Goals for the New Year

The truth is, I've never been a huge fan of New Year's Eve. I dread it almost
every year. It's one of the busiest days of the year for the healthcare industry
and I still shake my head to all the reasons why. Just because I'm not a fan of
New Year's Eve, it doesn't mean I'm opposing the New Year. I know I'm not the
only one that views the New Year as a new beginning. This year I've decided to
boycott resolutions and set some prospective goals for the new year. Hopefully,
by this time next year I will have met some of these goals and can go back and
reflect on how the goals made an impact on my life.

In no particular order...

Goal #1
Deep clean & organize every room in my house
     Do you ever stress about all the things in your home that need to be done?
I do. I've always thought that I would sleep better at night and be able to
enjoy life a little more if my house was a little more in order.

Goal #2
Save more money
      I wouldn't call myself a huge spender. I rarely spend money on material
things for myself. Every once in a while I splurge and when I do, I always end
up calling someone and confessing. Spending money on myself makes me feel
guilty. I really don't know why it has that effect on me but it does. I always
relate the money I've spent to how hard I worked to obtain it. My focus this
year will be to save more money so that I can contribute more to my retirement,
savings, and donations.

Goal #3
Drink more water
    I used to be so good at drinking water. Lately, I've fallen into the habit
of drinking 2-3 caffeinated beverages a day. My goal is to replace these
caffeinated beverages with water.

Goal #4
Go on more date nights with my husband
     During our marriage counseling, the pastor that married us told us some
great advice. He encouraged us to set a time each week for "us" time. I think
every couple needs "us" time. We started out taking one night out of the week
where we would go out on a dinner date. It didn't have to be fancy, in fact most
often it was Mexican food (it's my favorite).  When we first moved to Memphis,
we knew no one so weekly date nights was a pretty easy thing to do. Now that
we've met some amazing friends, we have a hard time getting some one on one time
together. Going forward, I would like to find a healthy balance between "us" and
"friend" time.

Goal #5
Memorize more scripture
      There have been so many times when I've been reading my Bible or listening
to a sermon and thought "I need to remember this verse". There are countless
verses that have a tendency to speak to you. There is nothing more glorifying
than hearing someone quote scripture from memory and apply it to the situation
at hand.

Goal #6
Pray more & worry less
    Throughout my day, I often let things worry me. Sometimes, I recognize it
enough to make a mental note to pray about these things. My goal is to pray more
and worry less even if it means stopping and praying during the exact moment the
worry approaches me.

Goal #7
Start sewing again
      My mother in law taught me to sew a few years ago. Sewing is something
that really gives me peace. I love seeing the finished product of something that
you've worked hard at creating. It's truly rewarding. My problem is that I have
a tendency to start a project and never finish it. Hopefully, I can get back
into the swing of things and become a better seamstress.

Goal #8
Call my Grandmothers once a week
     My Grandmothers are getting older, and I know I need to check in on them
more. The truth is, I think about them often. I know someday, I'll regret the
times when I didn't take the time to pick up the phone to call them.

Goal #9
Donate
    There are so many people in this World that are less fortunate than we are.
I have no reason not to share with those who are in need.

"It's not about how much you give but how much love we put into giving" Mother
Teresa

I'll Be Home For Christmas

No matter where we live, we will always call Montgomery, Alabama home. Christopher was just telling me the other day that Home is wherever we are together. It was such a sweet thought, but it was also reality. A reality, that after living away from our hometown for two years now, is still very hard to get used to. Nevertheless, we are very excited to come Home for Christmas.

 

Christmas Eve will be spent at Christopher's parent's house. Christmas Day, we will be brunching at my parent's house followed by the exchanging of gifts and finally a wonderful Christmas Dinner.

 

Confession: I am most looking forward to the day after Christmas. I have absolutely no plans other than to sit in my jammies and enjoy my morning coffee with my Momma. We will probably  decide to get out and about at some point during the day but who knows.

 

I Can Hardly Wait! 

 

Spending time with family is something I try not to take for granted. It is one of the reasons why I don't catch up with my friends often enough. I try to soak up every ounce of family time when we are in Montgomery. Hope you all can surround yourself with those you love this Christmas.  

 

 

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!

