because next weekend I am going back to college for a weekend with my girl friends!!! So since I know this will be my last guaranteed game here are my goals: Hit the ball every time I am up to bat. Last weekend at the double-header I had three strike outs...that's right three!!! In my defense though you start out 1-1 (which I think it totally unfair and see no need), then I tend to swing at the first pitch each time no matter where the ball is at (I get anxious), and third the ump at our last game thought that the balls way outside should be strikes, and I feel for it twice (hence I swing at first pitch, stand there at the second...YOU'RE OUT!). So tonight = no strike outs. I would also not mind hitting a home run, but that is kind of like saying I would like to be the president of the United States! I will say that our first game (beginners luck) I did "hit" a home run...ok, ok...it was an in-the-park home run! I let my talent of running fast work for me that game (I may not have any softball talent, but I can run!). My other goal: catch a ball. Now this is not just up to me, but the other team. I just want to have at least one try to catch a ball in the outfield. I am not unrealistic and realize that my chances of catching a ball that comes to me are low, but at least give me a try! (I wish I could play in the in field where the action happens, but Sam won't let me b/c he is afraid I will get hit in the face with a ball! I guess that is a good thing considering Emily got a broken nose a few games back!) So cross your fingers that I get a ball, that the sun is not out, and that it comes right to me! I'll let you know how the game turns out. If we win this game and the next, we have a free ride into the playoffs; if we loose we'll just have to see how the other teams do!

Last, I would like to give a shout out to NOAH INGRAM!! His second birthday was on Wednesday and his birthday party is tomorrow at a bounce house thing. I wish we could be there! Go to his mamma's blog to read her sweet comments about her little boy! Here is a sweet picture that my mom caught of him at Easter.

Who Needs a Campfire....

When you can just make S'mores CUPCAKES!!! I saw this recipe and just knew that I had to make it. It's just a basic devils food chocolate cupcake with a marshmallow fluff based icing. The icing turned out to be very light and when combined with the chocolate was just amazing! You have to be careful though because the "light" feeling will make you think you can eat more than one! I ended up making them this past weekend and took them to my bible study on Monday night. They were a hit! I thought they turned out really cute too! I stayed up until midnight last night making goodies for a shower that I am having on Saturday; I'll post pictures of it all very soon. Don't try to eat your screen when you see these pictures, trust me you'll be tempted.

Holes, Trenches, French Drains!!!

As I am approaching my house after my women's bible study on Monday night I realize that my husband is outside working on the yard. This is not surprising considering, like I have mentioned before, that he is OBSESSED with our yard right now. We are having some problems with weeds this year because it seems that the previous owns did not do what they were suppose to do during winter right before they moved (something about a winterizing the yard, beats me!). Due to their irresponsibility, Sam has been outside working every day and every night. Most nights though he ends up working until dark, but not on Monday night. NOPE, he decided that the darkness was not going to stop him!!! He got his work light out there and just kept working. I can't imagine what the neighbors must me thinking - dumb kids!!!! As I get closer though I realize that Sam is just not working on the weeds, he is digging HOLES in our front yard!!!! We have noticed some major drainage problems with these past storms, so he was going to put an end to this. Back to the HOLES: Sam would say they are "trenches" and that they are for a "french drain" that he is making (I have NO idea what that means). But these "trenches" start in my flowerbed next to the front door, go out to the middle of the yard, and then turn to go toward the side of the house. So a pretty big "TRENCH". I am slightly in panic mode because they are predicting rain in the next few days, and even worse, I am having a shower at my house on Saturday night. I can just see it, "Hello, welcome to my house. Watch out for the huge piles of dirt, oh don't trip crawling to my front door in your high heels!!!"

Well my husband knew all this, so he did what any normal husband would do...stayed up until the middle of the night last night to finish!!!! I feel horrible for him because he got no sleep last night, but by the looks of things this morning, we are almost back to normal. Thanks Sam. I was worried, but when I really started thinking about it I thought - I really have nothing to worry about b/c of the simple fact that he is so obsessed with yard; there is no way he would do anything to ruin it. So lets just cross our fingers that this "french drain" works and that our grass grows back to normal and that the mountainous mounds of mud will be gone from my front porch before Saturday evening!!!

