Confessions of a Southern Belle

Haul: A little bit of this, a little bit of that

2011-05-05T08:19:00.002-04:00

With all of the positive changes coming up in my life, I've been thinking about the direction of my blog and my desperate desire to be a more frequently poster. As I was thinking about all of the DIY's and projects I have coming up, it dawned on me that it may be fun to start incorporating videos into my blog. So in the upcoming weeks, be on the look-out for tutorials, DIY's, and glimpses of my favorite things. I thought a haul video would be a fun place to start because I love watching hauls myself. In true recessionista form, almost everything in my haul was found on sale...woo hoo!

Please forgive me for the poor quality and choppy editing. I'm learning as I go and accidentally had my computer in the wrong setting as I was recording. I'll get better as I go =) And be sure to let me know if you like the idea of incorporating videos in my blog and want to see more.

Packing up for the Natural State

2011-05-04T20:14:00.003-04:00

Hi lovies!! I have just returned from a little trip to my new state, during which I found a fabulous apartment! I am so excited over my new place that words can't even begin to describe. It is going to be so much fun to decorate. I also spent a few days in Louisiana with my family. So now for the big reveal....in just a few weeks I will be moving to....

Now, you may be thinking "Arkansas? Isn't it just full of hillbillies and relatives of Bill Clinton?" Well, I am pleased to have discovered that it is absolutely GORGEOUS!! (Google pics of Arkansas and you'll see what I mean). I am already in love with my new neighborhood and it's hilly streets and quaint little shops. I really think I'm going to enjoy my year there, and I can't wait to share all of my new adventures with you!!

where in the world is this belle moving?

2011-04-19T21:14:00.002-04:00

At our roast last week, we had a presentation with pictures of everyone representing where we're moving for internship. I have to confess...this picture makes me really pumped about my move!

So can you guess where I'm moving??

{Hint--the background is actually a picture of the state where I'm moving...isn't it gorgeous?!}

Donuts + Coffee (and other things that go together)

2011-04-18T10:31:00.003-04:00

There are few combinations more comforting than donuts and coffee. I experienced a whole slew of emotions last week as I attended my last classes (EVER!). I also laughed until my face hurt as my cohort was roasted by our faculty and officially sent off on internship. I have a huge stack of boxes sitting in my living room just patiently waiting to be filled and then unpacked again as I start a whole new chapter of my life in a new city. Craziness. So a comforting snack was definitely in order. I whipped up these little homemade powdered sugar donuts, made a big mug of coffee, and curled up on the couch to catch up on the "Real Housewives of New York." There's just something about comfort food and mind-numbing TV that can make all the stress melt away (at least for a little while).

And while we're on the topic of TV, did anyone else happen to catch the new series "Mob Wives" on VH1 last night? Ah-mazing. I am officially hooked.

healthy snackin'

2011-04-08T16:24:00.003-04:00

Now that swimsuit season is here, I've been trying to cut back on the cupcakes and potato chips and incorporate more healthy snacks into my diet. I'm always on the look-out for simple healthy recipes that I can easily integrate into my hectic routine.

I'm about to share with you one of my favorites that I recently discovered:

{Strawberries and raspberries topped with 1/4 cup part skim ricotta; drizzle with honey; sprinkle with sliced almonds and natural granola}

What's your favorite healthy snack?

Little things

2011-04-07T14:17:00.002-04:00

Hello lovelies!! The past few weeks have been absolutely crazy. I am in my last few weeks of doctor school, and I found out that I will be moving back to the South in less than 2 months. Trying to finish up final projects, working on my dissertation, and planning a major move have made me question my sanity at times. Thank goodness for relaxing bubble baths, reality TV, and other little things that allow my brain to have a quick rest. Here are a few lovely little tidbits that have brought some much needed joy into my life recently:

{A pretty sequined bag that I thrifted from Goodwill}

{Homemade guacamole using a recipe I learned in Guatemala}

{A fun new way to display my make-up brushes}

{Simple suppers of heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and jalapeno focaccia}

What little things are currently bringing you joy?

Red Velvet Funnel Cakes + Maple Bacon Cupcakes = We're going to the fair!!

2011-02-16T17:38:00.003-05:00

I simply adore the fair. It brings back so many wonderful memories from my childhood. So naturally I insisted that we attend the Florida State Fair this weekend. We had an amazing time checking out all of the animals and exhibits, exploring the miles of food carts to find the most interesting treats, watching pig races, a grizzly bear show, and agility dog competitions. The maple bacon cupcakes just may have been the most amazing thing I've ever tasted in my life. You can guarantee I'll be trying to recreate them soon.

{Maple bacon cupcakes}

{Red velvet funnel cake}

{Rastafarian banana}

{Freak shows}

{Apparently, anything can be deep fried}

What's your favorite part of the fair?

Love is in the air

2011-02-15T19:38:00.002-05:00

A few glimpses from Valentine's Day...

{Homemade Valentines; cupcakes I made for class; roses from my Valentine}

Hope your day was filled with love from family, friends, and sweet little animals with wet noses!

xoxo

In the Mood

2011-02-08T21:29:00.003-05:00

Lately, I've been so stressed out that I've just been in the mood to surround myself with stuff I love, whether it's lunch with a dear friend, an extra long game of fetch with Heaven, or things that just bring a smile to my face. This weekend I took a little time to do some self-imposed art therapy. And what more perfect way to brighten my mood than sketches of my little girl and my favorite indulgence?

{Heaven & Cupcake -- oil pastels}

{Cupcake study -- oil pastels}

What's your favorite way to de-stress?

Lip Service

2011-02-07T19:51:00.002-05:00

I have been hopelessly obsessed with makeup since I was a little girl, and I still get giddy with excitement when I discover a product that I don't know how I ever lived without. I truly believe that a girl can never have too many lipsticks or eyeshadows. I am currently addicted to lipstains and the Burt's Bees lip shimmers collection, so much so that I just may have purchased 3 more lipstains today.

What beauty product has you obsessed?

Weekend Musings

2011-02-06T20:22:00.007-05:00

Now that I'm finally home from 2 months of traveling, I've been in rehab mode...trying to put my apartment and myself back together again. After a long week of catching up on patient reports, dissertation paperwork, and cleaning, I was eager to indulge in a relaxing, low-key weekend. Here are some snippets of what has brought me joy over the last few days:

{Florida strawberries that were promptly turned into a strawberry pie}

{Fleur de lis bookends I found on a quick trip to Home Goods}

{A fresh box of oil pastels}

{Spending time with my sweet baby girl--I love her demure little pose}

{New books I can't wait to devour}

What brought you joy this weekend?

learning to love winter

2011-01-24T20:34:00.002-05:00

To a southern girl such as myself, "winter" has always meant temperatures that hover in the 50's, with an occasional bout of sleet every few years that knocks out the power and closes things down for a few days. Since moving to Florida, "winter" means 80 degree days, and panic ensues if the temperature drops to 30. So traveling the country during this time of year has been a totally new experience. I went back to Utah last week and had a blast in the snow. I think I'm falling in love with winter!

{View from the top of the K-120 ski jump at the Olympic training park in Park City}

{Opening night of Sundance Film Festival}

{Bliss on a stick in Park City}

{Sundance posters}

What's your favorite thing about winter?

A Belle in the West

2011-01-04T22:13:00.003-05:00

I've been jetting all over the country in an attempt to determine where I'll be moving this summer. It's been quite an experience as I'm getting to explore cities and states I've never visited before. Although I'm a Southern girl through and through, I must confess I've become quite enamored by the West. I absolutely fell in love with Utah's crisp cool air and breathtaking scenery.

{Stunning view of the Rockies}

{I couldn't figure out what this odd little contraption was doing in my rental...so I texted a pic of it to hubby and he informed me that it was for scraping snow and ice off my windshield...what?! I'm definitely not in the South anymore!}

{The ultimate comfort food...after discovering a sweet little 50's style diner, I knew I could definitely live in this town for a year}

{Maybe the best part of my trip...this was the diner's idea of a "chocolate shake"...mmmm}

I also had the opportunity to explore the Sundance Resort and drive up into the snowy mountains, but didn't get to take any good pics because it was getting dark. I never realized that Utah was so amazing, and even if I don't end up moving there, I'm so glad I had the opportunity to spend a few days there.

What part of the country are you eager to explore?

Happy New Year!!

2011-01-01T19:01:00.002-05:00

{image credit: Bill Watterson}

2010 was one of the busiest, most stressful, years of my life thus far...hence my absence from the blogging world for the majority of the year. The year seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye. I am a bit overwhelmed by 2011 being that I will be traveling across the country the entire month of January and won't find out where I'll be living the rest of the year until late February. It will be a year of great change as I start a new chapter of my life, one in which I'm no longer a student and can finally bear the title "doctor." I'll be moving across the country and starting a new adventure. There is so much uncertainty that lies ahead for this year, so I'm going to spare myself of any lofty resolutions. Instead, I'm just going to set a few simple goals:

1. Ensure that God remains the top priority in my life by actively studying His Word.

2. Find joy in the simple things, like the perfect cup of coffee or kisses from my precious pomeranian.

3. Make a conscious effort to wear bright lipstick more often because, let's face it, there's just something about pretty lipstick that can bring a girl much bliss.

4. Buy less, make more.

5. Actively seek God's Will in my life and be a light in this world for Him.

6. Try not to neglect my blog :)

Wishing you all a very happy new year...I hope that 2011 is the best year yet for all of us.

xoxo

A Recessionista's Guide to...Beauty

2010-12-09T16:51:00.008-05:00

A couple of months ago, I started doing a little series of recessionista date night ideas (here and here). But recently I've become a recessionista when it comes to beauty products as well, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorite finds of 2010.

Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer

I really didn't think it was possible to find a tinted moisturizer that could hold it's own to the one from Laura Mercier. But I must confess that I like this version from Sonia Kashuk even better (and who wouldn't love the $13 price tag compared to $42 for Laura Mercier's?!). It gives the perfect amount of coverage and doesn't make my skin shiny at all. Bonus -- it includes SPF 15 to keep your face protected from the sun's mischievous rays.

Proclaim Argan Oil Hair Treatment

I had been contemplating buying a bottle of MoroccanOil for quite some time when I discovered this version from Proclaim at Sally's for only $7. After reading multiple reviews (and discussing personal opinions with friends), the consensus seems to be that it works just as well as the $40 argan oil from MoroccanOil. Sally's even had it on sale for $5 a few weeks ago, so I stocked up! I use it on my hair wet and dry to help with frizz and shine. It also smells wonderful. Definitely one of my favorite recessionista finds of the year!

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

Mascara has always been one of my department store spurges. I have naturally long black lashes, and

I'm always looking to take them to the limit. Unfortunately, drug store brands usually don't do the trick. I don't know what possessed me to try this mascara (I was probably just drawn to the fat purple tube), but I'm sure glad I did. It makes my lashes just as long and voluminous as my favorite department store brands. And $6 a tube certainly beats $25!

Neutrogena Brightening Eye Perfector

What girl hasn't read rave reviews for the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat? Many make-up artists and celebs swear by it, but I just can't bring myself to pay $40 for an eye brightener. So when Neutrogena came out with their version, I just had to try it. I love the stuff so much I'm now on my 3rd tube! It's definitely a must-have for anyone with dark circles or tired eyes. I even use it on my lips (which are naturally very pink) to create a blank canvas prior to putting on lipliner. I'm really not sure how I ever lived without it.

What are your favorite recessionista finds?

lobsters are really just overweight crawfish

2010-12-05T15:06:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, hubby and I drove over to Orlando to kick off my birthday weekend. Being that I'm a huge seafood/water-creature lover, we decided to grab a bite to eat at Lobster Feast. When eating crustaceans, I ALWAYS choose crawfish over anything else. But since they're not in season right now, lobster was a close substitute.

So the gist of this place is that it's all you can eat lobster and other types of seafood. After sampling a lobster, the first one I've had in years, I decided that lobsters are really just big crawfish...but not nearly as tasty. Something about the smaller size of a crawfish just produces tastier meat. Sorry Lobster...I'm sticking with your smaller cousins from now on.

We still managed to stuff ourselves on crab legs and mounds of fried goodness. Plus the people watching at buffets is always fantastic. I watched a lady at a nearby table consume at least 10 lobsters and at least 5 heaping platters of crab legs. I would have to be rolled out on a gurney if I ate like that! Although this coming from a girl who can easily pack away pounds and pounds of crawfish.

What food can you eat seemingly endless amounts of?