 

 

Oh What Fun

This past Saturday, we attended Christopher's company Christmas party. It was hosted by the owners of the company at their home in Birmingham, Alabama. It's always fun to get a little dressed up for a special occasion. I went back and forth on what to wear to this event. Given it was at the owner's home, I did not know how formal or informal it would be. I decided on a cute little shift dress I found at Banana Republic. Nothing too glitzy or glamorous but classic which is more my style. Christopher insisted he get a new outfit as well for this event. Lately, he has been all about fashion. This tickles me because it is a side of him that I haven't seen before. He is typically an extremely casual guy, but boy oh boy, he cleans up Nicely. Take a look...

Christopher and his boss, Brandon enjoying themselves. 

Me and my friend, Meredith.  

We had such a great time meeting more of the people that work for the same company as Christopher. It's always nice to put a name with a face. Thank you to the Chapman's for hosting such a lovely event. Their home is absolutely gorgeous. There back yard overlooks the city of Birmingham. Truly amazing. This picture just doesn't do it justice. 

 

 Hope you all had a fun and festive weekend. 

Cookie Swap

Every year at work, my co-workers and I participate in an annual cookie swap. We are responsible for making half a dozen cookies for each participant. The cookie swap is optional, but what a good way to spread some holiday cheer. Plus... it helps me with my baking skills.

Confession: I LOVE to cook but HATE to bake. 

I've made a different recipe every year. After searching high and low on the WWW (world wide web), I decided to make Almond Joy Cookies. I opted out of making a tester batch. I figured the recipe's good reviews were reason enough to take the plunge and make the cookies.

First, you cream the butter with the sugar

Then, add the egg and cream that as well. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and slowly add in the mixture to form a dough. 

Next, add all of the goodie ingredients (coconut, chocolate chips, and slivered almonds)

Aahhh.... Yum!

Spoon your cookie dough balls onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. 

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes. 

TA-DA!!!!

This was a super easy recipe that made enough to feed a small village. 

P.S.

The cookies were absolutely delicious!

 

You can find the recipe on Tasty Kitchen

 

Tis' the Season

My office really has a way of getting into the holiday spirit. Each week in December we are given a small gift from the Doctors in token of their appreciation for all we have done throughout the year. They also throw a wonderful Christmas party luncheon. I am truly blessed to work for such a great group of people.

During the 2nd week of December, we have an ornament exchange. We draw names so you know exactly who you are buying for. It is a fun way to buy a small gift for a co-worker without having to spend a bunch of money.

In addition to all of the stuff the Doctors do for us, the cookie swap, and the ornament exchange we also decorate our work spaces. Typically, every work space has a theme. Holiday inspired of course! I must say, I work with a creative bunch.

The end of the year is such a fun time. While it may be busy, we have a great time promoting the Christmas Season.

Christmas Cards

Checking the mailbox just got a little more fun! Holiday cards are starting to roll in and I couldn't be more excited. Holiday cards are something I look forward to every year. People and their families these days... Just Beautiful!!! I thought I would share our Christmas card this year.

2014

Some day, I think it will be neat to pull out our previous Christmas cards and see how much we have changed. I can already see a difference in us compared to last year's card. It is amazing how the years change us.

2013

I've used Minted for our Christmas cards each year. They do such a great job and delivery is in just a few days. If you join their mailing list, they send you spectacular promo codes. Check out their website. They have some beautiful designs.

 

 

 

 

A Few of My Favorite Things

I don't know about you but I personally love this time of year. It all starts with Thanksgiving and ends with a New Year. Christmas is such a special time. It has always warmed my soul. Christmas spirit is everywhere, from the lights on the tree, the holiday photo cards, the decor, and those catchy Christmas songs that consume every radio station. Speaking of Christmas songs, I never really thought of "A Few of My Favorite Things" by Julie Andrews as being a Christmas song. I love the song though. It reminds me of a Christmas that I received The Sound of Music as a gift. I'm not sure I was quite old enough to appreciate it but the music was incredible. Given we have approached the Gift Giving Season, I have decided to enclose a few of my favorite things that top my gift list.

1. Quilted Jackets

The jacket pictured above can be found at Bloomingdales

2.  Gilded Edge Coasters

In love with these coasters. However, I do not think I could ever bring myself to spend the money on these but you can find them at Anthropologie

 

Okay, I have to update ya'll on the find my Momma found on these coasters.

Check out High Street Market. They have these coasters in an assortment of colors. Love some Savings!!!

3. Copper Mugs

These would make any beverage just a little more enjoyable. You can find these at Mark and Graham and the price includes free monogramming. 

