"Bee Creative" Be Be Creative

I went to another class at Bee Creative here in town. We had a ladies event with church for Christmas, and I loved it once again. It was really a great event with some great ladies and some of their kiddos. The lady, Becky, who teaches it is great. I love her teaching style with her classes. She doesn't leave you hanging, but she allows  makes you be creative on your own. She really wants you to embrace your creative and artistic(even if limited artistic) side. If you have questions she will help you, but not do it for you. Last time I went she didn't do step by step directions, this time she taught us a step at a time. I liked it this way, and even though it was a harder painting I stressed a lot less. Here are pictures of the step by step process. I was pretty please with how it turned out, and can't wait to do another. 

Friday's Letters

Dear Holiday Food, 

You are so good, like are you laced with some kind of drug good. I had a dilemma last night with you. I wanted a midnight snack after work, and the fridge is crammed pack full of you from cherry yum yum to turkey and hash-brown casserole. I didn't want you, but I felt guilt ridden to eat you because two months from now I want you again. Think I'm crazy if you're reading this, you probably have had the same midnight dilemma  yourself, don't judge!

Dear New Year's Resolution,

I would like to say that I will follow through with you, but let's face it, "ain't nobody got time for that". I along with 97% of America would like to get healthy and workout and stay in shape. I would love to workout and eat right, but who really wants to eat right. Who, who isn't insane, would go for freshly chopped carrots and a glass of water over a bag of chips, pb m&ms, and a sweet tea. Oh some would you say, they're lying, trust me :)

(speaking of PB M&Ms) Dear PB M&Ms,

You are so good and I love you.

Dear Parents,
Thank you so much for everything for Christmas. I feel like a spoiled 5 year old after "santa came" to see me. You shouldn't have, and even though I'm the youngest child at 22 in the family, you two still go all out to make Christmas special for me and the rest of the family.

Dear nose,

You are so raw from having to blow you 876 times per day. It's kinda annoying and I am constantly picking at you because I think I have boogers on the edge of you. (No I don't pick my nose!)

Disclaimer-Friday's letters were not my idea. I saw it on another blog, but I didn't want to link the blog because i don't even know the person. I am one of those blog stalkers, which I know in the blogging world, that is allowed. I still feel like a hard core facebook stalker when I'm reading weeks worth of blogs from people I don't even know. Is this weird or normal, please don't tell me if I should get help. :) So I just wanted to put this out there so I'm not marked for being a plagiarizer.

Drew and Ellie

I've been wanting to go to a Drew and Ellie concert for a while now. Ashley introduced them to me and I bought there CD this summer and fell in love with their music. When I saw that they were having their annual Christmas concert in Knoxville I corralled my friends together for a ladies night. I met Hailey, Ashley, and Eliza and we headed to downtown Knoxville for supper before the concert. Downtown was really beautiful and really busy but we found a nice laid back burrito place called the Blue Burrito Grille. It was really similar to Barbs and Moe's, but they had a sit down menu feel to add to it.

We met Erin and Jori there too. My burrito was really good, even with its cucumbers. I almost convinced the waiter that I was allergic to them, which created some laughter at our table. After downing almost 8 glasses of water a piece we headed to the show. The concert was at the Bijou Theater and it was gorgeous inside. The stage was decorated with Christmas lights which added a special touch to the atmosphere.

I normally hate concerts. They are usually too long, the opening band plays too long, and by the time the band you came to see comes out they play 18 songs that you don't know and by then you are hungry and tired and ready to go home. Anyway, Mark Scibilia opened for them and he did a great job. It was just him and his guitar and it was just nice and relaxing to listen to him. However, it was hard to enjoy with the 6 girls talking loudly behind us. Anyway, he played just long enough and after a quick instrumental Drew and Ellie came out. They were so great. It was nice to get to set back and listen to talented musicians. 

They are such a cute couple and their lyrics are clean and their voices are so pure, especially Ellie's. They sometimes would play with the band, sometimes it would be just Ellie and the lead guitarist, sometimes it would be just Drew and the piano, and sometimes it would be a totally different mixture. I loved how they mixed it up. I just really enjoyed the concert, the music and the friends. It was such a nice Saturday night away from school and work. Can't wait to see them in concert again.