No longer M.I.A.

2010-11-16T17:18:00.002-05:00

Oh my goodness, I have been going through such Blogger withdrawals! I mentioned a while back that this semester has been crazy, but the craziness has just seemed to never end. The month of October flew by without so much as one trip to a pumpkin patch or one afternoon of Halloween baking...doctor school has consumed my entire life! But on Friday I finished a monumental task that I have been working on since April, so hopefully I will be a good little blogger throughout the holiday season =)

Just wanted to tell you that I've missed reading your blogs and can't wait to get caught up now...and I should be back soon with some posts from my fabulous weekend!

xoxo

Beach Romance

2010-10-24T23:35:00.003-04:00

Last weekend, one of my dear friends got married in a gorgeous sunset ceremony. The evening actually got off to a crazy start. My car wouldn't start when we went to leave, and we were running a little behind schedule when we finally made it to the town were the wedding was being held. As we were crossing a bridge over to the beach, traffic came to an abrupt stop. Everyone started getting out of their cars, acting like nothing was wrong. One of the locals informed us that the bridge was closed because some movie was being filmed. We sat there waiting and waiting and waiting. My friend Kristen and I were devastated because we had been sitting on the bridge for 45 minutes and the ceremony had already started. Then we got a text from one of our friends who was already at the wedding site, informing us that our friend, the bride, was stuck on the bridge as well! So we all made it to the ceremony, which was gorgeous. The bride was absolutely stunning, the food was exquisite, and the band was fabulous. So even though the night started off rocky, everything worked out in the end.

{The bride and groom taking pictures on the beach}

{Salad of Florida tomatoes, mozzarella, and arugula}

{After sitting on the bridge in the sweltering sun, Kristen was excited to find this spray at the beach club}

{Doctor school besties}

{The gorgeous bride and I}

{Candy bar}

{Sunset}

Women of Faith

2010-10-19T11:18:00.003-04:00

I have always loved a good girls' weekend. I'm definitely what you would call a "girl's girl", and my relationships with other women have become even more important to me as I grow older. Well, this weekend, I got to experience the ultimate girls' weekend: Women of Faith. Two full days of worship, fellowship, and inspiration with thousands of women. We got to hear phenomenal speakers, including Patsy Clairmont, Lisa Whelchel, Andy Andrews, Mary Beth Chapman, and Marilyn Meberg. We laughed until we cried with Anita Renfroe. And we sang our hearts out with Sandi Patty, Mandisa, and Steven Curtis Chapman. AND I got to spend some much needed quality time with my dear friend Karla. She and I went to Guatemala together and became life long friends on that mission trip. The conference left me feeling inspired and restored. If you ever get a chance to attend Women of Faith, GO!

{once upon a time}

2010-10-12T16:46:00.004-04:00

"Once upon a time, there lived a girl in Louisiana who studied very hard but loved to play hard as well. She loved music, going out dancing with her friends, and dreamed of meeting her Mr. Right. One day, a very famous musician happened to catch a glimpse of the girl and thought she was very beautiful. They shared mutual friends, so he decided to send her a message, which quickly turned into many long chats on the phone. The boy and girl lived very far apart, and the boy was often flying all over the world to play. However, they both knew right away that they had found "The One", and were determined to make their fairy tale come true. The girl occasionally toured with the boy but the distance between them was hard, and they missed each other very much. But the school year finally ended, the boy proposed, and the girl started doctor school with the boy at her side. On a warm October evening, with the sun setting on the beach, the boy and girl said "I do" and have been living their happily ever after ever since."

Crazy that tomorrow will mark our 3 year anniversary!! I was looking back on old pictures and reminiscing, so I thought I'd share some with you.

{Our relationship was still in the baby stages here but we already knew we were going to get married! We were in Mississippi for one of his shows}

{He flew me to New York for his show on New Year's Eve...it was the first year we rang in together and my first (and only) snow}

{My first visit to see him in Florida}

{At Ampersand in New Orleans for one of his shows}

{I think this may have been the last show I attended before he popped the question and I moved to Florida}

{Traveling was fun, but I much prefer our lifestyle now!}

Hope you enjoyed this little peek into how hubby and I became Mr. & Mrs. We've had an amazing time together, and I'm looking forward to many, many more years of fun to come!

A Recessionista's Guide to Date Night: Vol 2

2010-10-11T12:50:00.002-04:00

As many of you know, football season in the South is epic. Growing up in Louisiana, everything revolved around Friday night high school football and Saturday college game day. And it's a well-known fact that you do NOT schedule your wedding during game time. Hubby and I have been seriously missing our teams, which are a thousand or more miles away. Since flying to Louisiana to support our home teams isn't really an option right now, we decided to "adopt" a local high school team and check out one of their games. Cheap tickets and concession stand goodies made for a really fun night that didn't break the bank. And there is just something about the atmosphere at a high school football game that brought back so many wonderful memories. Hubby played high school and college football, so this gave him a great opportunity to do some coaching from the stands (ever notice that all guys seem to love doing this?). And being that I danced, twirled flags, played in the band, and was drum major in high school (and marched in the largest band in the South during college), I ate up the half-time shows and longed to be out on the field strutting my stuff.

{Awful attempt at a self-portrait during the game}

{Gaither High School band...loved their Amelia Earhart themed show}

{Plant High School band}

We ended our fun little date with a late-night supper of burgers and chili cheese fries at Steak 'n Shake with all of the other football fans. The night definitely made me homesick, but also blissfully happy. Gotta love those Friday night lights.

Bachelorettes and Wedding Bells

2010-10-04T12:16:00.003-04:00

For me, October is the start to the best three months of the whole year. Not only has fall always been my favorite season, but these months hold my favorite holidays, my birthday, and my wedding anniversary. Alas, living in a state that only has one season (i.e. summer) causes me to get a bit depressed this time of year when I begin longing for chilly days, turning leaves, and the smell of chimney smoke in the air. But knowing that this is the last "fall" that I will have to endure in smoldering weather considerably brightens my mood.

October also tends to be the start of wedding season in the Deep South...hurricane season is almost over, you can finally sit outside without being drenched in sweat, and the humidity graciously drops below 80%. My fabulous friend Carolyn will be getting married in a couple of weeks, so we celebrated her final days as a bachelorette with a fancy night out.

{Dinner with the girls at Bern's Steakhouse, a Tampa landmark}

{Me and Jennifer waiting on our desserts of strawberry shortcake and bread pudding...she is a fellow Louisiana girl and we share in our homesickness together!}

My own anniversary is in a couple of weeks as well, so this time of year always brings back memories of my own bachelorette party and wedding. I will share some of those with you as the date gets closer =)

Overwhelmed

2010-09-28T14:36:00.002-04:00

Can you tell that my last fall semester of doctor school is already kicking my booty? I am totally overwhelmed by all of the uncertainties in my life right now, but I'm so thankful that I have a Savior who is my constant through it all.

I have been clinging to this scripture today:

"Those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint."

-- Isaiah 40:31

I could certainly use a little renewed strength right now; how about you?

I don't have any fun pictures to share with you today, but I do have something amazing to tell you. Some of you may remember that hubby had a terrible cycling crash over the summer, which resulted in some pretty substantial injuries. He has been waiting to have surgery because the doctor couldn't do anything until the bone had healed enough for the ligaments to be reattached. These past couple of months of waiting have been tough for hubby. He hasn't been able to ride his bike or sleep comfortably. Moving his arm the wrong way can trigger unbearable pain. He even had to quit working. Hubby met with the surgeon a couple of weeks ago and scheduled the procedure for Monday morning. The injuries were very serious and potentially life-threatening if one of the shards of bone came any closer to a near-by artery. The surgery was known to be complex, and the recovery long, painful, and brutal. Needless to say, we have been dreading surgery day.

Two weeks ago, hubby sat with the surgeon and poured over the images from the MRI, which showed the severity of the tears throughout his rotator cuff, labrum, and ligaments. Yesterday morning, the surgeon opened him up and found that most of the injuries had healed...a miracle!! The surgeon was shocked...he had very little work to do...just cleaned up some "angry tissue." So now hubby's recovery will be much easier and much faster than the 6 months originally predicted. I feel like God must have something incredible planned for hubby...maybe something that requires him to be able to use his arm? I can't wait to see what it is!! So even in this state of feeling overwhelmed, I feel incredibly thankful and blessed.

"On Christ the solid rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand."

Pomeranians & Peanut Butter

2010-09-12T20:26:00.002-04:00

This past week has felt pretty significant to me because I realized that it was the start of my last fall semester EVER. I've had a fall semester every single since year since 1988...and now I am starting my last one. Somehow this blows my mind. I suppose it's because I've known I wanted to be a doctor ever since I was a small child, so I always anticipated being in school forever. And now that it's almost here...well, I'm a little overwhelmed. How is it that I, the girl who still loves on her stuffed polar bear and gets excited over chocolate dipped ice cream cones, will soon be someone's doctor? Blows.my.mind.

As usual, this weekend has gone by way too fast. Yesterday, I went to a reunion party for those of us that went to Guatemala together. We caught up, ate lots of good food, and watched a little documentary about our mission...in short, it was amazing. I made mini chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting for the party. I thought that making them small would somehow make them "healthier" (sounds good in theory, right?).

No matter how stressed and overwhelmed I may be feeling, I can always count on Heaven for a dose of cuteness and joy. Hubby has a tendency to pile laundry on the bed in my study, then he and Heaven will nap there. She also loves to perch on the bed and look out the window, growling at any dogs that may be out on walks down below. I was trying very hard to get some work accomplished when Heaven decided that it was nap time.

{"Come on, Mom. I want a snuggle buddy."}

{"It's really comfy up here! You know you want to join me."}

Who can resist a precious little ball of fur? Not me apparently. I joined her for a long afternoon nap, and now the weekend is over. I just can't say no to pomeranians or peanut butter.

Escaping from the Swamp Witch

2010-09-06T15:43:00.004-04:00

A few days ago, I decided to blow off a morning of school work and spend a little time exploring with hubby. With our cameras in tow, we set off to take some fabulous pictures of old buildings and city scenes. As we were having lunch, I mentioned that I wanted to go to Orlando soon to search for a skirt I saw in Tampa that wasn't available in my size. Being the spontaneous couple that we are, hubby suggested that we go to Orlando right then and there. I am never one to turn down a shopping trip, so I quickly agreed and within minutes we were on the interstate. We had only gone a few miles when hubby suggested that we make a quick little detour on a particular exit because he was certain there were some good photographs to be made in that location. Being that I was giddy with excitement and my thoughts were spinning with all of the things I wanted to buy in Orlando, I agreed, thinking "This will only take a few minutes and then we'll be back on the road." After we exited, I quickly noticed that we were not in the city anymore. I had no idea where we were, and the surroundings were looking too much like "The Hills Have Eyes" for my comfort. Hubby assured me that this road connected to a road that led to Orlando (isn't this how it always goes in scary movies?). After a while, we came upon a park. We decided to get out and explore a bit, take some pictures, then continue on our way to Orlando.

{We found a deserted playground, so naturally we had to spend some time playing.}

{I'm pretty sure you're never too old to swing.}

The woods looked lovely, so we decided it wouldn't hurt to follow one of the trails out a bit and take some photos. It was much too hot for any animals to be out and about, but we enjoyed a gorgeous view of the river flowing below us. (Well, for a few minutes anyway. The suspension bridge starting swaying and I had to get off immediately. You never know when those things will just collapse, right?)

{View of the river from the bridge}

Without really realizing it, we ventured farther and farther into the woods. A swarm of insects found me to be a rather tasty meal for them, so I declared that I was over the woods and ready to go shopping. But the trail did not seem to lead us back to the start point...instead we were going deeper and deeper into the woods. At this point, I started to get a little freaked out. I was being consumed by mosquitoes, it was 100 degrees, and there were no other signs of human life. We started to pass landmarks that looked eerily like ones we had already passed. Hmmm...isn't this what happened to those kids in the Blair Witch Project? Certain that we were about to become supper for some swamp witch, we ran through the woods in the hopes that we would see a sign or map somewhere.

{While making our escape, we interrupted two grasshoppers having a romantic moment.}

At long last, we ran upon a sign pointing us back to the area where we had parked our car. Grateful to have escaped from the Swamp Witch, we stopped at a country gas station to reward ourselves with grape sodas. I'm pretty sure one of the customers in the store was a meth cooker...it was a very weird place. We never did make it to Orlando that day. I ended up ordering the skirt online, and all was right with the world again.

