This Weekend I...

Did a LOT and now I'm exhausted which makes for a long Monday. 

I headed out for North MS late Thursday afternoon and was about 15 miles from my exit when the clouds gave way and it began pouring down rain.  Add that to the heavy winds and it was a nightmare.  I had to pull off to the shoulder for about 20 minutes since I was terrified and frankly couldn't see a thing.  This little break gave me a chance to catch up on all the Words with Friends games that had been waiting since I started the drive.  I stayed up late Thursday night hanging out with my mom and sister.

Friday, I had some school/work business to take care of and then I headed to my sister in law, Natalie's house to have lunch with her and her two precious boys.  I stopped and picked us up Germantown Commissary. It's a small hole-in-the-wall BBQ place in old town Germantown but it is one of the best BBQ places in Memphis. I finished up Friday running errands all over town.  Friday night, Hannah & I headed to Alfred's on Beale to meet up with Jene and a group of her friends, one of which was celebrating his birthday.  It was a blast, I met a few new faces and saw a few I hadn't seen since my days at Ole Miss. 

Saturday morning, I got up and made s'mores cookies and a casserole to Anna and Nathan.  I'll share the casserole recipe with y'all soon, it's super yummy.  I got to spend a couple of hours with Anna and Lucy Kate and I fell in love.  She is so precious and sweet and tiny, tiny as in a tiny waist size.  She has the longest, skinniest legs I have ever seen on a baby. Precious.  In my opinion, she has Anna's eyes and nose and Nathans mouth.  Her. Hair. Oh my word, I have never seen so much hair on a newborn.  It's so so so thick and beautiful.  She was so sweet and just chilled while me and her mommy got caught up on each other's lives. 





Lulu & LK.




All that sweet hair.

I spent the rest of the weekend with my family.  We went and saw my Nana, who has to be one of the liveliest 83 year olds out there.  Her and Kinsley were jamming out to Justin Beiber's "Baby, Baby, Ohhhh."  I got video and when I figure out how to upload it I will definitely share.  Kinsley's vocabulary has grown a million times over since I was last home in January.  It is so comical hearing the things that child says, I have no clue where she comes up with it.  Right now, she is loving using terms of endearment, such as, "I miss you angel."  Yep, that's what she told me yesterday as I was leaving.  I just heart her so much. 

We told her to strike a pose....



Finally, it was a great weekend for Ole Miss athletics.  The basketball team beat #1 in the SEC West, Alabama, and now our RPI ranking is #8 nationally.  Our baseball team took 2 of 3 at Houston. Great road win.  Also, I'm sure our tennis team dominated whoever they played, it's what they do. Hotty Toddy.

Happy Monday Y'all!

Down in Mississippi...

That's where I'm headed this evening, back to the good ole Magnolia state. I need your prayers though, I will be driving through some pretty rough weather and I'll be alone. Anyways, I have a very exciting weekend planned and hopefully I'll get to share some good stories with you next week.  I'll probably be MIA from the blog this weekend, because when I'm home the only internet I'm checking is facebook on my phone.

Before I sign off for a few days, I wanted to share this awesome piece about Mississippi written by the late Paul Harvey.

"Mississippi is still burning. Times have changed, but the incendiaries won’t quit. Mississippi, statistically, could shame most of our states with its minimal per-capita crime, its cultural maturity and its distinguished alumni. But Mississippi has enough residual gentility of the Old South not to rub our noses in our own comparative inadequacy.

 

The pack-media could not wait to remake the movie MISSISSIPPI BURNING, into a TV version called, MURDER IN MISSISSIPPI. Thus yet another generation of Americans is indoctrinated with indelible snapshots which are half a century out of date. The very idea that anybody from New York, D.C., Chicago or L. A. could launch stones from those shabby glass houses toward anybody else is patently absurd. Lilliputians have a psychological need to make everybody else appear small and Mississippi, too nice to fight back, is such an easy target.