Thank You For Being a Friend

Oh my friends, where would I be without them. When life gives you friends, make lemonade with them. I have these great friends you see,  and I am so thankful that the Lord has placed these wonderful ladies in my life. They are each so different and and they have each impacted my life in so many ways. Some of these ladies I don't see everyday or even every week, but I am so very thankful for their friendship.

Chelsea and Jillian: I am so thankful that the Lord placed you in my life freshman year. It was my prayer that I would find great friends in college. I never really found close friends in high school, and then God placed you two in my life the very first weekend of college. I will never forget when you called me when I had to go back to work one night of preview, I had never had that happen before. We have had so many adventures, and even though we don't see each other that often I miss crazy nights from freshman and sophomore year. Your room was basically my home freshman year, and thanks for all those cookies. I love you ladies!

Ashley: I'm not even sure how we became such good friends, but I am so thankful that the Lord placed you in my life. You help get me under control. We are pretty opposite, and I am way too squirrely for you sometimes. However, you have been there for me ever since I was late that day for speech...sorry about that. I am so thankful for the impact you have made on my walk with Christ, and I enjoy all of our conversations and rendezvous. I love how our personalities balance each others out ( i hope this doesn't sound like i'm talking about us dating cause that would be AWKWARD and super weird), but basically God knew what he was doing when he planned for us to be friends.

Eliza: I am so thankful that we have class together all day. I loved getting to know you more over our sophomore year when we were on ministry teams together. You have impacted my faith, and I am so thankful for all of our good conversations. You are such a good listener, and really think about the advice you are giving.  I don't know what I would do without you in class, you certainly make it much more enjoyable. You are such an encouragement, and I hope that one day we will have classrooms right next to each other so we can giggle together all the time.

Carly: You are one special lady, and I am so thankful that you have been in my life. Your joy for the Lord and life shines throughout your personality and is contagious. You have encouraged me to seek joy in my life, and you make life fun. I love our summer bible study tradition, and I have learned so much about the Lord through you. You are a friend I can always count on, and I am so thankful for meeting you through the awkward experience of being on stage.

Erin: Where do I begin. You have been my friend from day one. Like literally day one. You are everywhere, and believe it or not I haven't gotten tired of you :). I'm so glad you didn't believe me when I told you ABC wall, because where would I have been if you had listened to me. You're there when I wanna be goofy, and sometimes it gets ridiculous when I'm goofy with you, like way too ridiculous. You're there when I need to vent and cry and make no sense at all. You're there to talk about boys, aka our clones. You are my best friend, and I am so very thankful that the Lord placed you in my life so family vacations wouldn't be boring and so much more than that.

He's Teaching Me

I wanna be living for His Glory. I remember one year at camp the speaker, Kristy, talked about being the type of girl the devil hated to see wake up in the morning. I wanna be one of those girls who you look at and see this mountain strength of faith. A girl who has God's glory radiating from every ounce of her being. When I wake up in the morning, I guarantee the devil isn't scared, I guarantee he isn't even really worried about me. This semester has been different for me. After living in JC full time last year, and mostly full time my first two years of school and now living at home full time, it's been different. I don't have my roommates and friends the next room away or even 5 minutes away, but  I'm not saying that living at home has been horrible. I have been blessed with amazing and Godly parents, but it is just different. I've not been involved in the Well, I've not had that community that God blessed me with like he did the first three years of school. I've not been meeting one on one with my amazing mentor either, it's been different. School is more stressful, and all I feel like I do is work and go to school, enter adulthood. I've certainly loved being able to serve my Junior Church Kiddos, and seeing my home church family. It's just been different. I have, however, gotten to join a ladies bible study at church where I've been aware of the many things the Lord is teaching me. One of the first weeks we talked about focusing on the cross daily. How often do I go about the motions of my day without thinking about the cross. Then, the study began talking about grace, not the normal Amazing grace that the Lord shows us, not that we don't need to remind of His Grace, but the grace (or lack there of) I show to other people. How often do I go about my day completely forgetting about the cross where Jesus laid down his life for me, and not only that, but forgetting His Grace and not displaying His Grace to others. After having the Lord reveal this to me I felt like a failure at life. I was constantly realizing how this sin was evident in my life.  I constantly had to remind myself that being aware of a sin in your life is the first step in defeating that sin. We just finished up the last week of our study, and I loved how the author wrapped it up. Instead of separating the week into days, she separated it into topics.  Two of the topics stood out the most to me: Beholding His Glory and Silence and Solitude. The first topic struck me the most, "You will experience the glory of God, to the degree you gaze at the glory of God." Not that profound, it makes sense, the more you put in the more you will get out of it. Once again, where is my focus, "what is important enough for you to spend your time and energy on, you will become." If I pour my thoughts and energy on Christ, then it will all come together. The last one of the week was silence and solitude. "Your purpose is not to clear your mind and find yourself. Your one and only purpose is to worship holy God." When he wants us to enter his presence, it isn't to focus on ourselves and our faults and promises, but the glory of him. I want to take the time to shut down to the chaos around me, relax and reflect on the goodness of my heavenly father. He's teaching me something, and it's my prayer that I become totally open to all that He is teaching me.

