Gingerbread and Fireworks

WOW!!! Has it really been November since my last update?  Blog Fail!!

I left off talking about Thanksgiving, and now it is almost Christmas.  I mentioned that I was sick in my last post.  Well, I was feeling better when I wrote that blog, but as the day went on, I got sicker and sicker.  Needless to say, I missed 3 whole days of school because of it.  NOT FUN.  When I got back to school I felt so behind.  The only that kept me out of the ditches of hopelessness was that I had already completed some big projects that were due that week.  The biggest project that I didn’t have done was my gingerbread house.  During the Thanksgiving holiday, I baked the pieces, but I still had to put it together.  I worked on it and worked on it, and on Tuesday, I was super-duper sick but finally finished it.  I turned it on Wednesday and then came back home.  This is my finished project.  The inside looked good because I felt good when I did it.  However, the outside was a little plain because I felt like collapsing in the floor when I was working on it.  

I will find out on Wednesday how I did.  What do y’all think?  Maybe when I get it back I will spice up the outside a little bit more.  Who knows?

Let’s see, what else…

The Friday after my sick spell was the local Christmas parade and lighting of the park.  I always look forward to it.  The parade gets better every year.  I took some photos with my Iphone of the fireworks at the park. 

Sometimes, I think these fireworks are better than the ones on the 4th of July. 

This is the park after the fireworks.  I haven’t had time to drive around it for a closer look this year. 

Tyler’s sister took our Christmas card photos a couple weekends ago.  I am so excited for my family to see them.  I have them printed and a few addressed.  I am going to mail a handful tomorrow and hopefully have the rest in the mail by the end of the week.  I could no wait any longer to share these photos that will not be on the card but are just too cute not to share.

So this week is finals. I have taken two, and I have three more to go.  If you do not hear from for a while do not fret.  I will be back, but I am going to enjoy my Christmas break with my family.  I promise to come back in the new year with lots of updates and pictures.

Merry Christmas.

Britney

Turkey Day Recap

Happy Monday to all!!

I hope everyone had an excellent Thanksgiving.  I know I did.  I ate way too much, but I know it is just the start of eat-way-too-much season.  Tyler wanted a blackberry cobbler this year.  I had never made one, but I found a recipe on allrecipes.com.  I didn’t eat any of it, but  I was told it was delicious.  I have never really liked cobbler, and if I ever get any, I usually just eat the crust.  I also tried out a Pinterest idea for Thanksgiving.  Early this fall I pinned a tutorial on how to make edible teepees for Thanksgiving.  I will never make them again, and once again I didn’t eat them.  They looked cute if I had them turned the right way so you couldn’t see all the mess ups.  

Looking back over the nice long weekend, I feel like I didn’t get anything accomplished.  Tyler and I went to Black Friday at Wal*Mart but didn’t buy anything.  I brought homework but never looked at it.  Tyler and I were supposed to take pictures for our Christmas card but that never happened.  It seems like all I did was eat, sleep, and be merry.  Tyler and I almost bought me a new laptop but decided against it.  I have had this one since I was a junior in high school.  It still runs fine but gets slower by the day.  I guess we will get me one when this one dies.  We also decided against it because we wanted to save our money for our ALMOST HERE CRUISE!!!  I am so thrilled (as if you couldn’t tell).  The one thing that I did get done that was school related was bake my gingerbread for a school project.  All I have to do now is put it together and decorate it.  That should be fun.  It is due Wednesday, so we shall see.  If the weather permits, Tyler and I will take pictures this coming weekend.  I really want to get them ready to send out before Christmas.  :)  I found some really cute ones on Wal*Mart’s website. 

I didn’t make it to school this morning because I am sick.  Always a fun thing to happen when school is in all-projects-are-due-today mode.  I am starting to feel a little better, so maybe I can work on some homework.  Of course, I will browse the internet looking for Christmas presents.  I know it’s Cyber Monday but I know I won’t buy anything online.  I just want to get some ideas.    

Britney

There’s Not Enough Chocolate

I have been sitting at this computer doing homework since 12 snacking on gooey no-bake cookies (they never hardened) and complaining about this week.  Needless to say I am little bit stressed this week and it is only Tuesday.  I have a project and test tomorrow.  The project is 75% finished.  I have been trying to do an interview for it and can’t get in touch with the dietitian.  Luckily class attendance and participation account for 75% of my grade in this class, and I haven’t missed yet. 