Treats

2010-09-03T21:49:00.003-04:00

I must confess that I'm pretty good about treating myself when I've been working really hard (in psychology we call this "self-care", and it's considered a necessity...don't you just love that?). My holiday weekend is going to consist of working on my dissertation, writing patient reports, and working on internship application materials...so I definitely felt like I deserved a treat. I have a wide range of things that I do for "self-care", which include simple things like allowing myself to sleep in one morning, spending an afternoon with a cup of tea and a book, going to my favorite bagel shop before a long day of studying, and so on. Today I decided to treat myself to a few things off of my fall wish list, which included:

A ladylike camera bag for toting my Canon, lenses, and Holga

{Ginger tote from Epiphanie}

A structured mustard jacket with cropped sleeves...perfect for a Florida "winter"

{Jacket from Anthropologie}

A fun book to read when I need a break from neuro textbooks

What are your favorite ways to treat yourself?

jetsetter

2010-08-24T18:07:00.002-04:00

My bags are packed again! Be back next week!

xoxo

pizza + sunset = a good summer night

2010-08-23T13:41:00.007-04:00

Supper time is usually a dreadful part of my day. It requires that never ending dialogue of "What do you want to eat?" -- "I don't know. What do you want to eat." -- "I don't know. How about (insert name of food/restaurant here)?" -- "Eh, I'm not really in the mood for that tonight." And so the conversation continues until we end up having cereal for supper.

Thursday night began with this usual conversation, but rather than argue it out, we decided to grab our cameras and head to the ocean. There are numerous little beach towns in our area but we selected Dunedin for our impromptu photo shoot because it also happens to have a cute little downtown area with shops and restaurants (and one of our favorite ice cream shops, but I'm sure that had absolutely no impact whatsoever on our choice of location).

We enjoyed a lovely dinner at Pan y Vino, which consisted of crisp fresh salads and a fire oven pizza (topped with fig, goat cheese, prosciutto, basil, and mozzarella). It was seriously amazing and I cannot wait to eat there again. We decided to burn off all those calories by walking around town, along the shoreline, and finally out on the pier. We topped off the night with ice cream sodas (so maybe that ice cream shop influenced our choice more than I thought).

hands & feet

2010-08-18T21:38:00.003-04:00

While in Guatemala, an amazing woman on our team gave a devotional that has been in my mind ever since. She spoke on Romans 12 and the importance of us not growing so accustomed to our world in the States that we forget about what we saw and accomplished in Guatemala. I cannot even begin to describe the poverty and suffering that we encountered there. She presented us with the question that haunts people everywhere, "How can God allow such suffering?" But then she reminded us that God doesn't allow suffering...it is OUR mission as the body of Christ to help. WE are the hands and feet of Jesus.

On my lunch break Monday, I got in my car to go to Jamba Juice ("Peanut butter moo-d" makes my Mondays tolerable). As I was driving, an old Audio Adrenaline song came on the radio that I seriously have not heard since I was in high school. I've heard the song countless times, but for some reason I listened to it with a fresh understanding. The name of the song is "Hands and Feet", and these lyrics could not be more perfect.

"I want to be your hands,

I want to be your feet.

I'll go where you send me,

go where you send me.

And I'll try, yes I'll try,

to touch the world,

like you've touched my life."

{Slums along the hillside in Guatemala City}

{A home in Guatemala before we began to rebuild it-- the little shed with the sheet was the family's bathroom}

{A common scene in Guatemala...my friend Karla spotted this little baby while evangelizing in a park in Zacapa. The entire family was homeless but eager to hear the Gospel.}

{After a hard day of construction, standing in front of the doorway leading down the steep steps to the home we were rebuilding. We hauled buckets of mud up out of the slum and hauled buckets of sand and gravel down. This work really taught me the meaning of being the hands and feet of Jesus. And it was far better than any workout I've ever done at the gym!}

hunting

2010-08-17T10:23:00.004-04:00

Once I recovered from my time in Guatemala and had adjusted back to life in the States, I decided it was time to go hunting. For me, that means hunting for unique finds and vintage treasures. Hubby and I decided to check out a local flea market that boasts as being one of the largest in the Southeast. Although I found nothing on my list, hubby and I still had a great time exploring the rows and rows of booths. And we stocked up on fresh local produce, which always makes us happy and excited to get home and start cooking.

What do you like to hunt?

Viva Guatemala!!

2010-08-15T20:37:00.004-04:00

Words cannot even begin to describe my time spent in Guatemala. I cannot remember a time in my life where I have been filled with such insurmountable joy. There were many times when I was totally out of my comfort zone...I was so worried about not being able to speak Spanish and the fact that we would be totally cut off from the outside world. Things that are commonplace in America became luxurious memories...we craved warm showers, cool drinking water, American plumbing, bug-free beds, and air conditioning. Yet we were all so very HAPPY because we were serving God and spreading the love of JESUS!! My life has literally been changed forever, and I am counting the days until I get to go back out into the mission field.

{Guatemalan ladies walking home from church}

{Sunscreen + bug spray = missionary essentials}

{I fell in love with this beautiful old church and volcano}

{I love Guatemala!!}

{Ladies making tortillas in the marketplace}

Bon Voyage

2010-07-23T11:40:00.002-04:00

I apologize for my lack of posting and commenting this week -- I have been been running around like a crazy lady these past few days. The reason? I'm leaving at 3AM to go to the mission field for 8 days! I will be going to Guatemala, which leaves me feeling both nervous and super excited. My nervousness mostly stems from not being able to speak a lick of Spanish, which is very sad considering I just finished taking Medical Spanish. My brain has decided that being trilingual is really not that important, and it can't be bothered to make room for both French AND Spanish. I desperately tried to learn Spanish, but when I try to speak it, only the French words come out. But God's love is not restricted by language barriers, and I cannot wait to share Jesus with the people I meet.

If you don't mind, would you please say a little prayer for my mission team? Just that we have a safe trip and that God will use us to bring glory to Him. I am just in awe right now because I can't wait to see how God is going to use me. I know that when I return to the States next Saturday I will not be the same person, and I find that immensely exciting.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and week ahead! I look forward to sharing the details of my trip with you when I return!

{image}

perfection

2010-07-20T19:19:00.003-04:00

I stumbled across this photo today, and I just think it is sheer perfection.

Wouldn't it be lovely to lounge on a picnic blanket with your closet friend, sharing a laugh and a cool drink? And those hats and dresses...be still my heart. This only reaffirms my love for picnics and lovely clothes.

{Photo credit: The Satorialist}

Obsessed

2010-07-19T23:53:00.004-04:00

I've always had a love affair with pretty clothes. My style is distinctly feminine...98% of the time you will catch me wearing a dress or skirt. I am very wistful of the days when people always dressed up and ladies wore elegant hats and gloves. My favorite style decade is definitely the 1950's, and I am beyond thrilled to have my mom's collection of vintage patterns. All of this means that I am madly in love with the ladylike pieces that are dominating fall fashion. I have been obsessing over the Louis Vuitton Fall collection since Fall Fashion Week so many months ago. I'm already plotting how I will recreate these looks on my own using my patterns from the 50's.

Some of my favorites:

{Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 RTW}

{all images from Style.com}

What's your favorite style decade?

summertime teddy bear

2010-07-15T17:53:00.002-04:00

As much as I complain about the summertime heat, I guess I should just be thankful that I'm not stuck wearing a black fur coat all the time. In the hopes of giving Heaven a little relief, we had the groomer give her a teddy bear cut. Honestly, I love it so much that we may keep it this way until the temps start to cool down in January. She is just left with her undercoat, which makes her the perfect snuggle buddy, just like a little bear.

{Heaven modeling her new haircut}

{"Thanks, Mom!" -- Heaven}

you want it...baby, you got it

2010-07-15T17:47:00.002-04:00

Ask and you shall receive! Enjoy =)

BANANA SORBET

2 cups pureed overripe bananas

1 cup simple syrup**

1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Place bananas, simple syrup, and lemon juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until the mixture reaches 40 degrees, about 2 hours.

Transfer to an ice cream maker and proceed according to manufacturer's instructions.

**To make simple syrup, place 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan and cook over medium high heat until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool. You can cover and refrigerate this mixture up to 1 month.

going bananas

2010-07-14T10:30:00.002-04:00

I have decided that summer is making me fat. It's too hot to run or do any other strenuous activities outside, and all I want to do is cool down with ice cream cones, popsicles, and Cherry Limeades from Sonic (and if you haven't tried their Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade, you must get yourself to the closest Sonic immediately....ah-mazing). Since I've been consuming copious amounts of frozen treats, I decided to try making sorbet (because sorbet is basically just like eating fruit, right? And fruit is healthy!). Plus, it was a great excuse to use the soda fountain glasses I thrifted. I'm convinced that soda fountain glasses make everything taste better.

{Banana sorbet}

What are you doing to stay cool this summer?

A Recessionista's Guide to Date Night

2010-07-12T17:28:00.000-04:00

I know that some media outlets claim that the recession is over, but here in the Southeast things are still pretty bleak. Not to mention the fact that doctorate students aren't exactly known for being loaded (except on the day that student loan disbursements come it...yippee!). As a result, hubby and I have to get creative for date night. To be honest, I thought I would miss the expensive steak dinners and pricey cocktails with friends. But it has actually been way more fun coming up with new thrifty ways to spend some quality time together.

One of our favorites dates has become known as Salsa Night. We consult to formulate our recipe, then work together to cut, chop, and process until we have a perfect, amazingly delicious, homemade salsa....which we promptly devour while catching up on our favorite TV shows or while watching a movie.

{Salsa in progress: Cilantro, mango, habanero, red onion, avocado, lime}

{Variation of first recipe with avocado, peach, lime, tomatillos, jalapeno, red onion, and habanero}

What are your favorite {thrifty} things to do on date night?

Obsessions

2010-07-10T14:31:00.004-04:00

Do you ever eat something that is just so delicious that you crave it for months afterward? Well, I've felt that way about a particular Italian sandwich since October (see here). Silly how something so simple could linger in my mind for so long, but this was one amazing sandwich. So what's a girl to do? Drive 45 minutes to get the sandwich, of course. I decided to take my new Holga along to see what kind of modifications I might need to make to it. I was heartbroken when not a single picture came out...light leaks all over the place. Hubby, not to be bothered with things like toy cameras and film, downloaded some iPhone app that produces toy camera-like images. Naturally, all of his pictures turned out just fabulous. This must be my payback for beating him at miniature golf (here).

{I imagine that I'm thinking about what an amazing picture I'm taking with my purple Holga}

{One of my favorite pictures that Hubby shot with his iPhone}

{The object of my obsession}

{Happy at last}

What food are you obsessing over right now?

{Honestly, I still want another sandwich. I fear I may be addicted.}

Return to life

2010-07-05T15:55:00.004-04:00

I am finally back! Hubby is still recovering, but doing much better. This week he was able to go back to work, so I'm finally starting to get back to my own life. I am massively behind on all of your blogs, so please bear with me as I try to get caught up.

We had a very low-key 4th of July weekend because it rained ALL weekend. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate rain? I know that technically the earth needs rain, but personally I'm not a fan. I decided to dress patriotically for church yesterday, and I was feeling pretty cute in my red dress, blue and white scarf, and bright blue pumps...until I walked out into a monsoon. It was still pouring when we arrived at church, and I stepped out of the car into soggy muddy grass...which made me say a bad word...which made me feel extra guilty because I'm pretty sure it counts double against you if you say a bad word at church.

It's raining again today, but I had a chocolate dipped ice cream cone at Dairy Queen, which seemed to make everything better for a little bit.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend!

{image credit}

Nurse on duty

2010-06-12T16:57:00.003-04:00

I had no intention of taking a little blogging hiatus, but sometimes life just gets in the way. As some of you may remember, hubby is a pro cyclist, and pro cyclists like to ride really, really fast. And when they wreck, it never tends to be pretty. Hubby was involved in a crash last weekend, which left me frantically rushing to the ER and on nurse duty this week. He sustained several injuries but should be just fine in 4 to 8 weeks. Heaven has been helping me out with the nursing duties while I'm at school and work. She likes to crawl up into his sling and nap. I'm sure it's just so that she can be ready in case he needs help.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!!

gelato sammies

2010-06-02T14:34:00.002-04:00

There's just something about ice cream sandwiches that screams "summer". While you can't go wrong with the classic version, I decided to put my own spin on this traditional summertime treat. The only problem is that they are totally addictive and I probably could have eaten 5 of them in one sitting.

