Hoover Dam Style Wordless Wednesday

Tips Tuesday--Cooking Tips

Okay brace yourself for this one-- William's fraternity brother's wife, Leslie, who has become a friend of mine of course, is doing something called a blog hop about tips for life. I love to cook/bake and I wanted to try out the hop thing so here we go.

I am a sweets person. I eat cookie dough raw and I love freshly baked cookies! My best cooking tip came from a sorority sister. Although I am sure any good baker knows the secret: Parchment Paper. I line EVERY single thing I bake with Parchment Paper. While it might cost a bit more, you do not need to use icky aerosol can Pam spray and things do not burn (most of the time)!!!
Side note: if making more than one batch with a single cookie sheet you can use the Parchment Paper and not have to worry about washing cooked cookie off the sheet. Also, on the baking note I am a firm believer in holiday spirit. For instance, the Saints' colors are black and gold. So for the Super Bowl I made football cut out cookies and used left over black sugar from this Halloween to give the cookies Saints' flair. Along the same idea, red icing works for Christmas and Valentines! I always make sure the sugar has not gone bad for some reason, but usually you have close to year on things like that!

Happy Baking!

Priceless

Secret is out...I am a crier. And that is perfectly okay with me! But as William and I continue to watch hours of Winter Olympic coverage and I find myself SCREAMING during the downhill skiing for Team USA, which mind you I had no idea there was different types of skiing, something interesting happened. At a commercial break I was bawling my eyes out. I do not have a child and I can only imagine what it must be like to watch this with a baby. I know it reaffirmed why my Momma will literally do anything for me; because to her I will always be gap toothed, looking and acting just like my father, all the while refusing to let anyone brush my hair.

Bottom line: this is amazing and adorable.

P&G To Their Moms They Will Always Be Kids

Wordless Wednesday (Almost)

Rooting around I found this. I know I blogged a minute ago, but I love this picture and the idea of Wordless Wednesday.

Fully Recovered

So I am (pretty much) fully recovered from the big 2-1. I had a wonderful time and I really wish I had pictures to post. Luckily, or rather, thankfully, William did not take any pictures. I wore a wonderfully beaded high waisted skirt on loan from my fashionable cousin Kimmie. I paired it with a black tee shirt, tights and Jessica Simpson Henri's. I pinned my hair in a low chignon and did some sexy pink lipstick. I may say I was one hot ticket! It poured rain all day and well into the weekend so I tried to be positive. After all it was the big day!

Side note: Henri's are THE heels you must have in your closet. I beat mine to a pulp usually but I swear by them. Plain, flattering and all around amazing. I can and have run in them. Belk has them on sale usually and I was SO excited when I found them on Overstock! They are sooo worth the investment!

My birthday frankly is one of my favorite days of the year. Because, well, duhhh, it's ALL about me! But sadly Sunday came, along with the reminder of homework and the long week ahead. Today I am having a sick day, I woke up this morning with more tummy troubles. But tomorrow and Friday will require all my energy so I pray I lose these troubles :) Tonight is Grace-Kelly's third birthday party so look for some pictures and a posting about it soon!

Happy "Hump" Day to all!

Longest Week of 2010

So today marks the official start of the longest week of 2010.







This Thursday...drum roll please...I turn 21. F.I.N.A.L.L.Y.

Now, before I engage in a long ramble of how much my life has sucked not being the big 2-1, (and mind you with a boyfriend hitting 23 and mostly older friends it has sucked) I thought I would engage in a little pep-talk.
At twenty I did a lot of things I'd never imagine:

• I became a doggie Momma.
• I went to Disney World with the 23 year old boyfriend and acted like total 6 year olds.
• I moved into my very first 1-bedroom apartment.
• I got my very first credit card. Shortly after I "misplaced" said credit card for the very first time.

So while my list of accomplishments my first year of being a twenty-something is quite pathetic, I look forward to this big year. The picture above was taken at Disney's Hollywood Studios and captures the attitude I had as I moved into my twenty-somethings. It's all about how to dance and sing in the rain! Now, all I've got standing between me and the bouncer on Thursday are 3 tests and a paper.

Damn, it is going to be one LLLLOOOONNNNGGGG week.

A Nutshell for 2009

I haven't done a blog update in forever...it seems life got in the way. But part of the new and improved 2010 me includes being better about blogging, in addition to having a cleaner house and better grades. I figure go big or go home in terms of the whole resolutions thing. I was reading my fabulous cousin Kristen's blog and saw this lovely set of questions and thought I'd make a steal. I feel like they give 2009 a good looking nutshell.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

Celebrating that William graduated from the University of Alabama! It was one of the most amazing days. I don't think I have ever been so proud of him! A finance degree wasn't easy for him and finding a job still proves to be a challenge. I know one day the hard work will pay off.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

YES! Last year I made the choice after about 4 years of smoking to quit! I haven't smoked since last New Year's Eve and I am SO proud of myself. This year, I hope to feel better about myself all around by cleaning my house regularly, making better grades and doing what I enjoy.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Well, that fabulous cousin I mentioned earlier, has a fabulous friend Anne Anne welcomed a lovely little man this year. I cannot wait to meet him!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Well, technically my GMa died in 2008, but it was the beginning of December. I missed her every day of 2009.