These are my delicious yet ooey-gooey no-bake cookies

One morning at the end of last week (I don’t remember the day exactly) I woke up to frost on my car.  The first of the season.  Well the first one that I have woken up in enough time to see anyways.  I get mixed emotions about the arrival of frost.  I like that I can start wearing layers and scarves but truly miss the hot summer days.  I know I am weird. :)

Friday was fun for me because I finally got to make a trip to Hobby Lobby.  I was so excited.  I think I did a happy dance in my car when I got out of school and headed towards Hot Springs.  I spent about 1 1/2 hours in there and got some really great stuff.  When I got home that afternoon, I got busy crafting until about 11:30 that night.  I finished one wreath and started another (both for fall but one is mine and the other I am making for my dad’s house). 

Another event that took place this weekend was that I made Basler Leckerli.  A Swiss cookie.  I am doing a food demo on Friday and this is what I am making.  I don’t really care for it (I am chocolate kinda girl) but it smells like the holidays.  It looks good too. 

This week has just about maxed out my stress load.  I am so stressed that I am only doing the minimum requirements to pass most of my assignments.  I just have so much going on, it is hard to give a 100% to everything.  I am trying to prioritize, but I am still terribly stressed.  I keep thinking that next week is Thanksgiving and I get a 5 day break.  However on that so called “break," I have to work on 1 project, 1 8-page paper, and a project summary.  Fun! Fun! Good news is I only have 2 1/2 more weeks until finals.

I hope everybody has a great week and can find the strength to make it through this week.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13

Britney

Thursday + Me = :)

So obviously I have had a pretty good day and this is why.

I got to register for spring classes today.  I don’t know why I get so excited about this.  I mean I am scheduling more classes to take, and as I get closer to graduation they get harder.  Weird thing to be excited about.  The majority of my classes will be on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  The best part is, I have NO 8:00 A.M. classes!!!  I have also mapped out my classes for Fall ‘12 and Spring ‘13 with my adviser.  I am beyond thrilled that in January, I can finally say I have 2 semesters left.

Another good thing that happened today was that I didn’t have to cook dinner.  Granted I don’t cook dinner every night, it was nice not having to worry about it at all.  Today is apparently Resident Appreciation Day at my apartment complex, so I got free food for dinner. 

I am finished with my homework that is due tomorrow and it isn’t even 5:00.  YAY!!!

Tomorrow is my last group meal to assist with.

I might be going to Hobby Lobby tomorrow.  (I better make a wish list tonight and check Pinterest for more crafty ideas.)

I almost forgot to pay the water bill today.  I wrote a check this morning and put the bill and check in my car.  However, as the day went on, I forgot about it.  I was home and in my pjs before I remembered at 4:00.  It’s a good thing they don’t close until 5.

Grey’s Anatomy comes on tonight! 

Britney

Wednesday Night Ramblings

As promised…I made 2 diaper baby carriages this weekend for Maegan’s baby shower.  I also made a mini-diaper cake, but I don’t have a good picture of it.  So what do you think about it?  It didn’t turn out great, but it makes a cute picture.  I had trouble getting the top part to fill out and look real round.

Anyhoo…

The rest of the weekend flew by.  I had a big project due on Monday that I spent some time working on.  I had to come up with a special occasion, create a menu, design it (as in the tables, buffets, activities,etc), and write out 25 recipes.  It doesn’t seem like much but my teacher wants things to be very specific. 

This is the last week we break up into groups of 4 to cook meals in Meal Mgt.  I am thrilled!!!  I am assistant manager this week which means I am responsible for making a time management plan.  This is the part everybody hates.  You have to figure out when everything will be prepped, cooked, and served.  Not any fun.  How I am supposed to know how long it takes Susie to cut a potato?  Google it??

I bought a small desk calendar back at the beginning of October.  It is now November and man does my calendar scare me.  Everyday has something planned, due, or a reminder that something is almost due.  There is so much black ink on it; it is getting hard to tell which day is which.

Yesterday, Tyler and I went to Mena for some errands.  It was my MIL’s birthday, and it was so nice to get to spend some time with her.  We actually got into to town Monday night and were able to make her birthday dinner.  On Tuesday, we had a birthday lunch with her before leaving town. 

Yesterday, we also got to spend some time with C.  I can’t believe how big he is getting.  I snapped these pictures yesterday with my Iphone.   

On the way home, I was noticing just how beautiful the leaves were, and I tried to snap a picture.  Of course it was with my phone, so it’s not great. 

I am glad Wednesday is almost over.  That means 2 day till the weekend.  Yippee!!  Unfortunately, I will probably spend most of my time inside doing homework.  I am not one to wish my life away, but I am so ready for December 15.  I need a break.