I Pinned it, I Did It!

I didn't have to work until 7 tonight, so I made supper for my parents today. I looked through my pinterest recipes because I wanted to try something new since I had some free time today. I decided to go with this Rotel Chicken crockpot recipe. It looked simple, and I love anything of this cuisine. It turned out pretty good, it wasn't the best thing I've ever eaten, but I would make it again. The recipe calls for 5 things, but I added one more to make 6. I  made it exactly like the recipe called, but I added a can of green chilles for a little more flavor.  I also used fresh chicken because we didn't have bagged chicken, which I'm sure would work the same way. If it looks super gross in the crockpot, then you are probably doing it right. I poured mine over Rice Sides Mexican rice and added a  spoonful of salsa and a side of chips. It fed all three of us and could probably feed us again. I still feel like it was missing something though, I may try and add the taco seasoning next time. Here, is the recipe and I promise it taste better than it looks!

Beans, Friends, Oreo Cheesecake, Clean Room, and Grace

Beans

This week I taught my first lesson in the kindergarten class I am observing. I worked super hard on the lesson, and I have a wonderful teacher who looked over it multiple times to help me improve. I sent it to her three separate times, and she gave me suggestions every single time. This lady is amazing. She is such an encouraging teacher, and I have learned so much from her.  Anyway, back to the lesson. I decided to go with a Fall/Halloween theme because I was scheduled to do it the day before Halloween. I found the cutest book called "The Night Before Halloween" on amazon for 3.99 and decided to use that for the beginning of my lesson. I was extra nervous the night before my lesson because it was supposed to snow, and I just knew all that planning would go to waste for a snow day. However, I woke up to green grass and no snow. My lesson was planned for the morning time, so I could get it over with. I started with the story, which went really well. The students mainly stayed engaged throughout the lesson. I had some difficult moments, but overall it went well. We counted beans to 100 by tens, and matched up rhyming fall leaves. Although it  didn't go as well as planned I certainly learned something from it. At one point I asked the students to drop what they were doing and look at me, and some of them literally dropped what they were doing...choose your words wisely..lesson learned. I enjoyed working with my students as the teacher in the room, and I know this is what I am called to do. So excited for what the future holds!

Friends

Wednesday I had some free time so I decided to stay and have dinner with Carly, Jillian, Eliza, and Ashley. It was so nice to spend the evening chatting, laughing, and eating with friends. I wish I had a picture from Cheddar's, but we were too busy eating and laughing. I miss getting to see my JC friends so often.   I also got to go to the Well, and it was so nice to see Amber, Damien, and Hailey from my Class 15' group. I've missed them so much. 

Oreo Cheesecake

Thursday I rode with David to Nashville for an interview for an internship. We spent most of our day together on the rode, but we did enjoy lunch at The Cheesecake Factory with his parents before heading home. I had the best Oreo Cheesecake known to man. It was nice getting to spend the day with him. Even though I know I talked his ear off for the entire day, minus the thirty minutes he talked me into napping.

Clean Room

My room was nasty and dirty and messy. Like you would need one of those suits that people wear when toxic chemicals get loose, and you would probably need insurance to enter my room. It was that dangerous  messy. Anyway it is still clean and tidy three days running, heck yeah!

Grace

We've been talking about grace in my bible study, and showing grace sounds so easy. Yet, I find it so hard to show grace to others throughout my day. I am so thankful and blessed with a God that showers me with Grace that I do not desrve. It is my prayer that I show that grace to others through my words and actions. 