My Faithful Digger

(sorry about the quality of the picture. Keep in mind that it was night time and I had a huge work light shinning at me)

Weekend Run-Down

Sam and I have been playing on a co-ed softball team with our young adults class at church. We are having so much fun and I can even hit a ball every now and then. I play in left field and get about one hit every three games or so. Basically I just hang out back there and cheer the team on or talk to the person playing in center field. Its a pretty rough job, but someone has to do it! Sam of course is awesome and plays where ever we need him. Sometimes he pitches, sometimes he plays third and short-stop, and even this past game in the outfield with me! This week I decided to take my camera with me and take some pictures of the action. Then I realized that I have a pretty basic camera and can't really get action shots or shots of people in the field (unless you want to look at a bunch of ants)! So I have some fun pictures instead! I will try to get some more people in the pictures next week!

The girls - as you can see we take this very seriously!

Sam up to bat - Getting ready to hit a homerun!!!

Emily up to bat - Again taking this very seriously!!!

Jason

Sam - Taking things VERY seriously!!! hahaha!!!

We even had some fans come to this game! Sam's cousins - Rob and Melissa - brought their little boy, Reed, to watch the game! They were the best fans and yelled for us the whole time. I have to say, I felt pretty cool having my own cheering section. Reed even rode his new bike out to the field with his glove and ball in the back carrier! He has got to be the BEST fan ever!!!

Reed riding his bike at the game!

Best Fan EVER!

After the game our good friends Megan and Ronnie came in town from San Antonio. They had a shower to go to on Saturday, but we got to hang out a bit. Saturday morning Megan and I met some girls from our young adult class for breakfast and then went to get pedicures. Boy did I need it! After a long winter, my toes were ready to be happy again! Then of course we did some shopping!!

Melissa, Megan, Emily, and I getting pedicures

Megan and I enjoying our pedicure

The rest of the weekend pretty much consisted of running errands, working in the yard, planting flowers, and lots of baking! (I'll post some of these pictures soon!)

That pretty much sums it up for what has been going on with us. Nothing too exciting, but crazy busy none the less!

Diaper Dump

We had a Diaper Dump this past Sunday after church for one of the couples in our class that is expecting a baby girl named Reese very soon. I thought there would be no better way to celebrate the occasion than with onsie cookies!!! Here's how they turned out!

Happy late Birthday Sam!

So, Sam got patio furniture for his birthday! That's right - welcome to married life!!! He likes to put the blame on me, but here's how the story really goes. (IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: I think it is important to remember that right now my husband is OBSESSED with our yard and wants to spend all his waking hours helping it to become the best yard on the block.)
Our parents were asking Sam what he wanted for his birthday. He couldn't really think of anything, but a new mac or a PS3. Well needless to say, those were all too expensive for all of us to get him. So I say, well I actually have already made my birthday wish list (for my June birthday, sad I know), that I actually want to ask for patio furniture so that we can eat and entertain outside. To that Sam says, that's a great idea (probably thinking about how we can spend time outside enjoying his great year). So I get this great idea of how we can get this new furniture without too much money out of pocket and say, let's both ask for patio furniture for our birthdays, but we'll just get it now so we can start enjoying it!!! He said that sounded great, so it was a done deal and I was off to deliver the great news. So yes, I must admit that I might have been a bit selfish, but in the end we all went in to buy patio furniture for just Sam for his birthday. He got to pick out what he wanted and even the color of umbrella he wanted!
We got to have our first cookout this past weekend with some friends, so I thought I would share with our parents (who still have not seen what they got Sam for his birthday) what Sam's table looked like. He spent the WHOLE day working in the yard and getting everything ready for spring, and it was a gret night for a cookout!
UPDATE: I think Sam is really enjoying his table and glad that it is what he got for his birthday, although he still blames it on me! Thanks parents for our great furniture; we are too blessed by each of you!

Anyone up for a cookout???

These are a few of my Favorite Things

I have been tagged several times in the past few days from some of my blog friends. That is a very daunting task for me to think about though because it requires so much thinking, and that scares me. Plus to tell personal stuff about myself is just not my style (although this blog thing is really helping me grow and stretch in that, which is exciting!). So I decided to put my own twist on this and tell some of my favorite things. I tried to think of things that really get me excited!!! So from objects, to websites, to hobbies here is a bit about me!!!!


