SBC Day 6: Fall is in the Air

Day 6: Six things about fall you're looking forward to

1. Sweaters.
2. Ugg boots.
3. Long sleeved T-shirts.
4. Football in The South. (I don't really understand it... I just like the social aspects of it!)
5. Hot apple cider!
6. Cool days when walking all over creation to class and work and back to the apartment!

Fall in The South is a great time of year. Leaves change colors, football is back, the days are getting cooler, and holidays are coming.

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." ~F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Source: Pinterest

Happy Saturday, y'all!

SBC Day 5: Top 5 Highlights from Summer

1. In June, my family and I went on our first big vacation in several years. We are a history loving family, so we went to Williamsburg, Virginia. Yes, we are nerds. But it was so much fun!! Here are a few pictures.

A home in Colonial Williamsburg

General Washington inspecting his troops

Me and my mama in front of Busch Gardens theme park

The beautiful Shenandoah Valley

Me! 

Just one more picture of the Shenandoah Valley!

2. My best friend and I graduated from junior college this past May. So we wanted to take a celebratory trip! A couple months and lots of planning later, me, my best friend, and 2 of our other good friends headed off to Orlando for a few days! Here are a few pictures from that trip!

The best friend and our other good friend at Joe's Crab Shack!

All gussied up before we went to eat at Bubba Gump!

Yes we went to Magic Kingdom for a day!

One of my lifelong dreams... meeting Cinderella... came true!

The Wishes Fireworks show... Absolutely beautiful!

3. I also was privileged to teach the music for Vacation Bible School at my church. It was a great experience and definitely one of one of the highlights of my summer!

4. With the help of my mama, I made my first caramel cake this summer! Ok so in my family, this is a big deal! My grandmother used to make caramel cakes, and they were pretty much famous in her community! So when my mama was about 20, she started making caramel cakes and now all her friends and family love them! So of course I have to carry on the tradition and learn how to make them myself!

5. I think my last highlight of summer is just being able to spend time with my friends and family. I moved two hours away from home this fall, so having this past summer to work, shop for the apartment, pack, and just spend time with everyone was absolutely fabulous!

What are your summer highlights?

Blogging Challenge... Day 4

Folks... I have made it to the 4th day! This is great!!!!
4. Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for? Let's make a list! (And as with my Christmas list, nothing is in any particular order. I am a random person.)
1. I am thankful for lists. They make me happy.
2. Coffee. I cannot function without it.
3. My Bible.
4. My family.
5. Toaster strudel.
6. Mexican food.
7. The ability to read.
8. Fairytales.
9. My job(s).
10. Coffee. Lots of coffee.

This sums it up pretty well I think!

What are you thankful for? 

Procrastination Central

Hello again, blogging world. So it's been quite a few months since I have posted ANYTHING, and I am feeling guilty! I really WANT to post all these great ideas and fun things I'm doing with my life, but then the couch grabs me. And the TV. And my Spanish homework. So yeah, life is busy. However, I am going to try to endeavor to persevere. (That's what my Daddy always told me!) Anyway, I have seen a "Blogging Challenge" and would like to try to complete it. We'll see how it goes! I'm excited. I got this from Gracie at girlmeetslife.com.

So....... The challenge begins. I'm already a little behind! 

1. Your goal(s) for the month of September. 

I have recently moved to a big university, and so I am really just now getting into the swing of things. I am trying to balance school, work, two weekly Bible studies, keeping my apartment clean, family, and something that I guess could be called a social life. (I will go ahead and admit... My idea of a perfect Friday night involves pizza, pajamas, and a chick flick. But I like to go to my school's football games and all that jazz. So give me a little credit!) Anyway, it's been crazy. So I think one of my goals for September is to, I don't know, FINISH THIS BLOGGING CHALLENGE! Ha. We'll see if it happens. But if it doesn't, it's ok! Another goal would be to continue drinking more water. Since moving out on my own, all my roommate and I keep in the place is water (and the occasional pitcher of sweet tea. We're in The South! We can't live without sweet tea!) So I've been drinking a lot of water lately. Which I suppose is a good thing. 

2. Something you're proud of accomplishing recently.

Well, I think that moving out of my parents' house and into my own apartment has been a pretty big accomplishment! No, I'm not living on my own, my roommate is my best friend! We've been friends since we were 4. <insert "AWWWW!!!" here> 

See? We're adorable. A blonde and a brunette together are unstoppable.

