I've got a Feeling

Last week was a difficult week for me. Nothing happened in particular that made it especially rough, but for some reason I was down. It seems like most of the time when I get online and post I usually have pretty upbeat things to say. I guess I can be a little more real when I say I was in a funk and felt so guilty about being in one.

For the most part, I try to be thankful for the blessings bestowed upon me. I really think that God has a plan and things happen for a reason or to help me grow toward Him. When you are bummed I think it's hard to remember those blessings eventhough you know they are there. That's when I start to feel guilty because I know it will pass and I dislike feeling down or sorry for myself. I think it's human nature to feel a little low every once in a while. Luckily, Jonathan was sweet and also knows when I need my own space. For this reason, I stuck around the house and did things just for me while he went to the football game.

I cleaned, gardened, grocery shopped, bathed Dax, tested new recipes, and painted. It felt amazing to have an indulgent weekend. A weekend where I ate mocha mudslide icecream, drank wine, watched girlie movies (Serendipity, Newsies, Devil Wears Prada), and caught up on some painting. I spray painted furniture (bar stools that needed a face lift) and worked on getting oil paintings for my Etsy shop... one day I will have it up I swear!

{Please note a few of these paintings are works in progress like the one pictured here}
I can say that having some alone time was exactly what I needed. When you spend all day on the phone for work, come home and talk non-stop, over and over again it's easy to feel drained after a while. I think everyone needs to recharge their batteries and have one of these weekends every so often. I am not going to lie when I say it would have been nice to have an extra day, but I am thankful for the one I got. I hope that next time I need of these days it won't take me so long to notice.

I hope you enjoy your week and take time for you. I know I will be.

Grrrrreat!

Don't you just love Tony the Tiger from the Frosted Flakes commercials? Are those even around anymore? hahaha random, but I was wondering. Anyways, my other favorite Tiger is Aubie, Auburn University's mascot. This last weekend we went to the Auburn Clemson game and I brought my camera along for the ride this time (and thankfully it was charged!)

I loved tailgating this game because my parents and all three brothers came. It was so wonderful to spend time with them despite the heat and late game.

Aren't they precious? I love making them do weird things for pictures but this one was all them.

It was great seeing so many of my friends. They all came in from their corners of the country to see eachother and it always amazes me how we can pick up from where we left off. I feel the God shows us we have great friendships when this happens. It's always a wonderful reminder for me and I am so thankful.

Lastly, I think my parents should use this as their Christmas card. Don't you? I hope you enjoyed the "photo post" because I enjoyed taking them. I hope you are enjoying your week and I will be posting some before and after pictures of the house soon.

Let them Eat Cake

Greetings! I know you bloggers are getting ready for a nice long weekend. If you are spending time with family and friends I have a recipe for you! Let them eat cake... Butterfinger Cake that is!

::Butterfinger Cake::
1 box devils food cake shopping list

1 jar caramel ice cream topping shopping list
1 jar sweet condensed milk shopping list
1 regular size container of whip cream shopping list
3 regular bars of butterfinger or 8 butterfinger minis shopping list

• Make devils food cake as directed on box in a 9x13 pan.
• When the cake is finished cooking out of the oven, poke holes all in the cake with knife.
• Pour all of the sweet milk over the cake.
• Pour all the caramel over the cake.
• Let cake COMPLETELY cool. (can refrigerate to cool faster)
• Cover the cake with the Whip Cream.
• Crush up your Butterfinger and top the cake with them.
• The cake does have to be refrigerated.
• Eat and Enjoy!!!

Another Has Come & Gone

Saturday, September 11th I celebrated my 26th Birthday. A lot of people asked what I had planned for the day, but I was pleased to say “not too much”. We spend so many of our weekends traveling that I long for weekends at home. I wanted to spend it with my family… and I did just that. My parents and two of my three brothers came to celebrate with me and Jonathan.

We went to dinner at one of my favorite Italian restaurant called Leonardo’s. They have these great rolls that have Italian seasoning and soaked in parmesan and butter. (This is not on the diet, but for your birthday I think you can slide). I always order the eggplant parmesan and this year was not a disappointment… sooo delicious!

Afterwards we came home to lots of cake and gifts. It always cracks me up to listen to my dad, two brothers, and husband sing “happy birthday” with my mom trying to pep up their monotone voices. (Makes it hard to keep a straight face.)

Jonathan chose to wrap my gift in packaging wrap. It was either the brown wrapping or Christmas paper. I never realized that I always use bags and have never needed to wrap a gift that big. He ordered all the Harry Potter books in hardback for me… it even came in my own Hogwart’s trunk! I have read all of the books, but only owned one. I am so excited to have my very own collection and plan to reread them all before the next movie.

I had a lot of fun treats from my family and was just thrilled to spend the night with them just laughing and picking on one another. Everything was so thoughtful and my last gift was just hilarious. My middle brother Thomas, who lived with us this summer, got me the SHAKE WEIGHT! I am not joking when I say it’s so fun and hard to do. Supposedly you use it for 6 minutes a day and I barely lasted one… I will get better and I think I will eventually stop laughing when I use it. We shall see!

Thank you for all the sweet birthday wishes. I especially wanted to thank all my friends, family, and Jonathan for making me feel so loved. I am truly blessed. I hope you have a wonderful week!

Football, Birthday, and dip

This year I thought I would have a football game fall on my birthday (which is tomorrow). I kept telling Jonathan over and over how great it was going to be because we would have all my favorite foods at the tailgate and spend the day with friends and family. Well I was mistaken and somehow my alma mater played last night, which was weird having a Thursday night game. In lieu of me turning the big 2-6 Jonathan had everyone over here last night to celebrate early. It was so sweet of him to cook out, clean the house, and play Mr. Host to all our friends.

Of course our team won, but we were a little worried for a while. I just love it that we can get together with our friends and their children on a school night!

This picture makes me laugh as momma (my friend Lesley) enjoys some vino as everyone else holds little man. Not really sure how Ashton (9 year-old) feels about his mom holding a baby :)

Table of food and drink! I am about to share a recipe with you that is so good, easy, and will make you the hit of the party! My sweet friend Melissa (sing Sweet Melissa here) makes this Mexicorn dip that is the bomb. (Yeah, I said the bomb)

This bad boy is super easy to make and will probably give anyone a cardiac arrest, but the best foods are made that way.

::Mexicorn::
2 cups mexicorn, drained
2 cups monterrey jack cheese shredded
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
2 cups mayonaise
2 ounces jalapenos

Mix all ingredients together and bake in oven for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. These are best served with Tostitos Scoops to put all the goodess in one bite. Oh, and you may want to double the recipe because if you are watching football with a bunch of boys it won't last long.

I am looking forward to spending the day with Jonathan and meeting my parents and two of my brothers for Italian tomorrow night. More pictures coming soon and hope y'all have a great weekend!

Game Day

War Eagle! Yesterday was a great and long day as we made the trip to Auburn. This year we changed our tailgate spot because the University MBA program has taken over our place in front of the business building. We actually found a great spot in front of Jonathan's old fraternity house, which is ideal for the ladies since they have bathrooms!

I don't have any pictures from the game (which we won) but I do have a few oldies, but goodies from last year. I thought my battery was charged... found out quickly it wasn't :(

Last year was HOT, but this weekend's temp was perfect! I hope everyone had a great weekend and hopefully you cheered your team to a victory too!