Britney

Life Happens

I sat down this evening to catch up on the happenings of the week.  However, when I sat down my brain totally stopped working.  I think I starred at the screen for like 15 minutes before typing anything.  I guess you can say I am having one of those days.  Actually feels like one of those weeks.  I have been going all week.

It all started on Monday.  Tyler and I had to make a trip to Hot Springs to run some errands.  It wasn’t a horrible trip because I got to eat at Chilli's.  Tyler made me laugh pretty hard on the way home.  The sun was in his eyes, but since he had his glasses on he couldn’t wear sunglasses.  When he just couldn’t take it anymore, he had to improvise, and this is what we got. This week in Meal Management, I am in charge of decorating the table,choosing all the dinnerware and serving pieces, refilling glasses, serving desserts, and making sure everybody follows correct etiquette.  I always thought that I would enjoy this part, but honestly, I am stressing pretty bad.  I am sure there is more to it than just this class.  Tomorrow, I have a Business Stats test.  Oh how I love test days.  I haven’t studied yet, but I think I will before bed. 

I can’t believe it’s November.  I can’t believe it’s already November 3rd.  Crazy.  I really don’t like the cold, but it does allow me to wear scarves.  The absolutely worse thing about November is that all my teachers have realized that the end of the semester is almost here.  Therefore, they have realized we need more homework.  On Wednesday, I was at school from 9-4, and I only had an apple for lunch.  I was in the library for 3 hours straight working on just one of my homework assignments.  The best part, I am not even finished yet. 

One thing I have learned through personal experience is that things are always changing.  This thought has really been heavy on my heart and mind this week.  I am not sure why, but it has really made me examine things in my life.  I had to learn early in life how to adapt with the changing world.  So, I don’t think change effects me very much.  I usually handle it very well.  I handle change the worse when numerous things are changing at once very fast. 

I have volunteered to help host a baby shower for family member in the next few weeks.  (The date isn’t finalized yet.)  I am going to try and make diaper baby carriages to be used for decorations.  I usually make diaper cakes like this one, but I wanted to try something new that I found on Pinterest.  Anyways, I plan on making them this weekend, so I will hopefully be able to post some pictures then. 

It’s almost Friday!!

Britney

Mid-Week

It’s mid-week!! Yay!! Tomorrow I only have 1 class in the morning, and then I am off for the day.  I should add though, that I have to do homework when I get home.  I mean did you see my project list.  Very SCAREY!!!

On another note, I am so ready for Christmas.  I know I just carved pumpkins, but that is the only thing that screams fall at my apartment.  I have a fall candy dish that I didn’t put out this year due to the fact that Tyler and I don’t have self control when it comes to candy.  Anyways, I am ready for the Holidays for multiple reasons this year…

1.  Christmas Cards.  This is something that I have been looking forward to since Tyler and I got married.  I just hope I get a few Christmas cards in return.  Steph has volunteered to take some photos, and I have been getting some ideas together.  I got online the other day to look around at Christmas cards and I don’t know how I am going to make a choice.  There are so many styles, and they are all so darn cute.

2.  Sweet Treats.  I have discovered that I enjoy making sweets.  It allows me to “stir away my troubles.”  I also get to be creative with them.  I have found some great recipes online and can’t wait to try them out.

3.  Shopping.  I love shopping, and I love seeing others’ faces when they open their gifts.  I have a note on my phone of gift ideas for family and friends.

4.  The Tree.  No explanation needed. 

5.  Family and Friends.  I always enjoy getting together with all my friends and family around the holidays.  Nobody really discusses work or school, and we have a great time. 

Tyler and I watched two movies this week.  The new Pirates movie and Captain America.  They were really great!!  I loved them both. 

Right now I am putting off some exciting business stats, but since it is 5:30, I should probably get started.

It’s almost the weekend ya’ll.

Britney

Pumpkins!!

Tyler’s

Mine

Britney

Tuesday Tidbits

I can’t believe Halloween is less than a week away.  Before long it will be Thanksgiving.  Then Finals. THEN CHRISTMAS BREAK!!!!!!!!!

Since it is so close to Halloween, that means the semester is a little over half way through and the teachers are piling on the projects.  Let me paint a picture…

• Meal Mgt: Every Friday for the next three weeks my group and I have to prepare a meal. I have a special menu project due November 7.  A baking project due November 30.  A food demonstration sometime around November 14-21.
• Family Relations: A journal analysis due November 4.  An 8 page autobiography due November 30.
• Food Economics: A diabetic menu due November 1.  A renal menu due November 10.  A microbe assignment due November 15. A case study due November 17. 
• Family Resource Mgt:  Project idea due November 1.  Four articles due 11-3, 11-10, 11-17, and 12-1.  Project summary due November 29.  Book review due November 15
• FCS Seminar:  Project due November 16.
• And to top it all off… three days a week of Business Stats homework.