{Pistachio gelato + waffle crisp cookies}

{Gelato sandwich in progress}

{Sinfully delicious}

Tips for making the perfect homemade gelato/ice cream sammie:

- Let the gelato/ice cream soften a little first so you don't break your cookie when making the sandwich

- Wrap assembled sandwich in wax paper and pop back into the freezer so the gelato/ice cream can firm back up. The time in the freezer also softens the cookies a bit so your sammie won't break into pieces when you go to eat it.

Enjoy!!

Wishing you all...

2010-05-31T18:20:00.003-04:00

a very happy Memorial Day! Hope you are enjoying this lovely day and remembering all of the amazing men and women who have so bravely served our beautiful United States of America. We've spent the weekend eating lots of BBQ, homemade ice cream sandwiches, custard with yum yum sauce, and lounging by the pool. And I just may have awoken at 6 AM this morning with an itsy bitsy panic attack because I realized the shear enormity of all of the work I have neglected these past few days. Does this ever happen to you when you try to take some "time off"?

{Captain Heaven sailing her floatie}

What did you do on this holiday weekend?

Cool Down

2010-05-25T21:20:00.004-04:00

It is seriously hot here in the Southeast. I am starting to reach that point where I just want to hibernate in my air conditioned apartment and eat ice cream. Hoping to beat the heat, I made lemon raspberry popsicles. I have a feeling that my ice cream maker and popsicle molds are going to be my best friends this summer.

{Lemon raspberry popsicle}

What are your favorite summer treats?

Beach Squirrels

2010-05-24T20:01:00.003-04:00

I have always adored squirrels. I think they are probably one of the cutest little creatures on earth. On Saturday, we headed down to Anna Maria Island to spend the day at our friends' beach house. A precious little gang of squirrels eagerly greeted us at the house and insisted that we feed them peanuts.

{Waiting to be fed}

{Little squirrel coming to get a treat}

We spent the day grilling, laying on the beach, playing games, and swimming in the cool Gulf water. No oil here yet, thank goodness. Being at a beach house for the day totally spoiled me. I desperately want one now. As we lounged in the shade, I imagined myself having my morning coffee on the balcony and then going for a run along the shore. I'm pretty much obsessed now. This whole doctor thing had better work out, right?

{View from the beach house}

{Gossiping on the beach with the girls -- I decided to go for a retro beach look, complete with 50's style swimsuit, huge sunglasses, and hat}

{Hubby relaxing in the hammock -- it doesn't get much better than this!}

orange you glad it's summertime?

2010-05-18T21:34:00.003-04:00

Every summer I set out with the intention to have lots of picnics. Sadly, the gap between "spring" and "summer" lasts about a week down here and picnic weather seems to slip rapidly by me. I suppose I could have a picnic at any point in the summer, but there's just something very unappealing about sitting outside when it's 100 degrees with 100% humidity. In my opinion, it's never fun to sweat profusely while you eat. Air conditioned dining please.

Saturday was the perfect day for a picnic. We found a nice spot in the shade and enjoyed the cool sea breeze. Our menu included: spinach, orange, and fennel salad; various cheeses; multigrain gourmet crackers; grapes; and San Pellegrino. Of course I packed a little bag of homemade treats for Heaven as well.

{Orange and fennel salad}

I'm hoping to have a few more picnics before the weather gets too unbearable, which leads me to wonder...

What are your favorite things to pack for a picnic?

soaking up the sun

2010-05-17T15:12:00.003-04:00

I headed to the beach this weekend to spend some time with my little family. We had a nice picnic, swam in the ocean with Heaven, and soaked in the refreshing ocean air. If only I could just spend every day at the beach with no responsibilities looming over my head like "internship applications" and "dissertation"...wouldn't life be grand?

{Me and my precious little fur baby}

{Heaven wants to go for a swim so badly but she is scared of the crashing waves}

{"Look at me Mom! I'm swimming!" -- Heaven}

{"Did you see me Mom? Did you see me?" -- Heaven}

{Dirty puppy}

superstar golfer

2010-05-10T13:41:00.003-04:00

This weekend, hubby challenged me to a game of putt putt golf. Naturally, I accepted and let him run his mouth for days. Hubby is good at talking trash.

{Champion}

Of course I won. I have this little gift of making hole-in-ones. Hubby really should have known better than to talk so much smack.

cheese please

2010-05-06T19:05:00.003-04:00

I must confess that I spoil my dog rotten. I've been wanting to make her some homemade treats for ages, but all of the dog recipes I had contained lots of special impractical ingredients, making them rather pricey. So I was thrilled when a friend gave me several recipes that utilize common stuff I already had in my fridge and pantry. Heaven just adores cheese, so naturally I thought a cheesy treat would be a good place to start. She seemed to know that I was making something just for her, because she stalked me a little more than usual while I was in the kitchen. Or maybe she was just hoping I would drop some cheese on the floor.

{Cheese treats}

{My little girl enjoying her snack}

The treats were a big hit, and Heaven seemed to appreciate the fact that they were made with love just for her. But then again, it could have just been because she really really really loves cheese. Since they looked so tasty (and were made with normal human ingredients), I couldn't help but taste one myself...it was like a delicate little cheese cracker. Yummy, but I think I'll let Heaven have her treats and stick with cupcakes for myself.

Cheese Biscuits

{not sure of the original source since this recipe came to me from a friend}

1 cupe whole wheat flour

1 cup unbleached white flour

1/4 cup cornmeal

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup cheddar cheese {I used 1/2 cup to make them extra cheesy}

1 large egg

3/4 cup water

1. Preheat oven to 325

2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

3. Kneed together until well mixed. Turn out onto a floured surface and roll flat to about 1/4-inch thickness.

4. Cut with cookie cutters. Sprinkle with a little extra Parmesan cheese.

5. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

addicted to buttercream

2010-05-05T14:41:00.003-04:00

The past couple of weeks have been busy busy busy...lots of end of semester projects and papers due, training site interviews, and a quick trip home to Louisiana. I've also been baking cupcakes for my lovely friends who were so generous and made donations to help fund my upcoming mission trip. One friend requested buttercream frosting, which is my absolute favorite. I haven't made buttercream in a while, and I had forgotten how addictive it can be. I probably consumed 5000 delicious calories just tasting to make sure it was "just right" and licking the bowl. I'm strongly considering just making a big bowl of buttercream to eat on everything possible.

{Cupcakes begging to be eaten}

Yesterday I took a few minutes to go thrifting, which I haven't done in forever. I found quite a few treasures that I can't wait to share with you in future posts. I bought a pretty little vase, old fashioned ice cream soda glasses, and a couple of vintage dresses that I plan to alter and reconstruct. My new vase was longing to be filled with flowers, so I scooped up this cheerful bunch of tulips.

{Pretty little tulips}

Mystery Monkey

2010-04-15T20:35:00.002-04:00

There hasn't been much notable local news in the few years I've lived in Tampa. We hosted a Superbowl, and a plethora of local sex offenders have made headlines. But nothing that really interested me. Until a monkey popped up. A few months ago, a monkey started making appearances throughout the area. The little guy made his way from the heart of Tampa all the way over to the beaches! He has somehow evaded all of the wildlife guys, but he's not shy at all. He likes to hang out in trees, eat the seeds out of bird feeders, and cross busy intersections. He has become a local hero and something of a Tampa mascot. Just like any good hero, he has his own Facebook page with thousands of fans. So you can imagine my delight when our little monkey recently made national news and was even featured on Jimmy Kimmel. A music video was even made in his honor! So here for your enjoyment (and to get you through one more day of the work week)....I present the Tampa Bay Mystery Monkey.

If only I was a tween...

2010-04-12T22:04:00.003-04:00

I'm regressing. I could probably psychoanalyze myself for days on this one. Luckily I'm not a Freudian (or even psychodynamic), so I can just enjoy this regression for what it is....pure tween bliss. Now before you begin to worry, I assure you I haven't been shopping at Hollister or surreptitiously purchasing Tiger Beat magazine.

But maybe, just maybe, I've been secretly reading the Twilight series and wishing that hubby was a little more like Edward Cullen. And I might have watched the movie several times now because Robert Pattinson is just so pretty that I can't help myself. I must have had hearts in my eyes because hubby even went so far as to ask me if Robert would be my "free pass". And I

honestly told him that Rob Pat would only be my free pass if he pretended to be Edward Cullen. I'm totally having a psychotic break, aren't I? I hear that stress does this to people.

{It's totally normal to lust after vampires that look like this, right?}

As if my tween vampire crush wasn't enough, I recently discovered the music of the German band Tokio Hotel. To be fair, there is nothing tween-y about their music, but teen girls everywhere just adore them. I watched some footage from one of their live concerts and teens were screaming their names with tears rolling down their cheeks. Ah, to go back to the days when I was young enough to believe I might actually marry a celebrity. My tween crushes were always musicians (I was convinced that the lead singers of Soundgarden and Blur were going to fall in love with me...never mind that I was a 6th grader in Louisiana and they were 30-something rockstars...minor details, right?). I actually did marry a famous musician, but that's a story for different day.

{Tokio Hotel}

So now I'm dying to know if I'm the only one who ever regresses back to her tween or teen years. Do you have any secret crushes or indulgences that don't really vibe with your usual sophisticated independent lady self? Maybe a stack of Lauren Conrad books under your bed or a slightly fanatical obsession with "Glee"? Your secrets are safe with me.

Lovely little moments

2010-04-09T20:58:00.003-04:00

Today has has been an extremely busy day, and not in a good way. You know those days...when your To Do list literally requires you to have more than 24 hours in a day? After working on my dissertation for who knows how many hours straight, I decided to take a little break. I've been longing to try this Veggie and Cheese Bagel Sandwich recipe from the Pioneer Woman, and tonight seemed like the perfect opportunity.

{Veggie bagel sandwich + Abita strawberry lager}

Can I just say that this sandwich was heavenly? Deliciousness like this makes it easy to be a vegetarian. Even if you're an avid meat eater, you must try it. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be eating these every day this summer. While I was having my yummy little supper, I was able to catch Sarah Jessica Parker on "Who Do You Think You Are?" I just adore her. You better believe that May 27 is marked in my planner and I'm already planning my outfit. So I had a lovely little break but now I must get back to work.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!

my quest to become the perfect wife

2010-04-08T22:07:00.005-04:00

I've found that the easiest way to earn "wife points" is by cooking. What guy doesn't love a home cooked meal or treats that were baked with him in mind? Since hubby isn't supposed to eat sugary treats during race season, I decided to make his favorite homemade granola bars.

{White chocolate cranberry granola bars}

Naturally, I would have rather made a batch of cupcakes so I could indulge a little myself. But these bars made hubby blissfully happy, and I really can't complain because I snuck out and bought a delicious cannoli just for me.

What do you like to cook for your man?

Prints Charming

2010-04-07T19:08:00.004-04:00

I must confess that I am a bit obsessed with prints. Always have been. In a room full of little black dresses, I'm usually the one wearing leopard print. About six months ago I realized that my closet was seriously lacking in neutrals. Since then I've been trying to make a conscious effort to buy more neutral pieces, and I think I've been pretty successful (although I may have gone a little overboard buying pretty little things in shades of nude and blush). But all my efforts aside, there's just something about spring and summer that screams for prints. As if to make up for my brief print hiatus, I've been on a bit of a binge lately.

I just might have gone a tad crazy with the Liberty of London for Target line. These are just a few of the printed pieces I snatched up. After buying three dresses, a top, two scarves, and stationary, I am officially cutting myself off.

Even though I haven't had time to sew in ages, I still make regular trips to the fabric store and hoard away prints and patterns (it's a sickness). This delicious stack of fabric is sitting on my sewing table, taunting me to blow off my school work and make something. Once May gets here I will have Fridays off, and I totally intend to devote the day to sewing and reading by the pool.

{image}

Being the print junkie that I am, you can imagine my excitement when I discovered Amy Butler's prints the other day. I guess I've been living in a cave because I had never heard of her, but after spending an hour on her website I am convinced that she is a genius. I am already imagining making these fabrics into perfectly pretty summer skirts and dresses.

What is your current obsession?

Street Cred

2010-03-31T10:40:00.005-04:00

This weekend I did something that I never ever do...I ditched my school work that had to be done on the computer, threw the stuff that didn't require my laptop into a bag, and spent the weekend at hubby's races. I had a lot of fun supporting my man and his friends and got to spend a little time working on my photography skills.

