Poppy Seed Chicken.

This weekend has seemed to drag on and on, thankfully! I guess it helped that mine pretty much started on Thursday when mom and dad came for a quick visit. And then I got to head to Bham Friday for "equipment day" and play on all the big pieces of equipment!

Anyways, the poppy seed chicken was a success and very yummy! I love that its so easy and only takes 30 minutes to cook, with like 20 minutes of prep time. If you would like the recipe I would love to pass it on to you! Just let me know!

(This picture doesn't even give it justice... haha!)

Next up on the list: Mimmie's Chicken and Dumplins. Whew, I'm a little nervous about that one so we will see how it goes!

The Olympics are over, and Im so sad. I guess I'll have to start getting back into the Food Network at night. Mmm, favorite olympic moments: Shaun White dominating the half pipe in snowboarding, Evan Lysacek in figure skating, two of our men getting 1st and 2nd in the Nordic combined, and our first place 4-man bobsled team! Of course it was all great, and Im sure I forgot some good ones, but those were pretty good! Can't wait for summer 2012 olympics in London!

New Ideas.

I've come up with a new idea, or a goal maybe. I want to cook a new meal that I've never cooked EVERY week! Ahh, it will be hard and it will be expensive but it will definitely help me on my road to domestication! I'm going to start with recipes out of the cookbook Matthew made for me (It has recipes from my mom, grandmother, mammaw, and mimmie and his mom and grandmother). I'm so excited to start filling up my cabinet with different spices and ingredients. If you have any good (fairly easy- but I do enjoy a challenge) recipes I would love some ideas! Friday I'm cooking Poppy Seed Chicken, although that won't be a first- but it's one of me and Matthew's favorites! So, look out for updates about FOOD in the near future. I'll be sharing my failures and triumphs! :)

On a lighter note, the Olympics are almost over. Closing Ceremonies are on Sunday night :( I'm trying to soak it all in before then! Dad told

me he was glad it would be ending soon, and I asked why. He said, "So then I won't have to watch it!" Am I my father's daughter or what?!

Hmm, just real quick... Scott showed us this in sunday school this past week and I thought it was so funny. You know the saying "a little birdie told me?" Well, that actually came from the Bible. In Ecclesiastes 10:20 it says

"Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,

or curse the rich in your bedroom,

because a bird of the air may carry your words,

and a bird on the wing may report what you say."

(This picture is from a bird cage at a couples house I stayed at for Venture last year.)

(And this is me and Elizabeth in the cage. Yeah, you could say they liked birds.)

Warrrrrr Eagle, hey.

Whew, the weekends already practically over. It went by too fast, but it was fun! Mmm, I feel like I haven't updated in forever, I miss it! Well to start off, on Thursday my sailing lab got cancelled due to cold weather :) Since I was already up and moving I went ahead and picked up some Chickfila breakfast to surprise Matthew and take him to class! It was a good Thursday, just jam packed- I had to tutor, and then go to my never ending PLANET meeting.

Friday I decided to venture out of my comfort zone a little bit. I talked to Kacey Shaver the night before on facebook about coming to her "Madly In Love With Me Sleepover" (haha) I decided I would go and not spend the night, it would be good to have some good quality girl time! So Friday night came around and me and Matthew went to our favorite with Mammaw, Loredos! And then off I went to Holly's house (where the sleepover was at!) Well to say the least Im so glad I went. We played Loaded Questions, and I got to know some good girls! Well around 10 I headed out because Matthew and I had finally found some time to go hang out with our engaged friends, Kyle and Lauren. We ended up just sitting around talking and watch Curling on tv.