 

The International Ballet Competition regularly rotates among four citadels where there is a sufficiency of sophisticated art appreciation: Vama, Bulgaria; Helsinki, Finland; Moscow, Russia and Jackson, Mississippi.

 

Only Mississippi has a satellite art program in which the State Museum of Art sends exhibits around the state for the enjoyment of smaller communities. No state can point to a richer per capita contribution to arts and letters. William Faulkner, Richard Wright, Walker Percy, Ellen Douglas, Willie Morris, Margaret Walker Alexander, Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams, Thomas Harris (Silence of the Lambs) and John Grisham are Mississippians.

 

As are Leontyne Price, Elvis Presley, Tammy Wynette, B. B. King, Jimmy Rogers, Oprah Winfrey, and Jimmy Buffett.

 

Scenery? The Nachez Trace is the second most traveled parkway in our nation. With magnolia and dogwood, stately pines and moss-draped oaks, Mississippi is in bloom all year ’round. And the state stays busy—manufacturing more upholstered furniture than any state; testing space shuttle engines for NASA; and building rocket motors.

 

Much of our nation’s most monumental medical progress has roots in Mississippi. The first heart transplant in 1964. The first lung transplant in 1963. The most widely used medical textbook in the world, THE TEXTBOOK OF MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY, reprinted in ten languages, was authored by Dr. Arthur Guyton of the University of Mississippi.

 

The “Case Method” of practicing law, the basis of the United States legal system, was developed at the University of Mississippi.

 

Nationally, educators are chewing their fingernails up past the second knuckle anxious about the disgraceful rate of dropouts and illiterate graduates. In Mississippi, the state government and two philanthropic organizations have teamed up to put a computer-based literacy program in every elementary school in the state. Maybe Mississippi is right to downplay its opportunities, advantages and refinement. The ill-mannered rest of us, converging, would surely mess it up.

This is Paul Harvey…Good Day."

Yep, this is my Mississippi. And I'm pretty proud of her.

Home is calling...

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm linking up with Jamie at this kind of love so be sure to go over and check out her super cute blog.

Today, I'm loving that I have a 4-day work week.  I'm also heading home for the long weekend to spend time with my friends and love on Miss Lucy Kate.


I'm loving that I got to spend the entire weekend with my loves.  Can't wait to see them again this weekend. Also, I'm super excited about seeing my Kinsley.  Miss her so much.

I'm loving that Ole Miss baseball is 4-0 and for opening weekend over 24,000 fans packed Swazye Field to watch the Rebels

via

Finally, I'm loving the delicious leftovers I am about to devour for lunch.  Last night we made Enchilada Hasbrown Casserole.  Muy Delicioso! I guess I can give you guys the recipe. 

Enchilada Hasbrown Casserole

1 can Enchilada sauce

1 Tbsp. Chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 c. thawed hashbrowns, the Southern style (cubed)

1 c. cubed ham

1 can diced green chiles

1 can Rotel (drained)

1 can black beans (rinshed & drained)

1 1/4 c. Mexi-blend shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the first 6 ingredients.  Next, stir in hashbrowns one cup at a time until all the potatoes are well coated.  Stir in the ham, chiles, Rotel, black beans, and 1 cup of the shredded cheese. Pour in greased 8x8 baking dish and top with remaining cheese.  Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes.  Remove foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is heated throughout. Garnish with sour cream and sliced jalepenos.

after we had already ate

 

 

This dish makes plenty to share.  You can certainly leave out the ham if your not a fan or want to make it a meatless meal.

Happy Wednesday Y'all!