God Gives Grace -> Give God Filled Grace

Pumpkin Carving

There's something about carving pumpkins that I love. It's a little bit of tradition and a lot of digging out the pumpkin guts. For as long as I can remember I've carved a pumpkin almost every year. So, I've bestowed that tradition onto David as well. Neither one of us are artistic to say the least, but it's the memories that make it all great. Yesterday he got off at 2 and I didn't go in till 7 so we decided it would be a great afternoon for carving. (I was definitely more excited about it than he was). His brother joined us this time and we had a blast.

 CJ had never carved a pumpkin before, so it was quite entertaining. He was confused when I called it pumpkin guts, and kept referring to the pumpkin as an animal. It was a beautiful fall day, even though I found it really odd carving a pumpkin barefoot and in shorts.

First Pumpkin Carving!

2nd Year Carving Pumpkins

3rd Year 

I'm a goober

Yesterday wasn't even Sunday...and I totally just realized I did my Sunday Snaps on Monday. What a dipstick...here is a picture of the mountains and a candle that is burning right now to ease the pain of my crazy mind. Have a splendid evening!

This smells just like fall haha and was on closeout at work! 

I love the view of the mountains and the trees. can God get any more beautiful

Sunday Snaps

• I got to sleep in on Friday, Saturday, and Monday!!!!!!
• I got to spend all day with David in Asheville and eat yummy food and cheesecake, so thankful for laughter with him
• I made a 90 and a 95 on two projects that I worked super hard on and I passed one of Gann's quizzes, with a 100 might I add :)
• I went to watch Pitch Perfect with Drew, David, and Erin and it was hilarious!
• I get to wear a cute new teachery outfit tomorrow.
• Through my ladies bible study I have been reminded that of Jesus' blood, and how important it is in the washing away of my sins. I don't have to make constant sacrifices for all of my sins, because His one sacrifice is for all. How often I forget about that, but because of it I can rest peacefully and not sit in my sins and guilt.I have been set free!
• I am reminded that my God is mighty and beautiful as we drove through the mountians today. Even though our seasons change, He never changes, and neither does His love for me. 

Color Me Rad

I did it...I Hannah Michele with one L ran a 5k. Not only did I run the 5K, but it was my idea to do it. What in the world as I thinking. For those of you who know me, know that I hate running...like I hate it with such a passion. However, I saw someone post about running in a 5k called the Color Me Rad, and I thought it would be good motivation to start getting in shape. I messaged some of my friends and asked them to run in it with me and was pumped and ready to run. I ran a total of 5 or 6 times in the two months leading up to the race, and I never ran over a mile and a half. Basically, I was doomed.  I ran cross country in high school, my coach said I had long good running  legs and obviously the compliment work so I joined. I threw up in over half of my meets, and dreaded practice more than anything. I did accomplish my goal though, I never finished last in any of my meets! Anyway, back to the color race. Aimee, Eliza, Ashley and I ended up riding together to Knoxville and I was freaking out the whole time because I didn't wanna embarrass myself because I knew I wouldn't be able to do it. They told me that I indeed could do it, and it was for fun. (since when is running fun). However, I did it. I ran the whole time (ok it was a slow jog, but I didn't walk). Aimee stuck by my side the whole time, and we even rolled around the grass to get more color on us! Wahoo, now that's my kind of 5k! Throughout the race they have color stations, sometimes its a powdery substance and two times it was a wet paint that they sprayed on us. At the end they give you your own color pouch to throw on yourself. The race was so fun and the proceeds went to the children's hospital in Knoxville. It was a blast, and I honestly could have ran longer if I had to. (was I happy to see the finish line, I mean who wouldn't be). Here are some pictures from the day, and here are my pictures that Flo-foto took at the race. Such a great day with some great ladies.

Here we are all white, Erin joined us in K-Town

Here we are after, all full of color!

So thankful Aimee was running beside me!

Love these two!

 

Painting Party

Last Friday one of my camp lady friends had a birthday party at Bee Creative! Shannon wanted time with friends, but not  a normal bring presents and eat cake birthday party. Bee Creative was the perfect place for that! I would definitely recommend this place for a party. You can still bring food to eat, fellowship with friends, and you get to do a painting. If you know me, then you know I can-not paint. I was super stressed out about my painting,  I'm not artistic and it drives me nuts. However, Becky the lady who owns Bee Creatie was amazing at helping me. I took about twenty years to choose colors. I went with teals, browns, purples, and a little bit of gold. You have a lot of freedom in the class.

