Carissa's 80s Birthday Party

Let the tackiness ensue!!

So, we had an 80s Pary for Carissa's birthday a few weeks ago. It was a great time! Kathry and Christopher came for the weekend, as well, so that was great to hang out with them.

Below are some of the pictures...several other people took some, but I haven't gottem them yet, so I thought I'd share what I did have... Enjoy!


Carissa, Kathryn and Ginger getting ready

Me in the bathroom getting ready

Carissa, the birthday girl!

Kathryn, looking very racoon-like!

Lindsey putting on her makeup


Me- the drinking series... I promise it was only one wine cooler!

Kathryn and Angie
Josh and Scott
Hai
The Nintendo Phillip got for Carissa!

Phillip
Ginger
Carissa
Lindsey!
Ginger and her brother, Jon

The Peasant Princess

This is the link to the new Song of Songs series that Mark Driscoll at Mars Hill Church is doing. I was intrigued and started watching the first video and I think it's going to be a GREAT series, so go check it out! http://www.peasantprincess.com/

I've been tagged!!

A- Attached or Single? -Single
B- Best Friend(s): Carissa, Kathryn, and lots of other wonderful ladies in my life!
C- Cake or Pie: hmm...I guess I learn towards cake, but I do love me some cookies!
D- Drink of Choice: That would definitely be coffee- right now that's a Coconut Mocha
E- Essential Item: I'm gonna have to agree with Ginger on this one, chapstick! I'm SERIOUSLY addicted....
F- Favorite Color: Oooo, I think it's still my two normal faves: robin's egg blue and red
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: sour worms for sure
H- Hometown: Borger, TX
I- Indulgence: SUGAR! I love dessert...all kinds, but especially with lots of sugar/butter and chocolate
J- January or February: I guess I'll go with January since that's when I was born
K- Kids: Sure!
L- Life, for me, is incomplete without: Jesus.
M- Marriage Date: Yes, please
N- Number of Siblings: 2 sisters
O- Oranges or Apples? Honeychrisp apples! But I also love tangerines...
P- Phobia/Fears: I have serious issues with june bugs/grasshoppers and with being in open water (everything in that water with me can see me AND move faster than I can....shiver)
Q- Favorite Quote: "God, give me the determination and tenacity of a weed."
R- Reasons to smile: God choosing to let me know He's involved in things, coffee, friends, naps, my puppies
S- Season: That's tough...I answer different each time the weather changes! So, right now it's Fall for sure...
T- Tag Ten: Carissa, Kathryn, Mom & Dad, Angela, Lisa Allen, and I apparently need more blog friends that might do one of these!
U- Unknown fact about me: I have my motorcycle license, and wish I could afford a bike!
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: I don't oppress my food, just eat it
W- Worst Habit: picking at stuff and sugar
X- X-rays or Ultrasounds: Ummm...I would go with Ultrasound, I've never had one!
Y- Your Favorite Foods: Coffee, Apple Betty, Cookies, Icing, Cake, Zucchini/Banana bread, Italian, Whole Grains, QUESO, Guacamole, Homemade salsa...
Z- Zodiac: Aquarius (but that doesn't mean anything in my book)

Oh, did you know...?

I promised I would blog about something other than recipes, so here goes!

I have a tendency to enjoy being right. I also like things to be fair, just, etc. Also, my brain contains a plethora of random knowledge. All that combined tends to annoy people that know me well! I like to be right, smart, knowledgeable, interesting, witty, etc because I want people to notice/like me. Growing up, I was always the "smart kid" that got good grades, graduated from college early, "picked up on things" really quick and all that. I think that I really took pride in that and then started to use that to my advantage.

Fast forward several years...now it just always ends up that I correct people, tell them how they're doing something wrong, babble about something meaningless, make inappropriate jokes, or tell random info to people. It really annoys me, I know I'm doing it, but seem powerless to stop myself!

And, the problem with me telling people when they're wrong all the time, is that I've justified it! And it's a good one too.... I've managed to convince myself that I need to "save" people from making mistakes and the unloving thing would be to watch them screw up without saying anything! When, in truth, all I manage to do is make people feel incompetent and criticized.

So, from now on, for those of you who are around me: I might throw in interesting info into a conversation now and then, but I'm seriously going to try and stop giving advice unless you ask me for it. And feel free to ask anytime, I've got TONS of opinions. But, if you don't ask, even if I know you're about to do something really dumb, I'm gonna keep my mouth shut. If something happens to go bad and I coulda warned you, don't blame me, you shoulda asked! :) Just kidding... I will say something if it's gonna seriously harm yourself or others (especially me).

Healthier Zucchini Bread

Hello out there! I know it's been absolutely forever since I've blogged, and I apologize. I just have been busy and haven't felt like it... Anyway, here's a recipe, which is always quick and easy to blog and then I'll write an update on me and my rather boring life very soon.

This started out as my Nana's Zucchini Bread which I LOVE in it's original form, but I felt like I can't make it too often due to the huge amount of oil and sugar in it. I tend to eat it whole in one sitting and that's awefully bad for my current workout/stay fit plan! Anyhoo...below is the recipe with the modifications I made. I could've made more, but I didn't want it to turn out tasting like "health food" as my last batch of "healthy muffins" did last time (according to my family, I thought they were good!).

Zucchini Bread – Healthy!

3 eggs, beaten
1 ¾ cup sugar
¼ cup oil
¾ cup applesauce
2-3 cups zucchini, grated
3 tsp vanilla
2 ½ cups white whole wheat flour
½ cup wheat germ
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3 tbsp cinnamon
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, etc)

In a large bowl, combine beaten eggs, sugar, oil, grated zucchini, and vanilla. In a smaller bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and nuts

Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients in a large bowl with a spoon. Pour into 2 greased and floured loaf pans. Sprinkle each pan with a little bit of sugar and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Granola

I just wanted to post this recipe. My mom has made this for as long as I can remember, and it's EXCELLENT! It is my favorite granola, even out of the kind you can buy. The ingredients are probably going to sound kinda funny, but it's super healthy and tasty. So, try it sometime! And, be prepared to give some away, it makes TONS.

Granola

12 cups regular oats
1 cup oat bran
1 1/2 cups wheat germ
1 cup dry milk (I know this sounds terrible, but you can't taste it at all)
Pecans (About 2 cups), chopped
Almonds (About 1 cup), chopped
1 cup oil
1 cup honey
3 tbsp water
Raisins (I use about 2 cups) and/or
Dried fruit of your liking (apricots, banana chips, dates, cranberries, etc)
Any other nuts/seeds you might like

1. Combine oats, oat bran, wheat germ, dried milk, pecans and almonds (or other nuts/seeds if you prefer)

2. Mix oil, honey, and water and pour over dry ingredients. Stir until all combined. If it still feels too dry, add a little more liquid (honey will make it sweeter, oil will make it more fattening, and water will just wet it) until all the ingredients are coated (not soaked).

3. Spread granola out on a cookie sheet (or 2) and cook at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes until toasted (may take longer for this big of a batch).

4. Add raisins and dried fruit after cooked. Store in a zip-loc bag and enjoy! You can easily eat it dry or with milk like regular cereal.