Cakes & Cocktails

Last week, Megan, Emily, and I participated in Cakes & Cocktails at our favorite cupcake bakery, Dreamcakes.  They seriously have the best cupcakes I have ever eaten.  My favorites from there are strawberry and caramel sea salt mocha.  Agghhh, my mouth is watering.  Anywho, about twice a month Dreamcakes has Cakes & Cocktails.  We have been trying since October to get on the list.  It's a pretty small place so there's only 10-12 seats available and after several months of trying we finally made the cut! It's the same concept as Sip n' Strokes.  You bring a bottle of wine, or 2 they provide the cake and all the supplies and a professional baker teaches proper techniques for icing, piping, and decorating a cake. We had a ball and being able to eat the icing as we worked surely made it that much more fun.  I learned several techniques I had never heard that will help me if I decide to become a more frequent baker, hah.  Megan decorated hers with a house on it since they close on their first place next week!  It was adorable.  Emily and I didn't really have an occasion, so we stuck with girly polka dots and our initial.  Our final product certainly wouldn't make the display case at Dreamcakes but it was a fun experience and a treat out with the girls.  Have I mentioned how delicious the cake was?  Perfect & Moist.   I highly recommend anyone in the Birmingham area getting in a class!  Thanks, Dreamcakes.



Sorta blurry.  With our tasty creations.



Happy Tuesday Y'all!

Oh Weekend, Where Did you Go?

Right on out the window.  The funnest weekends are always the shortest.  Hannah, Jene, and Ashley made the journey to Birmingham for the weekend and I had a blast spending time with my loves.  They got in around 9 on Friday night and after a very short debate on whether to go to Yogurt Mountain or not, we decided we would just stay in, drink strawberry Abita, and paint our nails.  I invested in 3 bottles of OPI's new spring collection, which is devoted to Texas.  I bought San Tantonio, Big Hair Big Nails, and Too Hot Pink to Hold Em.  Love them ALL!

Saturday morning, we had Paula Deen's French Toast Casserole and cantaloupe for breakfast.  The casserole was so easy because you prepare it the day before and all you have to do in the morning is throw it in the oven.  I definitely recommend it for weekend guests. We spent all of Saturday shopping.  I took the girls to downtown Homewood and we went in just about every shop on both sides of the street.  Jene scored an awesome necklace and pair of earrings.  Ashley got a beautiful cross for her new house she just purchased.  Hannah got a pair of earrings (is this seriously it, Hannah?) I picked up a cute handbag for myself and a little happy to send out to my sister in law in California that is expecting her first baby in May.  We then went to our favorite lunch spot, Diplomat Deli for sandwiches.  It's a delicatessan in the middle of a wine/high gravity beer store.  We ate lunch on the patio and the girls bought a case of strawberry Abita to take back with them since it hasn't made it to Memphis yet.  Next we headed to the Summit for more shopping.  After a few hours there, we headed to Yogurt Mountain for a little pick me up.  That night, we headed to our favorite margarita spot, Cocina Superior for dinner and drinks.  Ben offered to be our chauffer so we would be safe.  We ended up staying at Cocina for at least 3 hours engrossed in our 'ritas and conversation.  We took the fun back to our apartment where we all eventually surrendered to our exhaustion.  It was so sad to tell them bye yesterday but I was so happy that they got to come spend a weekend with us.  I am heading to Memphis this weekend so I'll get to see them again so it made saying goodbye a little bit easier.  There's nothing like spending a weekend with your loves.  


I took pictures so hopefully I'll get them uploaded soon.


Happy Monday Y'all

My Ole Miss

Today, Kelly's Korner Tour is Alma Maters. And since I have such a strong love for Ole Miss I just had to participate.  You can link up here.

Fun facts
-Founded in 1848, it was the first public university in Mississippi.

-The Lyceum, the university's oldest building served as a hospital during the Civil War.

-There is a cemetary located behind the Tad Smith Coliseum that is the final resting place for over 100 confederate and union soldiers. 

-Ole Miss is the largest university in the state.

-Ole Miss houses the only legal marijuana farm in the United States. It is operated by the government and is used for research.

-UMMC (U. of MS Medical Center) performed the first lung transplant in the world in 1963 and then performed the world's first heart transplant in 1964.

-The first presidential debate to be held in the state of Mississippi occured at Ole Miss.  The university hosted the first presidential debate for the 2008 election.

-The speed limit on campus is 18 mph in honor of Archie Manning (he wore #18).

-Home of the world famous "the Grove, " a 10-acre plot of land in the  middle of campus full of shady oaks.