Saturdays races were through the streets of downtown Tampa. Watching these guys fly around sharp corners at high speeds was pretty insane. I would be terrified! The weather was gorgeous and an eco-festival was also taking place downtown. We ended the day having dinner and drinks with friends at a little Italian restaurant while watching the last pro race that took place at twilight.

I'm always on the look-out for obscure things that can become something beautiful. I loved the reflection of this historic building caught in the panels of a modern high-rise.

A candid shot of hubby while he is discussing race strategy with another cyclist. It was really fun to see him in his element, doing what he loves.

I couldn't resist these lovely little pansies in various shades of purple and yellow. They reminded me so much of home!

Sunday's races were in a different city and the weather was pretty gloomy. The cloud cover made it easier to get some good action photos. Luckily, hubby's race ended just as the rain started.

Taking the weekend off has left me terribly behind this week, but it was totally worth it to support hubby. I sometimes get so caught up in school, dissertation, and training that I have a tendency to overlook the little things that matter most in a marriage, like how important it is to support your spouse in everything they do. But I'm working on it!

So Yogi isn't just a bear?

2010-03-13T23:03:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I sustained a pretty awful injury while training for my half-marathon. While researching how to treat the injury, I kept coming across articles on the benefits of yoga for athletes. I've been wanting to incorporate yoga into my routine for quite a while now, so this seemed like a great opportunity to start. To get myself motivated, I bought a new purple yoga mat and a cute purple yoga block. My schedule doesn't permit me to take yoga classes at a gym or studio, so I purchased the following DVDs after doing a little research:

I really had no idea how messed up my body was until I started doing these DVDs. In addition to my latest injury, I have pretty severe back issues that I sustained in a car accident a couple of years ago. The poses that were supposed to be "relaxing" (like lying on my back) were excruciating due to my injuries. I really should have started doing this years ago! I have to wait 5 more weeks to start running again to give my injury time to heal, so I'm trying to be diligent with the yoga during my time off. I'm anxious to see if the yoga will help prevent future injury like it promises.

Are you into yoga? If so, in what ways has it helped you?

I'm looking forward to becoming a yogini =)

Life, briefly

2010-03-09T16:12:00.006-05:00

These past few months have been some the busiest, most stressful, and most rewarding of my life. Would you like to know what I've been up to? Well, even if you don't, I'm going to tell you anyway!

I took my comprehensive exams for doctor school and PASSED!
I signed up to go on a mission trip to Guatemala this summer.
I walked for my master's degree.
I finally got to see Wicked (and it was fabulous!).
I passed another one of my final hurdles for doctor school.
I started on my dissertation.
We bought a juicer and I am in love with it.
I sustained a pretty severe injury only a month before my half marathon.
I pushed through the pain and ran the half marathon anyway.
I saw the Moscow Ballet production of Swan Lake (so lovely).
I got to see hubby race for the first time since he turned pro.
I decided to become vegan!
I dyed my hair red and had almost 12 inches cut off (you can kinda see in the grad photo but not really well).

So as you can see, a whole lot has been going on lately. It's been a stressful time but I've accomplished a lot in the past few weeks. Now I'm looking forward to things slowing down a bit...and I can't wait to catch up with all of you and see what you have been up to. I feel so out of the loop!

Craziness

2010-01-31T16:15:00.002-05:00

I never mean to drop off the face of the earth. I really don't. Doctor school is just kicking my booty right now and leaving me with absolutely no free time. I have a major project that is due next week, so I've been spending every waking hour trying to complete it in time. So hopefully I will be back soon because I miss yall!

xoxo

Studying & Strawberries

2010-01-06T13:14:00.003-05:00

{keeping my feet cozy in my Freudian slippers}

I am stuck at home today cramming for one of the most important exams I will ever take. I would say it is second in importance only to the licensing exam I will take in a couple of years to be able to practice on my own. I have my comprehensive exam on Friday morning, which basically covers almost everything I've learned in the past 3 years of doctor school. Fun, huh? Hopefully I will pass with no problems because failing means no more doctor school. If that happens I might as well flee to a deserted island and learn to live on coconut water and bananas because I will never be able to pay back my student loans. So say a little prayer for me if you don't mind!

{studying}

On a much happier note, it's officially STRAWBERRY SEASON in Florida!! Yippeee!! I must confess, the start of strawberry season is one of the things that helps pull me out of the post-Christmas slump. Yesterday I purchased our first package of locally grown fresh strawberries at the market for just over a dollar. I'm planning on slicing these little babies up and serving them over homemade multi-grain waffles for supper tonight. Mmm mmm good.

{Plant City strawberries}

Also, did you know that today is officially the start of King Cake season? In the past, I've had to order king cakes from Louisiana to be shipped to me in Florida. Last year I was determined to make one on my own but was just too busy with school. But this year it's going to happen...I WILL make a homemade authentic king cake on my own! So stay tuned to see how it turns out!

There's no turning back now...

2010-01-04T21:09:00.002-05:00

I'm officially registered for the Disney Princess Half Marathon on March 7. Eeek! It's amazing what an expensive entry fee can do for my motivation level. There is definitely no turning back now!

It's Resolution Time!

2010-01-03T17:12:00.003-05:00

{image}

There's something so hopeful about starting a new year. People are motivated and anything seems possible. I'm super excited about my resolutions for 2010 and have already started working on them.

1. Grow in my walk with Christ.

- Memorize 2 Scriptures a month

- Read God's Word everyday

- Stay active in church and life group

2. Focus on my health and fitness

- Run a half marathon during the first half of the year

- Run a marathon in the second half of the year

- Compete in a duathlon (run and bike)

- Complete another triathlon and beat my previous time

- Run 700 miles

- Incorporate yoga and meditation into my routine

- Eat healthier, including regular detox and juice fasts

3. Focus on the simple joys in life

- Buy less, make more (including dinners at home instead of eating out so much, sewing instead of shopping, making accessories and gifts)

- Send more snail mail and cards

- Explore more of Florida with hubby

- Learn to budget and stick to it

I've ran the past three days and the trail has been packed with people working on their fitness...I love it! I hope everyone is able to stick with it. Wishing you all the best of luck with your resolutions this year!!

Have you started working on any of your resolutions yet?

Reflecting & Resolving

2010-01-01T11:41:00.003-05:00

{image}

Happy New Year!!

I've missed you lovely ladies! I just got back to Florida, so it will take me a few days to catch up, but I'm looking forward to reading about all of your Christmas and holiday fun. I had a great trip home to Louisiana. It was so wonderful to see my family (and experience a little cold weather!). I did tons of cooking while I was there and finally learned to make dressing, which I consider to be the Holy Grail of Southern cooking. Since I just got back into town, hubby and I decided to have a low-key New Year's Eve. We had supper with his family and watched football...it was nice and relaxing. I'm one of those people who is guilty of putting too much pressure on New Year's Eve. I always worry about finding the perfect party and the perfect outfit. So to just chill out and spend time with loved ones was really nice.

I also spent a little time last night reflecting on the blessings of 2009. A few of my favorites...

*We found a church and life group that we loved, which introduced us to a wonderful new group of amazing Christian friends

*We actively made time to study God's Word and bought each other new devotional Bibles for Valentine's Day

*I was able to go home to Louisiana three times (every little break I had from school!)

*I passed my CCE-Diagnostic (kind of a big deal in doctor school)

*The running genes I inherited finally woke up and I discovered I actually love running

*I completed my first triathlon

*I fell in love with sewing

*We celebrated our 2nd anniversary in St. Augustine

*We celebrated my 27th birthday at Disney World

*I attended a conference with some of my girlfriends where we learned from Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur

*My best friend came to visit me and we had a blast at Universal Studios and a fancy beach resort

*I experimented with tons of new recipes and even made French macaroons

*I obtained a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology

*We got to explore a frozen Wonderland of ice even though we live in Florida

I also made my resolutions for 2010, so I will share those with you tomorrow.

Hoping 2010 is full of blessings for all of you!

xoxo

Chocolate Christmas

2009-12-18T22:05:00.004-05:00

Tonight I celebrated Christmas with hubby's family because I'm about to hop on a plane and head home to Louisiana. We feasted on BBQ and opened presents while Heaven ran around in her Santa outfit. I wanted to make something special for hubby's family, so I decided to spend the day making chocolates.

{Peanut Butter Balls}

{Chocolate Sea Salt Truffles}

{Miss Claus sniffing out one of her presents}

I will be taking a break from blogging while I'm in Louisiana...my schedule is going to be pretty hectic while I'm there. In addition to holiday cooking and spending time with family, I will be studying for my comprehensive exams which are over the Christmas break. Leave it to doctor school to make sure that no "break" is really a break. I will be back on the 30th, so I look forward to catching up with all of you then and starting off a fabulous new year!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!!

xoxo

My baby needs Xanex

2009-12-17T20:57:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was an emotionally trying day...our baby got attacked on her morning walk.

While hubby was walking Heaven, a chow broke it's leash and attacked her. The chow picked her up in his mouth and shook her around as she screamed. It happened so fast that hubby wasn't able to intervene in time. It just so happens that a vet lives in our complex and heard Heaven screaming. She was so terrified...she tried biting the vet and hubby. She was seriously traumatized...she was shaky and scared all day. She hid under the couch and wouldn't come out...not even for treats. It broke my heart! We found a puncture wound on her stomach, but it doesn't appear to be anything serious. I am so thankful because it could have been so much worse. When she went on a walk last night, she was even scared of the leaves blowing. She is in better spirits today (she was extremely interested in stalking the McDonald's bag I brought home tonight), so I'm hoping she will be back to herself in no time.

It's so scary how these things happen so fast. Has anything like this ever happened to one of your fur babies? If so, how did you help him/her overcome the fear and anxiety?

{Scared to come out from under the couch after the attack}

Parties & Peppermint

2009-12-14T10:46:00.004-05:00

This weekend was rather busy with Christmas activities. We attended Christmas parties on Friday and Saturday night, which meant preparing holiday treats to share. For Friday night's party, I made a peanut butter pie which was quickly devoured. Saturday night's party was a fancy affair, so I wanted to make something that could be nibbled on easily. Peppermint bark turned out to be the perfect option.

{The hardest part was not eating it all before party time!}

{Hubby and I at our friends' Christmas party}

I am also rather disappointed in myself. Friday's party included a Secret Santa exchange, and I made one of my girlfriend's a little retro apron. It was seriously the cutest thing I've ever made, and I forgot to take a picture of it!! I definitely plan to make more of them but the fabric combination I chose for my friend just turned out so freakin' cute.

Have you been making any homemade Christmas treats or gifts this year?

Baby it's cold outside

2009-12-07T09:47:00.004-05:00

Well, cold for south Florida. We were blessed with temperatures in the 60's over the weekend...it was pure bliss! I wore a scarf for the first time this year and even a light jacket! It's supposed to be hot again this week, but it was fabulous to get a little cool weather for a few days.

Since we were having a cool front, Heaven's grandparents let her have her Christmas present a little early. Doesn't she look precious in her new little pink Snuggie?

She loved it so much! She pranced around in it and was so proud to show it off. I think it's quite possibly the cutest thing ever.

Ice Ice Baby

2009-11-30T19:38:00.004-05:00

I've been longing to go to ICE since moving to Florida a few years ago.

Saturday evening we made the trip inland to check out this holiday favorite.

We had an amazing time...the temperature inside the exhibit was a crisp 9 degrees (I soaked in as much as I could!).

After getting our fill of winter, we warmed up over dinner at a wonderful Mediterranean restaurant at the Gaylord Palms. The hotel was decked out in Christmas decor and tons of people were bustling around drinking hot cocoa and listening to performers sing Christmas songs. It was the perfect way to start the Christmas season.

{The lovely tree at the Gaylord Palms}

What are you doing to get into the Christmas spirit?

Thankful

2009-11-29T13:04:00.004-05:00

{Pumpkin cupcakes for Thanksgiving dessert}

I just adore Thanksgiving and the days following the holiday...good food, time with family, Black Friday, the LSU vs. Arkansas game, and the official start of the Christmas season. We had a delicious Thanksgiving steak dinner, then my MIL and I left the boys watching football and went shopping. Michael's opened at 5:00 pm Thanksgiving night, so we hit up the sale and had a blast buying Christmas trees and decorations. Even though things are tough for us right now with the recession and my school stress, I am so thankful for God's blessings in my life.

I am especially thankful for...