KITCHEN AID MIXER - This pretty much sums up my favorite hobby - baking!!! This is my absolutely favorite thing to use. It excites me to no end knowing that I get to use it to make something that I love and that brings me so much joy. This is definitely a bakers best friend! They come in all different colors, but mine is the classic white so that I can take it into any kitchen and know that it will still match!! This is a must have!!! (Thanks Mom and Dad for getting this for me even when I didn't know I would want and love it so much!)

CHOCOLATE - I LIVE for chocolate. My favorite is dark chocolate, but I'll take anything. From warm molten chocolate cakes, Reese's, dark chocolate chips, brownies, cookies, caramel/chocolate covered apples, to my #1 favorite - chocolate covered strawberries!!!!!

One of my favorite places for a great chocolate cake is Nothing Bundt Cakes. The only one in this area is in Southlake (right across from my work; heavenly!), but I think they are all over the US. I would also highly recommend Sprinkles for a great chocolate cupcake!!!!

FABRIC - Now you are probably thinking...she must sew - NOPE! But even better....my mom DOES! (and I must say that she is amazing and so talented at it). So the reason I put this as one of my favorite things is because I love shopping for fabric. I can go into a fabric store and just light up and go crazy. I have no idea what to do with most of it, but I just think it is so beautiful and inspiring. Plus usually I am shopping for fabric with my mom, so that makes it that much better!!!

FOOD NETWORK - If I am at home and have nothing to do, I am watching Food Network. I could watch this channel for hours! I hardly ever go and cook something that I watch, but I often get inspired or just entertained! I have even caught my husband enjoying what we watch sometimes, rarely, but sometimes. (He enjoys Ace of Cakes!)

SCRAPBOOKING - This is also one of my favorite hobbies. It's just so relaxing to me. The really funny thing is that when I was growing up I was ,BY FAR, the least artistic person. I made G's in handwriting, I never took art until my Senior year and usually just got laughed at, but I found my nitch - Scrapbooking! I think the reason that I am somehow creative at it is because I don't have to draw things, but just cut and paste. I have been asked on occasion to make a scrapbook for pay, but I just don't know if I could do that because I like to be involved and inspired by doing them for people that I love. I have said it before on here, but I don't think there are many things better than memories in photos. Is there a better way to capture their beauty than through scrapbooking...I think not! (This can be a VERY expensive hobby, but my rule is to only by products on sale). I have also gotten into Digital Scrapbooking due to the Miles Families (Sam's cousins). It is so much fun! For those of you that have been asking how I create my blog titles, my secret is - DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING!!!

FROSTED MINI SPOONERS - I don't have as much to say about this, but it's my absolute favorite and I eat it almost every single morning. I get up, take a shower, pour exactly one cup of cereal and enjoy eating them from the most frosted to the least frosted!!! (yes, I really have to measure out my cereal; not b/c I am a complete control freak like you are all thinking, but b/c it keeps me from letting my eyes be bigger than my stomach!) You buy Frosted Mini Spooners in the off brand cereal section and it comes in really big bags that last a long time. It's the off brand of Mini Wheats, but SO much better! A great way to start your day!

SUR La TABLE - This is the best and most fun kitchen store that I have found. I think their prices are fair (all kitchen stuff is expensive) and they have all the speciality stuff that I can't find anywhere else. I could spend HOURS in this place and definitely don't get to do it enough. Check it out if you've never been there...you'll be hooked instantly.

These are just a few of my favorite things, but I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about me and maybe even finding one of your soon to be new favorite things! I might extend my list soon, but for now...ENJOY!!!!

I'm Back!!!

Well it seems that I have been on a blog hiatus! Don't worry though, I am back. I have had some people tell us that our blog was really sad and slightly depressing go visit there for awhile, so in my attempt to cheer things up I have updated with fun spring colors!!! Honestly I haven't had a lot to write about lately. I haven't stuck to my cookbook cooking this whole month and that was my "go to" blog entry! Hopefully I'll start that back up again. I did do some baking last week though - Snickers Cheesecake and baby cookies, so I can share those pictures. (the cookies will come soon, I haven't had time to snap any shots yet!)

We also went to Amarillo for Easter to spend some MUCH needed time with our family and friends. It was so nice to be home and get to spend some quality time with those we love. It definitely wasn't long enough, but I guess we have to be thankful for what we get! The Easter bunnies were very good to us and we are still enjoying the sinful, yet delicious candy!! Here we are in our Happy Easter suits!

I promise that our blog will start picking up again! Sorry for the slow posts, but don't leave me!