Saturday. Mmm, I love my lazy days. I slept in, yeah... I needed it. Did a little bit of school in the afternoon and thats it. I was so excited because my aunt Tina and our friend Ken from China were coming in town! So we ate dinner with them two and Grandmother and Grandaddy. Although they disagree but Village Wok ain't got nothing on Pandas :) After we hurried off to the AU vs. Ark basketball game. We went planning on losing- like I've said before... I've come to expect a loss. Not good I know, but thats just how it is. Anyways, we surprised me and we won!! War Eagle, hey! Actually they passed out those signs that you can pull apart to show a message at the game! They said War Eagle on them! So everytime we did a War Eagle I would slowly pull it apart and then close it right before the "hey" to open it again real quick! I have to find ways to entertain myself in the second half of games. I typically enjoy the first half and then it gets a little too mundane for me!

After the game we stopped by Krogers to pick up some cookie dough, yeah it was one of those nights! And we headed to Matthew's to watch The Time Travelers Wife. After hearing it wasn't too good (and also that it was good) I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed it. It was a little on the weird side so I doubt I would watch it again, but enjoyable to say the least!

I was so excited to go to church this morning because I feel like I haven't been in forever. We haven't been able to make it to Wednesday night in forever, due to school and such! So I was excited to hear Curtis and Bro. Al bring The Word. In sunday school were still going through Genesis and I learn so much every week. We were on chapter 37 this week about Joseph being sold into slavery. Curtis brought up some verses that I really needed to hear, and some things have already started to change. In the service Bro. Al started by telling us he was going to interupt the sermon series he's in the middle of to talk about something else. I knew then it was going to be on all the lottery/gambling stuff going on in Alabama. Surely enough it was, and Im so glad I was there to hear it- I was one of those people that I really just thought if thats how those stupid people want to spend their money than thats fine. Wrong. Gambling is wrong and we should not support it in any way. Gambling isn't wise (1 Timothy 6:10), it isn't loving (Romans 13:8-10), and it doesn't glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Gambling is a parasite to our country, don't support it! The only people who "win" are those who run the casinos!

All artsied out.

Whew, is it only Wednesday? I'm completely worn out! This week as certainly been the craziest school week I've had in a while. But it wasn't a whole lot of studying per say, more like artsy projects! Those things wear me out! I had to make two posters, one with 3d features... these created two nights of staying up really late.

This makes me think about how much I've changed from Freshman year. I used to stay out til sometimes 3 am back then! Now getting in at 12 is late! I must be getting old, and getting ready for the real world of having to get up early and work 8 hours a day! (yikes!)

Last night I ventured out of my comfort zone and went to Robyns Church of the Highlands bible study with her! I've been needing one, and the one at Lakeview doesn't really fit my schedule. But anyways, it was really good and I'm glad I went! They're talking about the Fruits of the Spirit so I know that will be great to get into to!

Okay so now to continue on with my addiction. As I sit here I'm watching the olympics. I just can not explain to you how much I love it and want to watch it all night long! My absolute favorite is the speed skating (Apolo Anton Ohno). I love his individual events and also the relays. My next favorite is the snowboarding (Shuan White), while curling comes in for a close third. (mmm, maybe not!) Yesterday I saw our USA snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis compete in her event (like the snowboarding cross) and she completely busted and was disqualified. This is after last olympics when she won a silver medal. Yes, that sounds good- except for the fact that she had a major lead and did a trick on the last jump and fell and barely got silver! Think about how much criticism she has had to deal with for the past four years! I was rooting for her, so sad it didn't work out! She definitely still had a positive attitude after though! Hope I'm not totally boring you with this- but if you haven't tuned into it yet... I recommend it! It will really bring out your patriotism! (3 golds today... keeps me cheering, USA! USA! USA!)

To continue my journey of becoming domesticated- I cooked dinner tonight! I decided I would make it Taco Wednesday (maybe Tuesday would have been better! haha) They turned out good, but this time around I used Great Value brand taco seasoning instead of like El Paso, I think I'll splurge and spend the 25 extra cents for now on! Oh well, another successful meal: my number just keeps growing!

A Day of Love.