I mentioned that for the next three weeks I have to prepare a meal.  The cooking part isn’t too bad.  I actually enjoyed it last week, when it was my turn to cook.  I felt like I was cooking my troubles away. :)  It was really nice because afterwards I didn’t have to many dishes or clean up to do at all.  On Friday, I turned half a whole chicken into Lemon Baked Chicken.  It was delicious.  The hardest part was cutting through the breast bone.  I don’t know why I couldn’t just cut off the breast meat.  I was just following instructions.  I also made an apple pie from scratch.  I don’t even like pie, but I was very willing to eat the pie I slaved over.  The absolutely worse part was staying within our $10.65 budget.  Have you ever tried to fix a meal for 4 people with everything from scratch? Not an easy task.  I was $2.50 over. :( 

Today, I only had one class.  I wouldn’t even call it class because I took a test and went home. I made an A on the test by the way.  After I got home, Tyler and I went to Wally-World to get some much needed groceries.  When we are out of milk, I feel like I can’t cook.  :) We bought some pumpkins and carved them this afternoon.  I will post pictures tonight when they are lit.   

Britney

too random to give just one name

I can’t believe I haven't blogged since my sisters’ birthdays.  I have had a lot going on in the last week.  I guess I should start with where I left off.
For Manda’s Birthday, I threw her a small party to celebrate.  It was really nice, dad grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, and I took care of everything else.  I made her cake and cookies.  The cake was multi-colored.  I was extremely nervous about it, but it turned out great.  I don’t have pictures of the party because I only took pictures with dad’s camera.  Silly me. :) 
Last week, was my short week of school because I had Fall Break!!!!  That’s right a nice 4 day weekend.  It was so nice and it just happened to fall on my birthday. :) Unfortunately, the days flew by because I had some fun new things planned. 
Tuesday, Tyler took me shopping for my birthday.  It was so nice.  We got a few things for the house, clothes for ourselves, and a nice dinner consisting of steak, hot buttery rolls and potatoes.

Tyler found these at the store, and I just love them!!

On Thursday (my 22nd birthday), I cut 10 inches off my hair and plan on donating it to Locks of Love.  I have it bagged up, I just haven’t mailed it in.  I love my new cut, and I think everybody else does too.  I enjoyed having long hair, but I think short hair is so much more fun.  I had Manda take pictures so that she would be occupied and not make gasping sounds. 
On Friday, I woke up at 4:30 (by accident) and was ready for a fun girls-day-out.  I went to War Eagle with my MIL and SIL for the first time.  It was amazing, and I can’t wait to go back again next year.  I really can’t wait to have a house of my own, so I can decorate with all the super cute lawn items.  I did by a couple things including a wall plaque and two dough ornaments (I couldn’t decide).  We had a late lunch at Applebee's, and on the way home, we stopped in Fort Smith for a little more random shopping. 
Saturday was a blur because I spent the majority of the day in the kitchen.  I have a class this semester called Meal Mgt.  It hasn’t been too bad until this week.  I am in charge of taking half a whole chicken and making a meal for four people.  I can’t use anything considered a “convenient” item like soups, crackers, breads, things from cans, etc.  I also have to cook a fresh vegetable, double crust pie, and hot beverage.  I finally have all my recipes.  I intend on making Lemon Baked Chicken, fresh green beans, apple pie (from scratch), and hot cocoa.  Before I knew I couldn’t use convenient items, I made a meal of Poppy Seed Chicken (YUM!!). However, that recipe uses too many convenient food items, so I decided to change it.  I also made an apple pie this weekend, even though I don’t care for pie, it turned out pretty good.
 
Happy Mid-Week!!!
Britney

Happy Birthday Steph and Manda!!!!!!

It is pretty awesome that my sister-in-law and sister have the same birthday.  Last year on my blog, I raided their facebooks and borrowed some pictures for the blog.  I decided not to do that this year but still want to wish them the happiest of birthdays.  They both had school today, and Steph had to commute to Arkadelphia today (ACK!!!).  My baby sister is 18 today, and I am so happy for her.  I wish I could have seen her today.  I got to see Steph today though, and I got to give her her gift.  Happy birthday girls!!!!!

This weekend I stayed in Arkadelphia.  Saturday, was by far the laziest day of the semester for me.  I stayed on the couch all day watching Lifetime movies.  I had plans to be productive but never got anything done.  I didn’t get a chance to go to Hobby Lobby on Friday, but I did get to go to Hot Springs and eat Olive Garden with Tyler.  I could have gone to Hobby Lobby, but Tyler hates that store and I didn’t want to make him go through that. 