Sorry, back to the challenge. So moving out, moving into an apartment, and learning to shop for your own groceries and cook for yourself, make your own budget, yeah... it's all big kid stuff! Kinda scary, but kinda fun!

3. Favorite fashion trend(s) right now.

Umm... Okay so anyone who knows me knows I like the classy, timeless, elegant style. So I'm not really into trends. Therefore, this is an excuse for me to show y'all my style!

Kate Middleton is one of the classiest, most elegant ladies in the world today. In my humble opinion.

Two of my favorite things: polka dots (of course!) and a bow!!!

The timeless little black dress and LACE. I love lace.

Vintage beauty. We don't know how to dress anymore. 

That's all for now, folks! 

Downton Abbey Season 4 is.... Over?

Hello blogging world. No I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I've been quite crazy busy, which I know is no excuse!! First off, I leave for England ONE WEEK FROM TOMORROW!!!! Ahh!!!! But I will post more on that later. Secondly, I can't believe Downton Abbey Season 4 is OVER. I'm telling you, watching that show stresses me out and leaves me exhausted! Here's a little list of my own Season 4 Downton thoughts.

1. How did Edith manage to leave THE COUNTRY for 9 months?! Really?! Sheesh. But somehow I feel as if that secret is not going to stay a secret...

2. Rose gets on my nerves. 

3. Lady Mary, of course, was as lovely as ever. Even though I am a true Matthew fan, I like Tony Gillingham. The other dude is ok, but Gillingham is sweet and such a gentleman. <insert romantic sigh here>

4. OH MY GOODNESS Bates obviously killed that guy. Ok yeah he deserved to die but I don't think he should have killed him for one reason. Because Anna has already had to go through this whole prison/death sentence thing! Why would Bates take that chance again?! 

5. Lady Violet is AWESOME. Period.

6. Branson. I don't like that teacher lady. You need to come to America and find me. I promise to be a suitable mother to little Syby. That is all. 

7. As always, I cannot stand Thomas. He disgusts me.

8. What?! Carson and Mrs. Hughes??? Hmmm. Seem to be a jolly good pair if you ask me! 

We shall see what season 5 brings! :) 

Pasta: For Me, Myself, and I

Well folks, as I said in my first post, I love to cook. So, the other day I had the entire afternoon to myself, and decided I would NOT eat another Subway or frozen pizza! I decided to experiment a little because I wanted PASTA! Yummy pasta that is extremely bad for you but oh so delicious and French bread to go along with it. I would like to share my new found recipe for this fancy dish, "Pasta for One." I searched Pinterest (my addiction) for a recipe for one pot pasta. I found one, but made a few adjustments. Here's whatcha do.

Ingredients
4 oz. fettucini (or whatever pasta you like)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 or 4 boneless, skinless chicken strips
Chopped onion (I used about 1/2 cup, but whatever you like)
Garlic (fresh or powder)
Cherry tomatoes (however many you like)
Salt and pepper
1/2 to 3/4 cup of alfredo sauce

Ok, so first you need to start cooking the fettucini according to the package. Then, heat the olive oil in a saucepan in order to cook the chicken strips. Salt and pepper the chicken, cook them in the oil, then take them out and dice up the chicken strips into small pieces. Turn the heat on the saucepan to low and add garlic and onion. Saute for a few minutes. Put the chicken back into the pan and add the tomatoes. Cook for a couple minutes. Add the cooked pasta and the alfredo sauce. I added a few parsley flakes for color. And Ta-da! You're done!

**The original recipe called for basil pesto sauce; however, my grocery didn't have basil pesto so I substituted alfredo sauce instead.
***You might also want to toast some French bread and top it with cheese or spices!

Here's a picture of my creation!

 

Enjoy!

New Beginnings

A new year. A fresh start. Another year has passed, a new one has begun. I have never really made new year's resolutions because I thought I would never keep them! However, in 2014, I want to better myself. Whether it is reading a book I wouldn't ordinarily read, or going to a new place, or eating a new dish, or trying something I never thought I would try. New beginnings will be in store for me this year. This year, I will, Lord willing, graduate from my community college and start at a university, move out of my parents' house and into my own apartment, visit England for the first time, and who knows what else! I am excited about this year... And I am excited to share this journey with all of you. Happy New Year! May it be the best yet.