4. Cozy Slippers

These are just adorable. I personally love the cold weather but I hate my feet being cold. These would be perfect for those winter months especially in my 1950's not so insulated house. Acorn Slippers

5. Painted Stemless Wine Glasses

 

The creator of one of the blogs I follow paints these. Aren't they beautiful? I'd love to own a set, simply because they are pretty. You can purchase them here: Design Chic
Follow the artist on her blog here: Kendall Boggs Fine Arts and Crafts

6.  Candles

Capri Blue Blue Jean

These candles are some of my favorite. Their scents linger even after they have finished burning. They last forever and fill every room with fragrance.



7. Josie Maran Argan Oil

 

I haven't actually tried this product but I have been wanting to for quite some time. It has amazing reviews and can replace your daily moisturizer and anti aging treatments. At some point, I will definitely be giving this a try. The best price and selection I found on this product is available on QVC.

These are just some of the items I think would make excellent gifts. Most of these items are not seasonal so you can give them to people on your gift giving lists year around. Hope you enjoy!

Happy Birthday Momma

Today is my Momma's Birthday. Yes, that's right, I still call her Momma. I wanted to celebrate her today. She means more to me than anyone in this entire World. Our relationship is one of the strongest I know and I thank God for her everyday. She has always made me feel important, strong, confident, and beautiful. 

I often find myself wondering what I would do without her. It's really a scary thought. I can't tell you how many times I call her for advice or just to vent and she is always there to listen. It is safe to say she is my best friend and she has held that title for as long as I can remember. 

She has taught me countless things and helped mold me into the woman I am today. We share a bond that cannot be broken. I hope one day I can bless and enrich the lives of my children the way she has mine. 

Happy Birthday Momma!

I Love You!!!

Thanksgiving 2014

It has been a while since I've posted 

 and honestly I can't even tell you where all the time went. This time of year has a tendency to fly by. Everyone seems to get caught up in all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday seasons and before you know it, it will be a new year. 

I don't know about you but I was more than ready for the Thanksgiving holiday. Having a little time off of work made it even better and for that... I am thankful. 

Christopher and I traveled to Birmingham for his family's Thanksgiving celebration. His sister was kind enough to host this year and boy did she NOT dissapoint. Given that it was her first time hosting Thanksgiving, she went above and beyond your typical expectations. She is so organized and for that... I am thankful.

Her table was gorgeous. 

I loved all of her fall themed decor.

 The hard work she put into making her 1st Thanksgiving a success did not go unnoticed. 

From left to right:

Ryan, Lauren, Me, and Christopher 

We had way too much food and for that... I am thankful. I think Christopher had to untuck his shirt at this point. God love him. We made sure to hit the gym today though along with the rest of East Memphis (it was packed).

Dinner was spent at my parents house where I was surrounded by my momma, dad, brother, sister in law, nephew, and my two grandmothers and for that... I am thankful!!!

Hope y'all all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Monthly Meal Planner

Planning ahead is something I like to do whenever possible. I always like to be prepared. Considering I hate, hate, hate going to the grocery store, I've tried to make my life a little more simple and plan my meals by the month. While some of you may think this is a lot of work, trust me it is the best thing that ever happened to this household.

First, I print out a calendar and start filling in all the days that I know we will not be eating at home. I cook most nights of the week, rarely on Saturdays, and I save one day during the week for my fave... Mexican or my husband's favorite... Pizza.

Here is last month's calendar

Next, I plan my grocery list based on the meals I've placed on the calendar. I usually do this in two week increments. That leaves me only having to visit the grocery store 2 times/month. Hallelujah!

I used to find myself making the same meals over and over again. It was an easy trend to become accustomed to (especially when you are the wife of a picky eater).  I've found that making a meal calendar prevents you from cooking the same things more than once in a month.  It gives everyone a nice variety and something to look forward to at the end of each day.

I usually post my calendar on the fridge so there is no question on what's for dinner.

Our Weekend Round Up

This weekend was busy, busy, busy!!! Knowing that this weekend was going to be non-stop, I planned ahead and took Friday off from work. Friday was Halloween and I'm sad to say we did not dress up, host trick or treaters or participate in anything that had to do with Halloween. It is safe to say we were Halloween scrooges. Not on purpose though...

Thursday night, Christopher's boss came into town and took us out to a fabulous dinner here in Memphis. We went to Flight If you are ever in Memphis, I highly recommend Flight. It is by far my favorite restaurant that I have ever been to and it has the nicest atmosphere with the neatest concept. It is rated #1 on trip advisor too! Look it up, you won't be disappointed. 