-Notable alumni include:

• Archie & Eli Manning
• John Grisham
• Michael Oher (The Blind Side) & Baltimore Ravens LT
• William Faulkner
• Shepard Smith
• Deuce McAllister
• Patrick Willis, San Fransisco 49er's.  Won the 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year
• Dixie Carter
• Dexter McCluster, Kansas City Chiefs WR
• Josh Kelley
• 3 Miss America's: Susan Akin-Lynch (1986), Mary Ann Mobley Collins (1959), & Lynda Mead Shea (1960)

-Hotty Toddy chant
Are you ready?
Hell Yea! Damn Right!
Hotty Toddy, gosh almighty, who the hell are we?
Hey!
Flim flam bim bam Ole Miss by damn!
Before kick-off at every home game, a celebrity leads the stadium in the chant by yelling "Are you ready?"

the Lyceum

the Grove on gameday

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

Oxford-University Stadium
Swayze Field

Frank Everett once said, “There is a valid distinction between The University and Ole Miss even though the separate threads are closely interwoven. The University is buildings, trees and people. Ole Miss is mood, emotion and personality. One is physical, and the other is spiritual. One is tangible and the other intangible. The University is respected, but Ole Miss is loved. The University gives a diploma and regretfully terminates tenure, but one never graduates from Ole Miss.”

I couldn't agree more, Mr. Everett.

Hotty Toddy, Y'all!

Lucy Kate & a Redo

If you have read any of my posts in the last few weeks, you would know that my best friend was expecting. I say was because Miss Lucy Kate made her way into our world late yesterday afternoon.  She weighed a perfect 6 lbs 5 oz and is 21" long. And she's BEAUTIFUL.  Mom and baby are doing great. How great is our God.

Lucy Kate

So sweet.

He's already wrapped

I am counting down the days until next week when I get to head home to MS to meet her.  I took a day off from work so I could spend some QT with Anna & Lucy Kate. I am overjoyed for Anna & Nathan and the most precious gift God has given to them.

Something else was born this past weekend, well reborn really.  My bedroom lamps. Say what? 

Here is what the lamps looked like before

Not terrible, but they just didn't fit us anymore.  I was never exactly in love with them but I loved the shape of both the base & shade so I bought them.  Also, their pricetag made them much prettier.  Well on Saturday, I decided I was going to invest in a can of spray paint and some fabric.  I headed to Lowe's and after staring at the spray paint for 10 minutes I finally decided on a color.  I moved along to Hancock and went straight to the remnant section.  There, I found some awesome fabric that resembled burlap but it was actual fabric. SCORE.  I picked up 2 yards, I am an amateur. I had no clue how much fabric I was going to need.  I took my mother's advice and used several light coats of spray paint to get the lamps painted.  I thought she was crazy and that it was going to take forever to dry but I can definitely see how spraying a thick coat of spray paint would have ended in me having to purchase 2 completely new lamps.  Covering the lampshades was much easier than I had anticipated.  I simply cut the fabric giving me 1" of excess on both the top and bottom of the shade.  I did the same when cutting for the length of the circumfrence.  Using spray adhesive, I "sewed" a hem to give it a clean edge.  Lastly, I sprayed and then rolled, pulling the fabric taut as I went.  I must say I had help from the Mr. when spraying & pulling and I think having his help made the shades turn out even better!

Here is what the lamps look like now!

What a vast improvement, don't you think? 

I am now on a hunt for a floor lamp to snazzy up for our living room.  You see a certain 4-legged, gray-haired little girl knocked our floor lamp over during one of her running fits through the apartment causing it to now be caddy whompus.  Who knew finding an ugly floor lamp at Goodwill or Salvation Army would be so difficult.  I'll find it...one day.

Happy Thursday!



WILW

It's already Wednesday and you know what that means.  This week I'm linking up with Jamie so y'all be sure to go check out her great little blog.