Saturday me and Matthew went out to celebrate one happy year and Valentines! He surprised me and took me to Hamilton's in downtown Auburn and to see When in Rome at the theater, and to end a great night at Applebees for dessert. Now I can't forget that he showed up at my door with a single rose and two (count it!) box of chocolates! We ended the night by coming back to my house and watching the Olympics (which I am obsessed with and will get to later)

Valentines went off almost without a hitch. Well, it was great until I got home. The fun part of the day included going to sunday school and then heading to B'ham with Matthew, Blake, and Katherine! We met mom, dad, Liz, Amy, Wade and the Watford fam at Cracker Barrel. It was delicious and us college students got loaded up with treats and Valentines goodies. We also got a few pretty fun memorable pictures taken.

Matthew was a good sport- must have been some of my Valentine treat :) haha After lunch we loaded back up and headed back towards Auburn. Got home and laid down- I was so tired. After a little while I called up mom to discuss the afternoon, uh oh I was in break down mode. No worries though, I survived. I decided I needed some comfort food and a Valentine treat for myself so I went and picked up some Pandas. If you know me you know I'm in LOVE with that place- oh how appropriate for V-day! Later I went to watch Matthew's intramural basketball team play- they won and I thought they played great. Oh the fun-ness of the day just keeps coming. When I got home I had been texting Mom and I called her. If you could take some time and say a little prayer for my sister Elizabeth that would be awesome. She's going through some not fun stuff (stupid boy) and I want, as she wants too, for her to just get over this boy. I know she'll get through it, because our God is so good!

Okay, so to my addiction- the Olympics. Ever since Friday night when the pre-coverage for the opening ceremonies I have been clued to the Tv. (Of course this was no help last night when I needed to be studying!) I don't care what sport is on, I'll watch it and I'll get into it! My absolute favorite is speed skating (Apollo Anton Ohno)- I could just sit and watch that for forever. One of my things to do on my bucket list is to go to an Olympic sporting event! Ahh, tell me you love it as much as I do. I feel like we should have an Olympic Party!!

A Winter Wonderland.

Today was great. But it started with yesterday being great. Around four I received a text message from AU Alert- it informed that school would NOT be in session today! First thing in my mind: Yes! Now I can stop studying!

Today was so great because it included sleeping in, playing in the snow, hot chocolate, eating at Amsterdams, and the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies! That sentence consisted of like almost all my favorite things!

Today was also so great because I got to play in the snow with my boy- Matthew, my bff- Jeanna, and my roomie/cousin- Robyn! I definitely do not get to spend enough time with either of these girls. So this made me very happy!

Today was so great because I got to spend some quality time in the snow. We traveled from our apartment, down College to Samford Lawn, back to around Cater and Haley, to the Student Center, to the transit stop and Jordan Hare, and then headed back to the apartment with a stop by Comer and Funchess! It was all so beautiful!

Of course another awesome addition to the day was Grandmother and Granddaddy taking us out to Amsterdams for Valentines! And after Blake and Katherine came over to watch the opening cermonies of the Winter Olympics! I'm looking forward to a fun few weeks of some hardcore winter sports!

Lovey-dovey.

Sometimes its okay to be lovey-dovey. Like Monday, Happy 365 days to me and my sweet boy :) Unfortunately we both had tests and Matthew had to study for the two he had the next day. None the less, I was determined to celebrate. I decided I would cook dinner. Manicotti to be exact along with warm bread to dip in EVOO and pepper.



It was delish, if I do say so myself! Matthew agreed, giving him further reason to believe that I may be able to run a household at some point! Of course I can't forget that Matthew showed up with flowers and a cute little bear :)



He's a good'n! So after eating I let him get to the studying- but he stayed around to celebrate when he needed a break! I decided a good dessert would be a Carmello bar to share and some sparkling grape juice. I mean we were celebrating!



And what a wonderful year it was. I got to experience some fun things, and got to experience it WITH my sweets- what more could I ask for?

On a completely different note. On Saturday night we all got together at Mammaws to meet baby Conner- Jim's grandson! He is just as precious as can be, and so adorable! I pray that he will be able to grow up in a steady home and will be blessed through all the life experiences he has ahead of him.



What a blessing a new baby is.