 She puts the model painting in the front and you just go. I figured she would teach you step by step, but I'm glad you are given free range to show your own personality.

You started out with the colors for your background, and a blank canvas. You could make the lines that are on the painting cross at any point of the canvas that you wanted. After you painted the background it had to dry for about five minutes or so. Then you added your teal line and the middle of the flower. We used red solo cups to make our circle. We also used chalk to draw the circle and the flowers because you can wipe chalk write off of the paint. It works much better than pencil! So excited to use this trick next time I paint.

Then we made the petals which I was really nervous about, but luckily the one thing that I can draw is a flower. I did the polka dots and dots in the middle free handed,and I'm not sure I like them.
 However, I think the painting would look blank without that added touch. I didn't really like how my painting looked color wise half way through, but I think the colors worked nicely together in the end.
Shannon provided some snacks to eat and I was glad I got to fellowship with some amazing Godly ladies. I was pleased with how my painting turned out and I have it hanging in my bathroom. I'm already wanting to plan my own birthday party at Bee Creative, and you should too!!!

Sunday Snaps

• I got placed in a kindergarten classroom for observations!!!!
• I got to see my brother and his girlfriend, and their sweet dog this weekend!
• We started our ladies bible study at church. I'm really excited about it. I really miss that community that I got from the Well.
• I went to a painting party with some ladies from church for a camp friends birthday party, and my painting actually turned out well.
• I got to spend the day somewhat relaxing and hanging out with David on Thursday and it was a much needed day!
• My Mammaw turned 90 yesterday, and she's such an amazing woman. One of the toughest ladies I know!!
• 
  

My wonderful decorating..

Now it's back to homework!!!

Liebster Blog Award

My friend Aimee from  A Tale of Two Feet tagged me for the Liebster Blog Award this week. I had noticed recently in the random blogs that I stalk, about this agoing around. I was interested in all the facts and questions being answered and I hoped that I would get tagged as well. Being that I don't have many blog friends in the blogging world I had to hope that Aimee would get tagged so she could tag me, and she did!!! Wahoo! Here are the rules....


1. Create a blog post including 11 random facts about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 random questions from the blogger who nominated you.
3. Pass the award on to at least 5 blogs and link to them in the post.
4. The blogs you nominate are supposed to have less than 200 followers.
5. Let the people know you nominated them.

11 Random Facts
1. I'm a child at heart, and quite honestly I still consider myself a child. When I go on vacation or stay in motels I like to pretend that the rooms I stay in are my apartment. I don't really move anything around, but I just like to imagine as if it is my own. I know that's really weird and super childish, but hey I like to pretend.

2. I tried out for the basketball team in the fourth grade at my elementary school. I didn't make the team because I was too short and I jumped while I shot my foul shots (but there were shorter girls and everyone at that age jumped when they shot their foul shots). I was actually really bad in my opinion, but I played rec league that year. I finally made the school team in 5th grade and played until my 8th grade year. The summer between my 7th and 8th grade year I went to Lady Vols basketball camp. I got Pat Summit's autograph, and was even given the Best Defensive Player award from my camp team.

3. I get a Birthday Barbie every year for my birthday. I didn't even like Barbies, and never really played with them. I wasn't allowed to play with my Birthday Barbies even if I had wanted to.

4. I am a hardcore pack rat. I keep everything. I have notes from teachers in elementary school, letters from camp, doodles during class from high school and college, and even napkins from airplane rides. I have scrapbooks from elementary school all the way up to my Junior year. I still haven't finished my senior yearbook from high school, I should probably get on that.

5. I love listening to acapella music. I went to a concert at school this spring and loved it. I think it takes so much talent to sing without music, and it's so amazing to me how they create the music with their voices. I even have a Spotify playlist completely made up of acapella music.

6. David and I officially met in high school through a mutual friend. However, we technically have known each other since we were 5. David's uncle was my brothers' Boy Scout leader. I vaguely remember seeing him at Boy Scout camp when we went to pick up my brothers on the very last day. However, this summer I found a home video of the day we picked up my brothers from camp and in the video David walked right past me. I don't know if it was love at first sight or not, but we didn't say anything to each other. Small world!
7. I like to think I'm an organized person, but I'm not at all. I am one that will spend four hours cleaning my room and create all these organizational techniques to help keep a clean room and it be dirty the next day. I don't understand, but it's just the way I am.