Today, I'm loving that they induced my best friend this morning.  That's right, little Lucy Kate will hopefully make her grand entrance into this crazy world sometime today or tomorrow. I can't wait to meet her.  Please pray for a smooth and healthy delivery.

I'm loving that Hillary sent me a blog award.  You can read all about that in the post below this one :)  Thanks, Hillary!

 I'm loving that 3 of my bestest friends from home are coming to visit me this weekend.  They haven't been able to come visit since we moved to Birmingham so that makes it double exciting.  I've got a fun weekend planned for us.  Can't wait to see my girls.

I'm loving the warmer temperatures that have been sent our way.

This is the forecast for the rest of the week here.  Do you see that?  Upper 60's & low 70's. Bliss. I have thoroughly enjoyed not having to wear leggings under my dress pants and going without a coat this week. Hallelujah!

I'm loving this pillow we picked up for our bed this weekend. 

I promise we don't buy stuff for our tiny apartment all the time.  We have just had several gift cards & Groupons that we needed to use.  I have showed Ben this pillow several times and he was definitely hesitant, but I finally coaxed him into buying it and well look how great it looks. Love it.

 I'm loving that our good friends Patrick & Megan are under contract to purchase their first home. They have been searching for a few months now and have finally found the house that would make their perfect first home.  They have their home inspection today & I pray everything goes well so they can start packing!  

Happy Wednesday Y'all!

An Award.

Hooray!! One of my favorite bloggers sent me a blog award. Thanks Hillary, I feel so honored. This is such a fun post and y'all can learn some random and fun things about yours truly. 



1.  I was a contestant on Wheel of Fortune.  WOF did a contestant search in Tunica at one of the casinos during the fall of my senior year at Ole Miss.  Ben & I decided to drive to the Delta and give it a shot.   Apparently, the entire mid-south had the same idea.  We stood in line and got our application filled out and got to attend one of the mock shows where they let possible contestants play.  Well we didn't called on stage so we thought that was the end.  A couple of weeks later, I received and e-mail saying I had been chosing for a 2nd audition in Memphis later that week.  The 2nd audition consisted of a quiz and several mock shows.  I won the puzzle on my show & apparently did well on the quiz because a couple of weeks later I got a letter saying I had been chosen to be a contestant.  I got to travel to LA that summer for the filming which happened to be the week of Ben's birthday so his parents decided to make a little vacation out of it.  I didn't do so hot on the WOF, I only got the first toss-up, Florida Orange Juice, but it was such a fun experience that I will never forget.  Maybe one day Ben will get the video put online so I can share.

Santa Monica Pier

Grauman's Theatre

Rodeo Drive



2.  I am deaf in my right ear.  I had bacterial meningitis when I was a baby that caused nerve damage that left me deaf in my right ear.  However, I am very fortunate that this was the only permanent effect of the illness.  And yes, being hearing impaired led me to the field of Audiology, so it's the blind leading the blind, or in my case the deaf leading the deaf. Hah. No really, funny how God puts you through something so that you can use your experience to help others.

3.  I collect wine bottles.  I have no idea how many bottles I have currently but it is probably between 200-300.  Well, I don't really save the whole bottle.  We use a wet tile saw to cut the bottom 3-4" off and will eventually use the bottle bottoms for a huge project at that I have envisioned.  This project will not happen until we have at least 1,000+ bottles and we are finally settled. Basically, probably not in this decade.  Hopefully, y'all will all still be reading this little blog so y'all can see the my vision.

4.  I never played any sports growing up.  I tried, I really did but getting dirty and all that sweating just wasn't my thing.  And, I have never been a fan of being in the spotlight and well playing sports you're in the spotlight.  Plus, I have terrible hand/eye coordination so I probably would have been the water girl on any team that would have allowed me to be a part of it.  And still, I am a HUGE sports fan.

5.  I had my first wreck when I was a little over 2 years old.  Apparently, back then children did not have to be restrained while riding in a car.  Or at least I didn't have to be when my dad was picking me up from my Nana's house who lived around the corner from us.  One afternoon, as my dad was backing out of my Nana's driveway in his awesome Clark Griswald station wagon, that also happened to be a company vehicle, I jumped from the passenger seat to his lap and grabbed the steering wheel.  We didn't get far because I had steered us straight into a tree.  I bet he had a blast explaining that one to the boss.