5. What places did you visit?

• Orlando, FL--DISNEYWORLD!!
• Memphis, TN
  
• Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic
  
• Santa Rosa Beach, FL
  
• Gatlinburg, TN

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Be more on top of everything I do! Feel less stressed out by taking on less! DO MY LAUNDRY! You have no idea how difficult it can be to go to a Laundromat. Do what I can for the dogs of the world that need love!

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory and why?

February 6th, 2009--the day I brought Grace Kelly into my little apartment with Mallory. It was a scary day, and a day filled with excitement!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

It would be a tie between 2 things:

• Being selected to be a 2009 Sigma Rho Chi. For the non-Greeks, I was selected to help guide the incoming freshman going through sorority recruitment. I was able to bond with the girls and make an impact on their first week at Alabama. I dealt with all kinds of drama and was able to really see what great things sorority life can bring! Bid Day, the day the girls find out which house they would call home, was one of the proudest of my life! I know I sound super corny but it was a great feeling knowing that I did my part to bring their bid cards to them!

• Not killing Grace Kelly. When I first brought her home she was very skiddish and had a lot of health problems. I spent A LOT of time worrying about her, and I am so amazed by her everyday! She is such a blessing I am glad to see what the next year with her will bring.

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Late 2009 brought some serious heartburn and some tummy troubles. Icky.

10. What was the best thing you bought?

I first bought it in 2008, but late 2009 required a new iPhone! Obsessed with the 3G and cannot wait to see what Apple does next....I'm already drooling over the iPad.

11. Where did most of your money go?

A lot of my money went to my graduation present to William, a wonderful and magical trip to Walt Disney World for 4 days in the summer. The rest of my fortune, I say that with laughter in my voice, went to my closet and summer school. ohh, and my finance grad significant other made me put some in savings, how boring!

12. What song will always remind you of 2009?

I'm like Pandora radio, I'm so random it hurts. I loved Taylor Swift this year along with the rest of the free world. But I also was shaking my boo-tay quite a few times to "Right Round" and everything by Three 6 Mafia.

13. Compared to this time last year are you:

Happier? Ehh, I'd say I'm a happy girl every year.
Thinner? I don't want to brag but... :)
Richer? HAHAHAHAHAHA, I'm a college student with a traveling and shopping bug.

14. What do you wish you’d done more of?

My school work for Fall 2009, but hey it was a great semester to be a student at Alabama! So I like everyone else that got "distracted" blame the BCS National Championship season :) ROLL TIDE!!!

15. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worry and then shut myself down. I'm a classic get nothing down when I'm worried or nervous. I wish I could channel that energy to something positive.

16. How did you spend Christmas?

The lovely city of Atlanta with my amazing family.

17. How did you spend New Year’s?

Drunk as a skunk with William, Daddy, Susan and their friends at the annual Saint Ives Gala.

18. Did you fall in love in 2009?

With Grace Kelly its a constant thing. I fall in love with her every moment of every day.

19. What was your favorite TV program?

My TiVo is quite busy. I'm religious about: Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Project Runway, Chopped, Two and a Half Men, Greek, Secret Life, Teen Mom and Jersey Shore. A new favorite: American Pickers. We watch a lot of TV in my house!

20. What was the best book you read?

As an English major reading is my thing. I fell in love with a few old favorites and discovered some great new ones.

Here’s my list I suggest you look into this year:

The Great Gatsby (I know you read it a hundred years ago, but look at it again as an adult, its almost a different book)
The "Almost" Series by Julie Ortolon (great for the Caribbean beaches)
Queen Takes the King by Gigi Levangie Grazer (my MUST read)
Jane Eyre (absolute classic)

2010 I hope will be another great year for my reading. I'm half-way into Married Lovers by Jackie Collins and just finished Shakespeare's Twelfth Night again. Spring and Summer are always big reading seasons for me, so stay tuned! And I absolutely cannot wait until Candace Bushnell releases "Carrie Diaries".

21. Best musical discovery?

LOVED Colbie Calliat's sophomore CD, "Breakthrough". You MUST listen to "Droplets". My other little gem is the rediscovery of Reddi's "Perfect". I've taken it to be a motto for my life now! You might recognize it from "Lipstick Jungle".

22. What lessons did you learn?

You don't study; you don't do well in school. You let other people take advantage of you, you get hurt.

23. Most exciting moment?

I watched the Alabama Crimson Tide win the SEC Championship. I watched Mark Ingram bring home Alabama's FIRST Heisman Trophy. And although it was technically 2010, it was based off the 2009 season--I watched the Alabama Crimson Tide bring home the BCS National Championship!!

24. What was your favorite film of this year?

My answer never changes--The American President. Although I loved The Blind Side and The Proposal--it was Sandra's year. And HATED Inglorious Basterds.

25. What did you do on your birthday?

I saw Bride Wars and had dinner with William and our close couple friends, Stephen and Hilary. William and I then enjoyed some nice vodka and a dance night sponsored by the late 90's including the old classic "Vega Bus". It was a silly night but a lot of fun. This year I turn the big 2-1 so I cannot wait to celebrate my birthday!!

Hard to believe I fit 2009 in such a nutshell. I look forward to everything that twenty-ten will bring. I wish nothing but the best for everyone! I feel so blessed to have the chance to share my thoughts and ramblings on my blog. Happy New Year!