8. When I was younger I always said I hated cheese, but would eat cheese on pizza. It drove my brothers crazy. I've grown to like cheese, but I'm picky about it. I can eat cheese on my hamburger, but not on a cold sandwich. I do like cheese if it is melted or hot and
on ham or something like that. I love Parmesan cheese, but not ricotta or cottage cheese. I like cream cheese mixed in sugar for fruit desserts but not plain cream cheese on a bagel.  I can also eat bowls full of white cheese from Mexican restaurants, but I don't like string cheese.

9. I don't really like jewelry. I can't keep up with it at all. I got a true love waits ring and lost it this summer. I had a spoon ring, but I have no idea where that is. The only thing I've been able to keep up with is a necklace from Jason and Traci for graduation.

10. I love pictures! I currently have over 100 pictures hanging in my room of friends and family. My mom takes lots of pictures and we have tons of totes taking up tons of cabinet space full of pictures. When I was younger I could spend hours looking at pictures, and I could still do it today.

11. My room is painted bright orange, and everyone's first impression of my room is always "how do you sleep, isn't it too bright?"

Here are my answers to Aimee's questions:
1) If you could live in any other time period/decade what would it be and why?
I would live in the 70s if I could live in any other decade. I love the music from the 70s, and the style of clothes they wore were so funky and neat. My mom went to high school in the 70s and she has the cutest romper that if i could fit into I would definitely wear.

2) What was your favorite book or series of books growing up?
My favorite book was Mr. Fixit. My dad teaches carpentry and this book is about a carpenter, and he read it to me all the time.

3) What was something silly you were scared of as a child?
When I was younger we had a hot air balloon at a end of bible school party. I don't remember if we got to go on rides or just get in it and go up in the air. However, I was too scared to even get into the hot air balloon. I was such a baby, and now I really regret it because how often do you get a chance to ride in a hot air balloon.

4) If there was going to be a movie made about your life, which actress would you want to play you?
I've always been told I look like Hilary Swank, but Amanda Bynes hands down!

5) How would you spend a perfect Saturday?
Obviously at a theme park of some sort of course.

6) Coffee, hot tea, or hot chocolate?
Is sweet tea an option?

7) If you could have any talent, what would it be and why?
I would love to be an acapella singing gymnast.

8) Describe the dress you wore to your senior prom.
I got it at Jcpenny's and two other girls had the exact same dress.

9) What is one of the best gifts or surprises you've ever gotten?
The best surprises that I've ever gotten was that I was going to be an aunt, and then an aunt again!

10) Would you rather be hot or cold?
Cold, you can always  put on more clothes and blankets.

11) What is something you always keep stocked in your kitchen?
Well it isn't necessarily my kitchen, but we always have butter at my house.

Here are my questions:
1. What is your favorite candy?
2. What was your favorite thing to play or do as a child?
3. If you could be a guest star on any TV show what would it be?
4. What is your biggest pet peeve?
5.What is your favorite family tradition, and what tradition do you want to start when you have your own family or if you have your own family what was a new tradition you started?
6. If you won $100,000 what would you do with it?
7. Describe your first date.
8. What's your favorite candle scent?
9. What is something that you've done that you are really proud of?
10. What is your favorite flower?
11. What is the most random thing in your purse or backpack?

Here are the blogs I've chosen to nominate:
Tamara at TAM'S MOMblings
Natasha at The Whole Railroad

Sunday Snaps

When I was in youth group my youth pastor introduced us to snap time. It was basically a time of sharing our praises from  the week. I loved the idea of snap time. I've tried to implement it into Junior Church on Sundays, but I think they are a little young. Since I can't use it in my ministry I decided to use it on my blog. I'm going to try and post every Sunday, and share my snaps from the week. So  here it goes for week number 1.