Friday, I spent most of the day resting up for the Eric Church concert at the FedEx Forum. Eric Church is my husband's favorite country music singer. He loves the guy! The tickets went on sale in April which just so happened to be our Anniversary month. What a perfect gift for him. We went to the concert with 6 of our friends. It was such a good time. My only regret is not taking a group pic of the 8 of us : (

 

Saturday, we woke up early to head to Oxford for the Ole Miss/Auburn game.  My puppy dog got to hang with her best pal, Jake while we were gone. Thanks so much to our neighbors who kept watch over these two bundles of love. 

Our trip to Oxford was a very fun road trip. Christopher's company rented a party bus to take all of us to Oxford. I must say, I've never rode in a party bus before and it was a sight to be seen. The bus was decked out with laser lights, two tvs, plenty of snacks and beverages, and even a stripper pole. Don't worry we kept everything at a PG13 rating. 

Here is a picture of our neighbor who accompanied us on the trip. 

P.S. He was the only Ole Miss fan in our crowd.

All smiles along the miles to Oxford

Christopher and our neighbor, Blake. They really are such great friends. I love watching these two together. 

Me and my friend Meredith before the game

And of course... me and my honey 

The party bus group

It was a great weekend for a great time with some close friends and our Auburn Family. 

WAR EAGLE!!!

Tonight's Menu

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

 

4 chicken cutlets (pounded thin)
Chive and onion cream cheese
Bacon
Your favorite seasoning 

1/4 cup of brown sugar

Pound out the chicken cutlets and spread the cream cheese on each of them. Gently roll up the chicken while securing a slice of uncooked bacon around each piece. I secured the chicken and bacon together with toothpicks. I then placed each chicken roll up into a shallow baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Seasoning of the chicken can be done at any stage. I chose to sprinkle the chicken roll ups with seasoning once I placed them in the baking dish. I then sprinkled approximately 1/4 of a cup of brown sugar over the top of each piece. The brown sugar is optional but oh so good. It creates a nice glaze on the bacon wrapped chicken that is almost impossible to resist. 

Bake for 35 minutes at 400. To make the bacon crispier, I recommend broiling the chicken for an additional 5 minutes or so.

 

I think this dish would work well with other flavored cream cheeses. Jalapeño cream cheese would be divine in this recipe. I love anything that adds a little kick. 

Hope you enjoy! It's one of our new household favorites. 

My Weekend Finds

I've been wanting some new, comfortable flats to wear with both black and brown. I found these at Dillards and they are super comfy. They will basically match anything I have in my wardrobe. 

I also found this cute crossbody bag. I've been eyeing a bag similar to this with a more iconic name brand and a much larger price tag. I was happy to find a much more affordable option. 

I've been wanting a smaller purse that can be easily taken virtually anywhere. It's been a real challenge convincing my husband that I needed a new purse. Last year for Christmas, he surprised me with a Louis Vuitton and stated it was the only purse I would ever need. I'm guessing he said this due to the hefty price tag of the bag. He's so funny... A girl needs options though!!! I love that he goes out of his way to surprise me and trust me I love the purse he picked out for me. It will be one of my favorite possessions for years to come. 

The Williams and Sonoma Outlet had all of their food on sale so I pick up a few of my seasonal favorites and a jar of their pasta sauce that I've been wanting to try.

Going to Williams and Sonoma inspires me to be a better cook. I just love that store. 

Sunday Night Supper

Momma's Baked Lasagna

1 ½ lbs of ground chuck                32 oz jar of spaghetti sauce

6 oz tomato sauce                       16 oz grated mozzarella

16 oz ricotta cheese                     1 tablespoon of oregano

1 tablespoon of garlic powder         ½ cup chopped onion

3 garlic cloves chopped                 6 oz lasagna noodles (6 total)

 

Preparation Instructions:  Boil noodles in salt and olive oil, drain and

place noodles in a bowl of cold water until ready to use.

Brown meat with onion, garlic powder, garlic cloves, oregano and salt.

Drain and return to pan. Add to meat, the spaghetti sauce and the

tomato sauce. Simmer for 30 minutes; remove from heat. Spray a

9 x 13 inch casserole dish with pam. Spread 1/3 of meat mixture on

bottom of dish; layer noodles on top of meat mixture. Add more meat

mixture and spread half of ricotta cheese on this layer, sprinkle with

mozzarella cheese. Repeat. Preheat oven at 350; bake for 30 minutes.