Jesus and the gift of salvation that He gave to me

My amazing family

My wonderful friends

{Heaven and I after having Thanksgiving dinner}

I hope you all had a fabulous holiday!!

{And of course I'm dying to know if you had any luck on Black Friday...so how did you do??}

Weekend Cookin'

2009-11-23T17:51:00.004-05:00

Lately my weekends have been filled with nothing but loads of school work. This weekend was no exception, although I managed to fit in some quality time with my kitchen. Friday night I decided to whip up a homemade pizza. After wrestling with the dough for a while, I started to question my decision and wondered if we would have to end up calling Papa John's. But in the end it turned out great. I had forgotten just how much I love homemade pizza.

{Homemade pizza with whole wheat crust and turkey pepperoni...served with ice cold Stella}

Saturday night I decided to make some good ole' Southern comfort food...chicken and dumplings. Accompanied by cheese muffins, they were the perfect weekend supper.

{Chicken and dumplings + cheese muffins}

I also managed to take a study break long enough to hit up the Vogue pattern sale at JoAnn's. I found some amazing designer patterns (Alice + Olivia, Badgley Mischka, Anna Sui, and Issey Miyake). Now I'm dying to sew. School is seriously getting in my way of becoming a star on Project Runway =)

Did you spend anytime in the kitchen this weekend? I'd love to know what you whipped up!

27 Candles

2009-11-22T10:15:00.004-05:00

Last Friday was my 27th birthday. It's crazy to think about....my 20's are just flying by and I don't really feel like I've started my life yet because I'm still in school. I still vividly remember celebrating my 19th birthday as a Freshman in college. So bizarre to think that now I'm in my late 20's.

We decided to spend my birthday at the Magic Kingdom (sometimes living in Florida does have its benefits). We started the day out at my favorite bagel shop then headed inland. We had a blast at Disney, then did a little shopping in Orlando (which included a stop for truffles at Godiva, of course!). We ended the day back in Tampa at one of my favorite restaurants, Mel's Hot Dogs. The rest of my birthday weekend included sushi, lots of presents, and a birthday lunch at the Thirsty Marlin (best fried grouper sandwich ever).

{Hubby and I at Disney World}

{Haunted Mansion}

{Hubby was afraid of what we might find in the Haunted Mansion}

{Entire day spent with hubby + Magic Kingdom = amazing birthday}

{One of my favorite birthday traditions is my birthday Louis...here is birthday bag 2009)

{Sprinkles banana birthday cupcakes}

thinking of you

2009-11-18T20:53:00.002-05:00

I am missing you ladies! Doctor school is absolutely insane right now...I feel like I have literally fallen off the face of the planet. I've had so much going on lately that I just haven't had time to blog or catch up with you all. I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things soon...life is just crazy right now! But please know that I think of you all often and I am desperately missing reading about what has been going on in your lives. Hope you are all doing well and hopefully I will be back soon!

xoxo

The Life and Death of a Pumpkin

2009-10-30T11:36:00.002-04:00

If you have an extra 5 minutes to watch this today, I think you will get a kick out of it. I thought it was amazing. Hope you are all having a perfectly ghoulish Halloween Eve!

I thought corn was corn no matter where you live...

2009-10-26T16:36:00.006-04:00

Well, this weekend I learned a hard lesson...Florida corn is not the same as Louisiana corn, or Georgia corn, or Illinois corn for that matter.

Let me explain...

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was craving a trip to the corn maze. So you can imagine my delight when I discovered that there was a corn maze less than an hour away. The website sounded fabulous and included an aerial photo of the maze, which looked pretty amazing. Hubby agreed to go with me to the maze on Saturday, so I was beyond excited. I could just imagine the rows of thick plush corn creating an intricate maze that would be tons of fun to navigate with my man.

So you can imagine my dismay when we discovered that Florida corn is actually short and looks more like weeds.

Hubby and I inside the weed maze (no Children of the Corn here!)

As you can see, there is nothing in this maze that even resembles corn.

Once upon a time, I think this was a sunflower.

No chance of getting lost in this maze!

I think the expression on hubby's face explains it all!

The website advertised a huge pumpkin patch...not so much, eh?

Determined to have a good time, I made hubby pose for silly pictures.

At least this little guy didn't have to do worry about keeping any critters away from the "corn".

We were famished after making our way through the weeds, so hubby took me to another little town for lunch. The San Ann Market was just the right spot.

One of the best parts of the day was this Italian sandwich...sooooo yummy!

Even though the maze was a disappointment, I got to spend time with hubby, so it was actually a perfect day. And I'm sure we'll still be laughing about the crappy maze for many years to come!

I Aint Afraid of No Ghosts

2009-10-23T13:47:00.007-04:00

It' s times like these that I wish I were computer savvy enough to figure out how to make the Ghostbusters theme song play as you read this post. But since I'm not, please just try to hum it along to yourself, k? So yesterday I {hopefully} left you in suspense as I was recapping my weekend getaway to St. Augustine. Being that St. Augustine is the oldest city in America, it only makes sense that it should be one of the most haunted too, right? So hubby and I decided to brave the spirit world and eagerly headed out on the Ghosts and Graveyards tour.

Hubby and I aboard the trolley, ready to hear some true ghost stories {and maybe even see a few ghosts!}

The tour took us through St. Augustine, with the guide pointing out some of the most haunted sites. She told us the stories associated with the hauntings. Most of the ghost stories were associated with events of despair. For example, when yellow fever hit St. Aug, so many people were killed they had to bury people 12 deep in the graveyards. As a result, ghosts are often spotted at the graveyards.

Throughout the tour, we were encouraged to take pictures because spirits often show up on film even when you can't see them with the naked eye. We were able to capture quite a few orbs, which I've pointed out in this picture taken downtown. Orbs are a way ghosts often show up in pictures.

After touring the city, the trolley dropped us off at the Old Jail. This jail has actually been featured on a number of paranormal investigation shows because it's so haunted! It's even on the national registry of haunted places. Now that you know what an orb is, can you spot the ones in this picture?

Once inside the jail, we were given the history by this incredible actor. He told us the stories of the 8 men that were hung at the jail.

The conditions are the jail were deplorable. The inmates slept on these metal beds with no mattress, no blankets, and no pillows. Often 3 or 4 men had to sleep in one metal bed! There was no running water or sewage at the jail. Once inmates were checked in, they were no longer allowed to shower (can you imagine?!). Since there were no bathrooms, the inmates shared one bucket per cell. It's no wonder the place is haunted, right?

The gallows were built right behind the jail. Each inmate sentence to be hung had to build his own gallows and then stare at them through his window. See the orbs?

And now for the holy grail...a picture of an actual ghost! Hubby and I could not believe our luck! If you look carefully, you can see the ghost of a man staring out of a cell. The part of the jail he is in was maximum security, which is one of the sites of the most paranormal activity. When we zoomed in on him, we were shocked by his creepy smile. It makes me wonder how many ghosts accompanied us on our tour when we were inside the jail.

The ghosts at the jail tried to keep hubby, but I was able to free him just in the nick of time!

Gelato, Truffles, and Ghosts

2009-10-22T11:17:00.006-04:00

In order to celebrate our 2 year anniversary, hubby and I took a little weekend trip to St. Augustine. You probably remember learning about St. Augustine in American History class...it was the first European settlement in the United States, making it the oldest city in the country. I fell in love with St. Augustine the minute we drove into the historic district. The cobblestone streets were lined with quaint little shops, pubs, and gorgeous old houses. We had the perfect lovely weekend, so I just have to share some of our photos with you.

One of the first shops we wandered into was a fantastic little chocolate shop. Hubby and I both have a slight addiction to truffles, so we started our day with milk chocolate and white chocolate champagne truffles. We are still kicking ourselves for not bringing a box home.

We spotted this sweet little man playing in one of the streets. He was quite the character!

After a lunch of authentic Italian pizza, we immediately hit up a gelato shop.

Happiness in a cup.

Gelato = Joy

Next, we hit up the Castillo de San Marcos, which was a fortress built by the Spanish to defend themselves from the British. Quite a few flags have flown over the Castillo. It just blows my mind to think that long ago soldiers actually lived and fought here. Can you tell I'm a bit of a history nerd?

View of the Atlantic Ocean from the top of the Castillo.

Beautiful, no?

Crossing into the Castillo

One of the few pictures of us together...don't you sometimes feel like you need a photographer to go on vacations with you and your man just so you can get pictures that include the both you you?

I love this picture that hubby took of one of the cannons. I think we may blow this one up and frame it.

A reenactment of Spanish soldiers firing the cannons. Can you imagine having to wear those outfits in the hot Florida sun?

After exploring the Castillo, we made our way to the Mission of Nombre de Dios.

The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche

An old cemetery at the Mission

Apparently, the Mission was a safe haven for squirrels. They were literally EVERYWHERE. You could not look around without seeing four or five squirrels playing. I think squirrels are quite possibly one of the cutest things ever, so I happily took pictures of these little Christian squirrels for quite some time. It was such a lovely moment to be in such a serene place, surrounded by God's blessings.

The Mission was full of beautiful statues and monuments.

A little further down from the Mission is Ponce de Leon's fountain of youth...and here it is! I don't think you can even see the water in this picture, but it's just a little spring coming from that heap of rocks. In Leon's day, it was quite a site, but time has not been kind to the fountain of youth. As a result, most of the water is now underground in a well. However, we were served cups of water from the fountain, so I fully expect to never look a day over 26.

After a lovely day of exploration, hubby and I decided to go looking for a different type of history...of the, shall we say, ghostly type. Pictures from that adventure to come later =)

2 years since we said "I do"

2009-10-13T22:15:00.003-04:00

Two years ago today, hubby and I said "I do"! Getting married while in doctor school has definitely been a big challenge. We had to forgo our original plans for a big Louisiana wedding due to school. We didn't get to take a honeymoon due to school. I had to spend our wedding night studying for an exam. Yet hubby has put up with all of this! He often jokes that we will be like newlyweds when I am finally done with school because we will actually get to see each other. Knowing that our marriage can survive doctor school assures me that we can make it through anything. I'm looking forward to many more blissful years with my man!

Where are you Fall??

2009-10-05T09:29:00.008-04:00

I must confess, I have been reading many of your post with extreme envy. I am coveting your fall weather. The weather here is still balmy, humid, and gross with temps in the 90's. Even though we are right in the midst of football season, I just can't seem to get into the fall spirit. Surely it's just right around the corner, right?

In the meantime, I am seriously craving...

{A frothy cup of hot chocolate}

{A trip to the pumpkin patch}

{The opening of Florida farmer's markets. How bizarre is it that our farmer's market season is just now starting?}

{image}

{Pumpkin scones}

{image}

{Fresh autumn apples...which I can dip in caramel.}

{image}

{A trip to the corn maze...I especially love going at Halloween because the maze is usually haunted.}

My list could go on and on. Fortunately, I have some fun things coming up, so maybe it will start to feel a bit more like fall...even if it is still 95 degrees outside.

What are you craving this week?

My life in Florida

2009-10-04T18:25:00.006-04:00

I am finally coming to terms with the fact that I am winning the "Worst Blogger of the Year" award this semester. I am finding that doctor school and blogging do not always happily coexist. So again I ask for your forgiveness, and please know that I think of you lovely ladies often!

It is no secret that I am not particularly fond of the state of Florida. I feel that I am just "doing my time" here while in doctor school. About a year ago, I started compiling an "Only in Florida" photo album. I added a couple of great photos to the album this week, so I thought I would share a few with you.

{This is a hairball right outside the door of a very nice restaurant. Yes, someone cleaned out their hair brush and threw the hair on the ground before going inside to have a nice dinner. Only in Florida.}

{Tampa has an alarmingly high number of strip clubs. A stripper lives in my building, and she's always leaving parts of her work outfits in the parking lot . Only in Florida.}

{I've been seeing these signs for 3 years now and they still make me giggle. I actually took this picture at church last Sunday. Only in Florida.}

{While checking my mail box on Friday, this little guy came into the mail room and hung out with me. Actually, this would happen in Louisiana too. Isn't he cute? I think I need a pet raccoon now.}

Hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my life in Florida!
xoxo

whirlwind

2009-09-26T22:10:00.003-04:00

My life is a whirlwind these days, which explains why my poor little blog has been neglected the past couple of weeks. Between school, my clinical training, and all the time I spend on the road driving to clinical training, my days are a blur.