• I ran tonight and almost knocked a minute of my mile, however I'm not revealing the time.
• I left my glasses on my car after running, and drove down the road with them on my side mirror. (that isn't the snap) They got ran over and the lenses broke. (that isn't the snap either). The frames are still in one piece and only slightly bent. (that's the snap)
• I got a new student in Junior Church
• I met with Doak's principal and I am so excited about being placed somewhere in Greene County! So excited to make a next step toward my teaching career.Thanks God for reminding me you still have things in step with your plan. 
• I got to go see all my Well friends and Zumba with the girls on Wednesday.
• I got to visit with the Brewer family and do homework at the same time.
• I got to see my brother, sis-in-law and sweet niece and nephew.
• Although I am stressed with school the Lord cleansed me with some moments of refreshment. 

Sweet Babies

Last weekend my parents and I met Jason, Traci, C, and R in Virginia to spend the Labor Day Weekend with them. We only get to see them about four or five times a year so I was excited to spend the weekend with them. We stayed at a beautiful resort in Massanutten, but there isn't really much in this small little town. However, in the fall time it is so gorgeous. We didn't get there until Friday afternoon, and I mostly did homework and watched lifetime until they got there that night. C was wired from sitting in the car all day, so it took him a while to wind down when they got there at nine. Saturday we woke up and didn't really do much other than play with the babies and relax. We did take a walk throughout the resort, but it was rainy off and on. We had dinner in our room that night, and played putt putt before bed (Traci kicked both mine and Jason's butt). Sunday, cabin fever began to sit in on us, me especially so we took C to do the bouncy things like they have at the mall. We figured he would either scream out of pure delight or fever. He did neither, he sat in the harness like he was bored out of his mind. He did say a few "WEEs", but he didn't seem too thrilled. We ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant that night, and then came back for my play time and banana grams after the kiddos went down. We got to spend half of our Monday with them before coming home, and I loved getting to spend time with my sweet niece and nephew. They grow up so fast!!!! Here are a few pictures of the sweet kiddos. C doesn't like sitting still unless he is watching Thomas or Fireman Sam, so getting a good picture of him is pretty difficult.

Pinning it, and doing it!

I swear my life doesn't revolve around Pinterest. I may spend most of my breaks at work on pinterest, but I'm not addicted. I am not a morning person, at all! Ask anyone who knows me. If I could get away with getting up at 6:30 and leaving my house for school at 6:45 in the mornings, I would do it. I also love food, and being in class all day I know I will get distracted if my belly isn't full. Basically, I need breakfast but I make myself rushed. I have no time for cooking in the mornings, and I'm not a big cereal fan. Needless to say, pinterest to the resuce. Earlier this summer I pinned a strawberry muffin recipe that seemed pretty easy and actually healthy. I decided to make them Tuesday so I could have them for breakfast this week.
They are super simple, filling, easy and of course yummy!
 Strawberry Muffins
 I made them exactly as the recipe called, but I used regular sugar. I did use the lemon juice, but I don't see it making that big of a difference.

The muffins are a little gooey in texture, so don't expect a normal muffin texture. They don't take long to make and if you make them the night before you can just pop them into the microwave the next morning. Also, I used aluminum  liners and had no problem with sticking. I thought that I would have extra muffin batter, but I just filled them really full because they don't raise a whole lot. I just realized too that my batter was much thicker than the one in the picture, so I probably could have blended it better in my mixer.Next time I'm gonna try it with blueberries! Another thing that makes these muffins so great is that they are only 93 calories, and the oatmeal keeps you full till lunch time!

Happy Baking!

Oops I Pinned It and Did It Again!

Yep, I did it again. I pinned it and actually did it. I'm proud that I'm actually using pinterest for what it's for. I  saw a recipe for rainbow cupcakes a few weeks back. I thought they were pretty neat, but I didn't really have a reason to put that much effort into a cupcake. However, I finally found an excuse to make them when I planned the Back to School Bash for my Junior Church kiddos.
Rainbow Cupcakes
 I bought 3 boxes of white cake mix, but that number's totally not necessary. I made them just like I normally would and split the mixes into four different bowls

Then I added food coloring to each bowl. I chose blue, yellow, green, and pink(I would have rather had red, but I didn't wanna add 40lbs of food coloring so I gave up at 20lbs). Then, I added a little bit of each color of cake mix into the cupcake pan.


I popped them into the oven and voila'. 

I used a Pampered Chef icing tool that I would normally use to decorate cakes, to icing my cupcakes. To complete the look of my rainbow cupcakes I added sprinkles, because what's a cupcake without sprinkles.