Before baking

 

Our Weekend Round Up

This past weekend, Christopher's sister and brother in law came to Memphis for a visit. I love when people make the trip to come and see us. Memphis truly does offer quite a few treasures to show off. Friday night, I made reservations at this new trendy restaurant that I've been wanting to try only to get there and see it was closed. I was pretty mad that the restaurant website still allowed you to make reservations. The sign on the door of the restaurant said they would be re-opening soon so maybe I'll give it another chance someday. After finding a place to eat, we traveled to our favorite country western bar for some after dinner drinks. Here's a picture of my sister in law and me. The lighting was not the best, so I tried to enhance the picture quality. It didn't work out too well : /

Saturday was just Gorgeous! In hopes to find some Christmas gifts, my sister in law and I went shopping for most of the day while the guys stayed home and watched football. Shopping for Christmas gifts was unsuccessful but we found some great things for ourselves. Don't you hate it when that happens? 

Sunday, we headed downtown for a lovely brunch at Automatic Slims. This place was very good and offered a huge selection of great brunch items. I would love to try their dinner menu because everything on it looked delicious. 

Given we were only steps from the Peabody, we headed over to see the ducks. The Peabody is in my mind, a Memphis treasure. The lobby is absolutely gorgeous and a great place to sit, relax, and have some drinks. I've never actually stayed in a room here but I've always wanted to. Christopher even suggested staying here as a fun date night/weekend together. We will see if we follow thru with that idea. 

 

The ducks were a little sleepy. They must have had the same brunch that we did. 

Look at how beautiful this flower arrangement is and those ceilings. Just Gorgeous! It's just another reason why I like visiting the Peabody. 

 

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend as much as we did.

Souper Weekend

Saturday in Memphis was wet, rainy, and messy. I had already decided I was not leaving the house if I didn't have to. So... Thursday, I planned ahead and made my grocery list to include all the items needed for a week/weekend of home cooked meals. First up on the menu :

Taco Soup

1 ½ lbs ground chuck, cooked and drained

1-28oz can chopped tomatoes

1-14oz. can of chopped tomatoes

2 cans of Rotel​

2 cans of shoe peg corn

1 can of black beans, drained​

1 can of pinto beans, drained

1 can of red kidney beans, drained​

4 cups of water

3 envelopes of taco seasoning mix​

1 envelope of ranch salad dressing mix

Garnishments: sour cream, cheddar cheese, black olives, Fritos

Preparation Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a large stock pot

and mix well; bring to boil while stirring; reduce heat and simmer for 45

minutes. Stir occasionally.

You can also make in this recipe in the crockpot. I cooked mine on low for around 6 hours.

Saturday 

I spent most of the day catching up on housework and watching the Auburn/Mississippi State game. I was mildly disappointed in our tigers but hey, you win some, and you lose some.

Living in Alabama meant one thing, you were either an Auburn fan or an Alabama fan. The rivalry is real people. In Memphis, it seems like everyone is either a fan of Mississippi State or Ole Miss. At first, Ole Miss and Mississippi State were just teams Auburn played. If we lost we lost, if we won... Well Done.  I've lived in Memphis for two years now, and I'll tell you my competitiveness between Auburn winning over these two teams has increased tenfold. I was literally shaking during Saturday's game against Mississippi State and I guess that's what was wrong with the Auburn football team too. War Eagle Anyways! 

Sunday's Menu:

Poppyseed Chicken 

3 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed ​

1 can of cream of chicken soup​

1-8oz container of sour cream

1 stick of butter

1 tablespoon of poppy seeds

1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers

Preparation Instructions: Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl combine

Chicken, soup and sour cream. Pour meat mixture into a greased 9 x 13

casserole dish. Crush crackers in food processor and add poppy seeds.

Sprinkle cracker mixture on top of meat mixture. Melt butter and

distribute butter evenly over cracker mixture. Bake for 30-40 minutes.

Serve with white rice.

On Sundays, I like to make a big meal in order to ensure we have leftovers for Monday. Mondays are already hard enough and who wants to think about making dinner after a long busy day.  Monday nights I also attend my favorite workout class, so it prevents me from making one of my usual meals for the hubby and I. I like to workout on Mondays because it helps get my week started. I read somewhere that if you are trying to get in shape or stay fit... Never Miss a Monday!

Working out on Monday also helps you feel a little better about all the weekend food you consumed. I know I splurge with the calorie intake on weekends.