Last weekend, I slipped out of town to attend the Deeper Still conference in Orlando (and yes, I think I may have done rather poorly on an exam as a result...but it was worth it!). If you ever have a chance to attend Deeper Still, I highly encourage (no, I BEG) you to go. It was AMAZING. Two blissful days of Kay Aurthur, Priscilla Shirer, and Beth Moore. I went with a group of 12 girlfriends and each one of us was so blessed by the experience. I am still cherishing those moments when I felt the true presence of God right there with us.

This week has been hectic but filled with some lovely things as well:

- I am realizing that I love audio books on my super long drives.

- I bought our tickets to see Wicked in February.

- I am now hopelessly addicted to True Blood.

- Started a new Bible study with the girls.

- Indulged in a relaxation massage at the spa yesterday, thanks to hubby.

- Lazily roamed the library and was excited to discover the large selection of cookbooks. This may be common knowledge to most of you, but I have been so used to strictly buying books for so many years that I had forgotten how many wonderful books are free to borrow at the library!

- Treated myself to some retail therapy after a long week. I just might have bought another fur. I reasoned with myself that I only have a year and a half left in balmy Florida but I would love this fur coat for many more years.

- And on the shopping note, can I just say how shocked I was to see so many cute things at Charlotte Russe yesterday? I haven't shopped at Charlotte Russe since undergrad because the stuff is so cheaply made, but yesterday I went in just on a whim. After a bit of digging, I found quite a few treasures, including gorgeous bib necklaces, pretty lace tops, sequined tissue tanks, ruffled halters that are screaming to be worn under blazers, and dainty little lace trimmed cardigans. When hunting for pieces in shops like Charlotte Russe or Forever 21, I always carefully examine the garment's construction. A cheaply made piece that will fall apart after one wearing is not a bargain. But finding a well made piece in one of these shops is so rewarding!

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend!
{And please forgive me for being so far behind on your blogs...hoping to catch up tomorrow!}

In need of sleep

2009-09-14T17:33:00.003-04:00

{This is how I'm currently feeling}

I'm only one week into the fall semester and already I'm exhausted. This weekend I barely felt like doing anything. Aside from working on school assignments, my weekend was pretty low key. We watched the LSU game with friends, went to church, and pigged out on pizza. Last night I made lemon ricotta pancakes, which were ah-may-zing. If you've never tried making them, you should. We devoured them so fast there was no time for photographs. I highly recommend serving them with raspberries and whipped cream.

Today I finally tried the Loreal Elnet hairspray that has been eagerly waiting for me in my cabinet. I was very excited since this hairspray has been so hyped up and has only recently become available in the U.S.
I was thrilled with the results and hold. HOWEVER, the scent is dreadful (at least in my opinion). It smells like something I can imagine little old ladies in the 60's using to hold up a helmet of silver-blue hair. And the smell CLUNG to my hair all day, drowning out the Hermes perfume I doused myself in before leaving for school. Maybe sleep deprivation is making my olfactory senses extremely sensitive.

Wishing you all a very happy week!

That. Is. Bananas.

2009-09-11T13:36:00.002-04:00

If you have ever watched the Rachel Zoe Project, then you MUST watch this!! The clip is an impression done by comedian Amy Phillips (SNL needs her). As a result of this precious 4 minute clip, I have been laughing all week. I hope it brings a little joy to your Friday as well!

on my way to becoming a zombie

2009-09-07T18:09:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow officially begins year three of doctor school. Tomorrow will also mark my transition to becoming a zombie. My schedule has become even more brutal due to my 5 hour commute to my new training site. I will pretty much start sleep deprivation on Mondays and enter the zombie state until Thursday night, when I can finally collapse. So please forgive me if I'm not around much during the week. I will probably have to do most of my blogging and commenting on the weekends now. But with all of the fun holidays and events coming up I know I will still have lots to share with you!

I have really enjoyed my last few days of freedom.

I went to the library on Friday to check out some audio books for my long twice weekly commute. I had forgotten how much I love the library. It's such a lovely peaceful place.

I was able to squeeze in a little more sewing and I made a red taffeta skirt that I'm dying to wear with black tights and boots.

Hubby and I were able to go on two dates! We went to our favorite sushi place on Friday night and then had a Saturday afternoon date at Mel's Hot Dogs, which I mentioned before here. We also watched lots and lots of college football (Geaux Tigers!).

I made time for another one of my favorite activities: shopping. I think my favorite purchase was a new French press from Williams Sonoma. I'm still hoping someone eventually comes out with a coffee IV that I can just wear at all times.

Today we went to a friend's birthday BBQ. Tomorrow I need to start eating healthy again.

Here's how I spent my last few blissful moments of my last Saturday without homework:

{French press and The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates}

Hope you all have a very happy week!

Gold Rush

2009-09-06T13:10:00.004-04:00

I finished my gold dress on time and was able to wear it to church this morning! We were running late so I wasn't able to snap any pictures at the start of the day. By the time we got home, the Florida humidity and heat had wreaked havoc on my hair and make-up. So please excuse the fact that I look like a hot mess and just look at my new little dress =)

{Sorry for the pageant pose...old habits die hard.}

{Dress made by me; Bebe belt; Guess wedges}

Hope you are having a fabulous holiday weekend!

Cupcakes & Dresses

2009-09-02T13:53:00.003-04:00

I am so blessed to have a few days off before starting the madness that is my 3rd year of doctor school. Next week will mean new classes and a new training site, where I will receive specialized training in neuropsychology. To say I'm nervous about learning psychotherapy with brain injured patients would be an understatement, so I'm trying to utilize these precious few days to unwind and de-stress. Tonight I have a girl's night with some of my lovely friends, so I decided to whip up some girly cupcakes.

{The cake is coconut flavored, with cream cheese frosting. I decided to give them a girly flair with purple sugar and candy pearls. I think they are precious!}

{Naturally, I had to taste one to make sure I wasn't giving my friends something inedible ;) Luckily, they taste delicious! }

Now I'm going to spend the rest of the day working on a dress. I hope to finish it tonight or early tomorrow because I have several other projects I'm hoping to cram into the next few days. Plus I really want to wear it to church on Sunday!

{Dress, in progress}

Hope you are all having a very lovely Wednesday!!

Anyone up for a challenge?

2009-09-01T20:47:00.003-04:00

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know how much I adore Beth Moore. I had the privilege of attending the annual Living Proof simulcast this weekend and what a blessing! The theme was Psalm 37: "The Desires of Your Heart". My spirit was definitely recharged! I recently discovered Beth's blog. It is so full of good stuff that I could spend hours there. Today I noticed that Beth issued a "challenge" for readers who wish to participate in memorizing scriptures. The challenge actually started in January, but I love the idea so much I am jumping on board for the rest of the year. You try to memorize 2 scriptures each month, one starting on the 1st and the other starting on the 15th. The goal is to have 24 scriptures memorized for 2009. Since I am starting so late in the year, I will only have memorized 8, but that's 8 more than I would have known! Do any of you work on memorizing scripture? I used to be so good at knowing all the books of the Bible and memorizing scriptures when I was a child, but it's not something I've worked on in many years. Luckily, Beth included a Scripture Memory Mini-Tutorial on her blog! I'm so excited about starting this and encourage any of you who are interested to check it out.

Emerald City

2009-08-30T17:51:00.003-04:00

I finally finished this emerald blouse on Friday afternoon. It ended up being a lot more time consuming to make than I originally thought because it required quite a bit of handwork. There were a few moments when I thought it might end in disaster, but I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

{top made by me; Banana Republic skirt; Nine West shoes; Michael Kors watch; vintage jewelry}

Looking for beauty

2009-08-29T20:18:00.008-04:00

Well I am finally back! I missed you lovelies and reading about what has been going on in your lives. I must confess I am terribly behind on your blogs and emails, but I promise to get back on track this week! It was so nice to get away for a few days and head home to see my family. Louisiana was even having a "cold" front while I was there! The temps were in the 80's and low 90's, which was just heavenly. I was able to run as late as 9:00 in the morning, which I have not been able to do since March.

I typically share with you pictures of the fabulous foods I enjoyed while in Louisiana, but I thought I would do something a little different this time. I was outside one afternoon watering the plants when several beautiful butterflies came up and started drinking water off one of the rocks. I ran inside and got my camera and started noticing all of the beautiful little things in our backyard. I used to take for granted the beauty and serenity of traditional Southern life. Now that I live in a major city (that is pretty void of Southern influence), I desperately miss the small things, like sitting on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea.

Where do you look for beauty?

Crafty

2009-08-22T10:11:00.004-04:00

I'm loving this little headband that I whipped up yesterday while watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta. I found this beaded edging on clearance at JoAnn's. I simply stitched it to a piece of doubled elastic and voila!

{Please excuse the not so lovely backdrop...I was in my home office because it had the best lighting.}

I just love when little projects turn out just right, don't you?

I'm leaving tomorrow to go home to Louisiana for a few days to see my family. My Internet access will be limited to my iPhone, so I will be away from Blogger until next Friday. I hope you all have an absolutely fabulous week and I can't wait to catch up with you all when I get back!

xoxo

Make It Work

2009-08-20T16:15:00.004-04:00

It's finally here! The new season of Project Runway starts in just a few short hours! Is anyone else excited? Oh how I have missed Tim Gunn and the fabulously bizarre challenges. I've been feeling a bit creative myself lately. Unfortunately, I've been so busy that all of the projects I wanted to do over the summer have been neglected. I have a half finished dress laying on my sewing table. My sewing cabinet is overflowing with gorgeous fabrics and unopened patterns, which totally makes me want to blow off all of my responsibilities and stay home and sew! I'm hoping to squeeze in some sewing this weekend before I leave for Louisiana on Sunday morning.

Here's what I'm hoping to tackle before fall semester starts:

{No, I'm not already planning my Mardi Gras outfit ;) This fabric is for two separate projects I am itching to start on. The dark purple shantung and black lining are for a tailored classic shift dress. The emerald silk is for a lovely sleeveless blouse. I can't wait to see how these turn out!}

{These notions are for a bib necklace. I will probably stick these materials in my suitcase and work on it while I'm at my parents' house next week. It's going to be fierce!}

{A completed project! I was inspired by Megan's DIY tutorial and recreated her design for a floral bib necklace. I love how it turned out and can't wait to wear it with a simple shirt and high waisted bubble skirt.}

And this is totally off topic, but yesterday I had one of those rare days where I was able to wander around in Target without needing to buy anything. I just love those days! So I just have to share with you some of my pretty little finds that made me very happy.

{Pink polka dot planner for scheduling my patients' appointments; deep purple jersey infinity scarf; black and creme square scarf; soft orchid pashmina-style scarf}

I'm noticing lately that I want EVERYTHING purple. Do you ever do this with certain colors? Purple was my FAVORITE color from birth until the age of 18. Then I joined a sorority who's colors were rose and white, so PINK became my new favorite color for everything. Let's just say that Elle Woods and I had a lot in common during undergrad! But now I'm starting to fall back in love with purple. I'm sure as soon as I acquire loads of purple again I'll feel the need to go back to pink. Story of my life.

Has anything gotten your creative juices flowing lately? I'd love to know what you've been working on!

Not quite Laduree

2009-08-18T21:13:00.005-04:00

Well, I decided to give it a go...I made my first attempt at making French macaroons. I now have a profound respect for anyone who can master this art! There are so many factors to consider...is the batter overbeaten? has the batter rested long enough? is the oven temperature just right? *le sigh* No wonder it is so difficult to find them in the U.S.! Quite a few of my shells cracked (supposedly a sign of overbeating the batter). I utilized this recipe from Martha. I'm definitely going to need more practice! Hopefully I will have the technique mastered by the holidays so that I can give pretty little packages of macaroons as gifts.

{French macaroons require almond flour. I'm sure you can find almond flour at specialty baking shops and online, but I just made my own.}

{Shells fresh from the oven. Some cracked and some looked perfect. The non-stick baking mats worked perfectly with the delicate texture of the shells.}

{Spreading Swiss meringue buttercream on the shells.}

{Rows of macaroons in the fridge}

{The finished product}

{Pretty decent for the first try, no?}

The next time I try these, I'm going to color the batter and use a different filling recipe. I was not a fan of the Swiss meringue buttercream at all (the taste was off...maybe because I didn't use real butter). I think next time I will use a traditional buttercream recipes or try one of the fruit cream recipes. Fortunately, hubby liked the buttercream filling and has almost devoured the entire batch.