6.  I LOVE dogs. I wish I could say I just love animals but that would be a lie. I hate cats, they are creepy and smelly and shed and have to use a liter box.  I wish I could say I loved all dogs, but that would be a be a tiny lie.  I do love dogs and I would help any dog that needed it if I was able, but in all honesty I only really love large dogs. I hope I do not ruffle any feathers of those of you that love your little canines, honest.  My parents have a toy/teacup Yorkie and let's be real.  That's not a dog!  That's a little rat.  That is something Layla should eat for a snack when she visits.  I don't like dogs that require more grooming than I do a month.  I love dogs that fetch, can catch a live bird in its mouth, likes to swim in the lake, could bark/growl like it could shred you to pieces if it felt like you were endangering their human companion.  I love manly dogs.  And although large dogs do indeed grow to be large dogs, they never stop cuddling as if they were still tiny little pups. 

7.  I wasn't a fan of Mexican food until after Ben & I were married.  I mean I would eat it if that's what everyone wanted but I was always of the opinion that it was just ok.  Taco Bell doesn't count because I have been thinking Outside the Bun since I was like 6.  But yeah, I just thought it was ok, nothing special.  Well then I turned 21 and discovered margaritas and I started coming around a little more.  Next, came Benjamin.  I had never witnessed someone eat so much Mexican food. I really thought that boy was going to turn into a P-5 (El Charro, Oxford).  Soon, I started coming around and now Mexican is probably one of my favorite "ethnic" cuisines.  Soft chicken tacos & mushroom quesadillas are my favorite.  We probably eat a Mexican inspired dish at least once a week now. OLE!

I'm going to pass this fun little award to the following bloggers:



Mrs. Butler @ Happily Ever After

Marley @ The Evans

Sarah @ First Comes Love

Blair @ A Twenty-Somethings Ramblings



Lasagna Roll Ups

Hope everyone has recovered from all the lovey-dovey yesterday and survived the sugar induced comas.  I did. Barely.  We spent Valentine's night over at Patrick & Megan's, doing what we do every Monday night.  Eating a delicious meal and watching the Bachelor.  Thank goodness he finally got rid of whackjob Michelle.  Anywho, today I wanted to share one of our favorite recipes.  We made this for dinner on Sunday.  It's another meat-free meal thats easy on the wallet. You probably already have most of these ingredients in your pantry. It's also a fun one to serve for a dinner party since they are already portioned out.

Lasagna Roll Ups
8-10 lasagna noodles, cooked, (you only need 8 but I advise cooking a couple extra in case one splits during the cooking process)
1 container Ricotta cheese (sorry, don't know the actual size, but the regular size, hah)
1 10 oz pkg. frozen spinach, thawed & thoroughly drained 
2 gloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. red pepper flakes
1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning (more or less depending on your taste buds, our house prefers MORE)
Salt & pepper to taste
1 c. shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 jar of your favorite tomato sauce 


Preheat oven to 350.  In a 9x13 baking dish, pour about 1/3 of your jar of sauce to coat the bottom of the dish.  In a mixing bowl, combine the following ingredients:  ricotta cheese, spinach, garlic, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, & 1/2 c. Mozzarella cheese. Set aside. Lay out about 3 lasagna noodles at a time on a clean surface.  Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the cheese/spinach mixture on each noodle.  Leave about an half an inch uncovered on each end of the noodle (helps with rolling).  Next, tightly roll up the noodle, packing the sides as you go for any filling coming loose.  Place seam side down in baking dish.  Continue this process until all noodles are filled.  Distribute the remaining tomato sauce evenly over the rolls.  Top each roll with Mozzarella cheese.  Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.  Remove foil and continue baking for additional 5-7 minutes.  

MAMA MIAAAA!

ENJOY!!