Hubby's Birthday Celebration

2009-08-16T15:02:00.006-04:00

To celebrate hubby's birthday this year, we thought it would be fun to do some things we don't usually do. So he picked Indian food for dinner (which I have never tried) and Cosmic Bowling. I have not gone bowling since undergrad, and hubby and I have never gone bowling together. For us, bowling is one of those things that we never think to go do, but always ends up being super fun with a group of friends. So we gathered up a group of our besties and had a fabulous night!

For dinner, we went to Cilantro, a fantastic authentic Indian restaurant in Tampa. Since it was my first time trying Indian food, I thought I would be safe and order a dish that sounded like a chicken enchilada (chicken tikki dosa). So you can image my surprise when this huge thing is delivered to the table:

I was still imagining that this thing was similar to an enchilada, so I was horrified! Then the waitress proceeded to bring me MORE dishes!

Well, it turns out the huge thing was a hollow thin crepe, and the little dishes contained the chicken curry, a spicy soup, and coconut chutney. The dish turned out to be AMAZING, and I can't wait to have it again. I also ordered naan stuffed with a spiced Indian cheese...yum!

After we stuffed ourselves with Indian food, it was off to the bowling alley for Cosmic Bowling!

My outfit suddenly looked ridiculous with bowling shoes! Bowling in heels should definitely be allowed!

I caught the guys doing a little dance.

Hubby is the type of person who excels at every sport. He had not bowled in years and yet made a strike on his very first try!

Our friend J. had the most hilarious style of chunking the ball. He would literally heave the ball halfway down the lane...resulting in lots and lots of strikes! It was amazing!

This was the first time hubby and I have worn matching shoes, complete with sassy Velcro tabs.

Overall, the night was a blast and hubby had a wonderful birthday. It was really fun to do something different, especially in the company of great friends. I highly recommend it :)

Weekend Cravings

2009-08-15T11:05:00.006-04:00

This week has been rather hectic. Only one more week of summer classes, and I'm finishing up at my summer training site. I'm finding it hard to stay motivated at this point. My brain is just *blah*. However, I did manage to squeeze in a salon day and a bit of shopping for hubby's birthday...which is TODAY!! We will be celebrating tonight, so I will be sure to take pictures to share. While birthday shopping for hubby, I fell in love with a (faux) fur vest at Zara. My voice of reason whispered, "Um, you live in Florida. What use could you possibly have for a fur vest?" But I quickly had visions of wearing the vest with dresses and boots or over tanks and leggings. It reminded me of a piece the Olsens would wear. There was only one size Small left, which I took as a sign that I was meant to have it. So now I am eagerly awaiting the slightest drop in temperature to break out my beautiful fur vest.

Meanwhile, I am having a serious craving for these little beauties...

{image from http://lopsideddimple.files.wordpress.com/}

There is nowhere (that I know of) in this part of Florida to get them. So I'm considering attempting to make some myself. Have any of you ever tried making French macaroons? From what I've been reading, it seems like a rather delicate process.

I'm also seriously craving this scent, which I stumbled across the other day...

{Tocca Brigitte perfume}

I was initially attracted to the pretty bottle, so I spritzed some on while wandering the isles at Sephora. I didn't pay too much attention to it until I got home and the scent really started to develop. Even Heaven was drawn to the delicious smell on my wrist (although she probably thought it may be some kind of food smell...I think that's all she cares about). This perfume is definitely going on my list of Fall Must Haves.

What are you currently craving?

Are we ever too old for back to school shopping?

2009-08-09T20:49:00.005-04:00

I certainly hope not. I feel like this time of year will always be perfect for stocking up on the essentials needed for the season ahead. Even though my doctorate program is year-round, I still get rather excited when I get to buy new clothes and school supplies during the month of August. I will let you in on a little confession...

I usually start planning my Fall wish list around June or July. I meticulously keep a running list of additions I want to make to my wardrobe, including accessories, and other things I might need to make the transition into the fall semester as enjoyable as possible. I know that this may sound a little crazy, but I've found that it works a lot better (for me) than just aimlessly going to the mall one Saturday in August and hoping to find success. I absolutely love finding the items on my list and checking them off (although for some reason, my list just keeps growing!). It's also fun to think of other items I might crave for the fall semester, such as a beautiful planner, elegant stationary, a luxurious lotion, pretty lingerie, or a gourmet coffee or tea. After placing a rather substantial online order at JCrew today, I feel like most of my back-to-school shopping is officially done. Can I just say that the August JCrew catalog made me want to sell one of my kidneys on the black market so that I could get everything in it? Sigh. Last week I found some lovely items at BCBG, French Connection, Banana Republic, Zara, and Dillards. So now my closet has a fresh stock of pencil skirts, ruffled blouses, crisp collared shirts, high-waisted skirts, flowy dresses, trousers, and tailored sheath dresses. There are just a few items still on my list waiting to be scooped up:

{Blue Dog note cards}

{Stunning coral necklace from Cloverbelle}

{My French has gotten rusty, so since I will be spending 10 hours a week commuting to my new training site, I might as well utilize Learn French in Your Car.}

{And since I will be at this new training site for a year, I might as well move on to Learn Italian In Your Car after I've brushed up on my French.}

{Isn't the new OPI collection gorgeous? It just hit stores today!}

{A tell-tale sign that you are in doctor school? When you have your own espresso maker. These Kate Spade demitasse cups and saucers will be the perfect accompaniment to all those afternoon and late night espressos.}

{I've been lusting after a pair of cute red flats for several months now. Sadly, I cannot order flats without having tried them on first, so these Kate Spades will remain just out of my reach. But I have not lost hope that the perfect red flat is waiting for me out there somewhere!}

What's on your wish list for fall?

totally amused...

2009-08-05T20:12:00.005-04:00

Don't you just love amusement parks? Even if you aren't a fan of the rides, something about the atmosphere is just pure bliss. My favorite amusement park growing up was Six Flags Over Texas. I always went there several times a year to ride the roller coasters, including my favorite: The Texas Giant. Unfortunately, I was in a car accident which permanently screwed up my back and neck, so I can't ride most roller coasters anymore. But I still adore amusement parks and love feeling like I'm a teenager again!

On Friday, we headed over to Orlando for a fun-filled day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

{Jessica and I}

{Islands of Adventure}

{At 8:00 AM the sun was already blinding, and leave it to me to forget my sunglasses.}

{Hubby and I}

{This ride almost made the three of us sick...after getting off we immediately found a shop that sold Dramamine!}

{If the rides aren't enough to make you lose your lunch, you can always pick up some Bacon & Cheese flavored crickets to do the trick.}

{My favorite ride! Definitely worth the wait, especially since there are plenty of Itchy and Scratchy cartoons showing along the way to help pass the time.}

{Me and Jess on the Spiderman ride}

{The fabulous candy shops make Universal an amazing experience even if you never set one foot on a roller coaster.}

What is your favorite amusement park?

Girls just wanna have fu-un...girls just wanna have fun

2009-08-03T09:00:00.003-04:00

Don't you just love having a fabulous night out with your girls? I do. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore date nights with hubby and get-togethers with other couples, but there is just something so amazing about having a supportive group of girlfriends that you can giggle with and share life experiences.

Our girl's night at Bern's was very special because it included my best friend Jessica from Louisiana (who just so happens to also be my Lil Sis in our sorority), my dear friend Whitney from Louisiana, who just moved to Tampa to start doctor school (we became close during our master's program), and my dear friend Derbis, who was the first true friend I made after moving to Tampa. We haven't all been together since my bachelorette party in New Orleans two years ago, so it was really great to catch up and reminisce.

{Getting ready for our night out}

{Jessica, me, Derbis, and Whitney in the foyer at Bern's}

{Getting ready to indulge in the best French onion soup I've tasted anywhere}

After our delicious meal, we toured the kitchen, cheese cave, and wine cellars. The Bern's wine cellar is the largest in the nation and has wines dating back to the 1700s, some of which are priced at over $10,000. We then headed upstairs to the dessert room (yes, there is a separate room for dessert) and ordered coffees and shared a Vintage Chocolate Lush. A night at Bern's is an experience (we were there for four hours), which makes it perfect for catching up with the girls. An added bonus is that the food is to die for...they actually have have their own farm where they raise all the veggies, fish, and meat that is used at the restaurant. Becoming a server at Bern's is a career. The training process lasts an entire year, which includes working in the kitchen and on the farm before they are allowed to wait tables. Pretty impressive, no?

please don't let the weekend end...

2009-08-02T17:12:00.003-04:00

Not that I'm ever happy to see Monday morning looming around the corner, but this weekend will be particularly hard to see come to a close.

My best friend arrived on Thursday from Louisiana and we had the most amazing time. I haven't had time to upload photos yet, but I promise to post them later in the week. After I picked her up from the airport, we had lunch of flatbread pizza and cupcakes at Pane Rustica. If you live in the Tampa Bay area, you should definitely visit this little eatery for a lunch with your girlfriends. Thursday night, we had a girl's night at one the country's top steakhouses, Bern's. Bern's is another "must visit" restaurant if you are ever in the area. Even the Presidents eat here when they are in town.

Friday, we went over to Orlando for a day of fun at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The new Simpson's ride is amazing...it is well worth the long wait in line.

We spent yesterday afternoon lounging at the Sandpearl Resort. We played in the ocean waves and lounged by the pool drinking pina coladas and mojitos. For dinner, we had fresh grouper sandwiches. I am so upset with myself for not taking any pictures there, but I was feeling lazy I guess. We ended the day at Gelato Bella, where I indulged on scoops of pistachio and coconut gelato. The past few days have been just perfect.

But now I'm back to reality...papers to write, psych data to interpret, and presentations to prepare.

Hope each of you had a lovely weekend as well!

It's official...

2009-07-26T21:44:00.004-04:00

I'm a triathlete!!!

The race went great last night! I was pretty happy with how I did, especially considering how little time I had to train. Now that I know I'm capable of doing it, I'm going to properly train for one in October. It looks like I may have a new addiction...

And to make the night even more special, some of our dear friends from Sunday School showed up to surprise me! It meant so much to me to have them there. It was so nice hearing them cheer me on. There were definitely a few moments in the race when I wondered if I was capable of doing this. But I just kept remembering Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I am so thankful that God gave me the strength to achieve this accomplishment. The glory goes to Him.

{Hubby and I having one last motivational chat before heading out for the swim}

{Getting ready for the choppy ocean water}

{And we're off!}

{Hubby and I heading out together for the bike ride...it was so nice to have this little moment with him so he could give me words of encouragement}

{Coming in from the bike ride and seeing my friends cheering for me was an awesome feeling}

{Waving at my cheering section as I head out for the run}

{Hubby and I got some goodies since we both competed}

{Did I mention that hubby won first place AGAIN?!? He is seriously amazing!!}

{As for me, I am thrilled with my cute t-shirt! It feels so good to have earned the right to wear this!}

Freaking out...

2009-07-24T10:23:00.002-04:00

I can't beleive my triathlon is TOMORROW night...where did these last 3 weeks go?? I feel so unprepared. Originally, my goal was to try to finish somewhere in the middle of my age group. Now I just want to finish! At this point I am so over cycling and swimming. Actually I'm over any form of working out/training in general. I just want to lay on the couch reading magazines and eating cupcakes. But I know it will all be worth it when I cross the finish line and am able to add "triathlete" to my list of accomplishments.

I sure do hope the shirts for this event are cute.

When life hands you lemons...

2009-07-21T16:21:00.005-04:00

Today I am seriously wishing I had some delicious lemon treat to totally indulge in. Maybe lemon cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. But no such luck. So I drove through Dunkin Donuts and got a huge coffee and a chocolate frosted donut. Isn't it lovely that I'm eating this junk 4 days before my triathlon? But it was necessary.

{What I want...}

{image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/s4xton/2222141030/}

{What I got...}

{image from http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2007/dec/10/week}

You see, the universe was against me today. Today was supposed to be lovely...finish some patient reports, class, then Bible study. I was especially looking forward to Bible study because a friend's mom is in town and she made these AMAZING chocolate cake balls for us to snack on (we're talking chocolate cake dipped in more chocolate, drizzled with even more chocolate...pure heaven). So I get to work this morning and try to open one of the reports. These reports take about 8 hours to do, and I was almost done. Well, it seems that the ancient computer, with it's ancient edition of Word, screwed up the format of the report to the point that it would not even open. And it could not be recovered. All that work...down the drain. Did I mention it's due tomorrow?

So no Bible study with the girls for me tonight, and no deliciously blissful little chocolate cake balls either. It's going to be a long night. And I'm going to need some serious retail therapy tomorrow after I turn these reports in.