Yesterday my backpack broke.  I was so mad.  I have gone through 2 in less than a year.  Today, after I got out of school, I went and bought myself a good one.  My new one has a lifetime warranty.  Tyler has always told me I needed a JANSPORT backpack, so today, I bought one.  Hopefully this one will make it till graduation. 

I have been growing my hair out to donate.  I had originally thought Manda and I would donate our hair together, but she is waiting till her high school graduation to cut it.  I CANNOT wait that long.  I have set the date for next week, and am so excited for a new do.  I am going to get some blonde highlights too.  These are a few of the cuts I have found online that I am debating between. 

1… 

2…

3…

4…

Any suggestions?

Britney

I guess time really does fly by when you’re having fun

I cannot believe how fast the weeks have been flying by.  I have always thought the fall semester flies by and the spring semester crawls by.  I cannot believe on this coming Tuesday my sisters will be celebrating their birthdays.  Manda will be 18 and Steph will be…I better not say. :) 

Anyways, I feel like I have accomplished some things today.   I really wanted to take a nap today, but when I laid down after lunch, my mind was racing with things that needed to be done.  After about 45 minutes, I got up and got started.  The first thing I did was call ______________ to check on Manda’s birthday present.  I know she is going to love it.  I also called a lady here in Arkadelphia about observation hours for a class.  Well that didn’t go to good.  The lady misunderstood me and told me that I didn’t need to talk to her.  So I called my teacher and talked to her about it.  She is going to fix the situation for me. 

At school today, I had test first thing this morning.  I made an A.  I know already not because she put it online but because she has a “texting plan”.  If you give her your phone number, she will text you your grade when she has it graded.  I started studying for this test on Tuesday by doodling on the side of some paper.  

After my test, I met up with Steph to get my new book.  In my family resource management class, we have to read a book and write a summary about it.  When I was trying to come up with a book I ran across the Duggar’s new book.  I couldn’t think of a better book for a class about family resource management.  I had to meet up with Steph because I ordered it from Target and for some odd reason, I had it mailed to my dad’s address instead of mine.  So I had Steph bring it to me today.  Maybe I will start reading it this weekend. 

Some people get so irritated when talking about this family, but I think they are fascinating.  Michelle Duggar is such a soft spoken woman and seems so sweet.  Needless to say, I am looking forward to reading the book.  Maybe someday, since I live in Arkansas, I might run into them somewhere.

Have you ever thought if you were stuck in a foreign city with no phone, money, or car and a kind stranger let you make a phone call, who you would call to come get you?  If you couldn’t call a family member do you have a friend that would come get you or would you be stuck?  In my family resource class today, the teacher brought up this question.  She was telling us that the friendships we have are a resource.  I thought about it for a little bit and I do think that I have some friends that would come get me.  I am so thankful for those friendships and I don’t see them going anywhere soon.  I know my family would come get me but friends are always a different thing.

This weekend, I am looking forward to doing some crafts.  I am going to try and make fall wreath, some wall decor for my bedroom, and maybe a little something-something for Manda’s birthday.  Wish me luck.

Tomorrow’s Friday ya’ll!!!!!

Britney

Monday Madness (with LOTS of pictures)

So it’s Monday again.  YAY!  (That’s sarcasm ya’ll)  Luckily, it’s almost over.  I haven’t been very productive today.  I went to class, came home, took a nap, and then went to Wal*Mart.  Now I am online, ignoring the calls coming from my books.  Last week flew by, and I didn’t do much.  I had two tests, got my hair trimmed, and eyebrows waxed (…and boy they needed it.) 

Mena’s homecoming was Friday and Manda looked GORGEOUS!!!  Honestly, she had the best looking dress.  She didn’t get queen, and I think I was more upset than she was.  Now for some pictures…  

Her she is ready for all the group photos.  Of course, she would wear her cowboy boots.

But she wasn’t the only one to wear boots.

I told you she was GORGEOUS!!!!

Here are some of the group photos.

These two pics were taken during waiting periods.

While everyone else was watching the Bearcats beat Dover, this is what I was doing.

The Family

Manda and Christopher (he is looking at his momma in this pic)  

 

Manda and Macen (who knew a guy from Acorn had so much Bearcat spirit)

What a goof!!

This was my homecoming mum.

Overall, homecoming was a lot of fun.  It was an honor for Manda to even be nominated.  I was so proud of her and she looked beautiful.

I went home on Sunday morning because Tyler was going to be there.  When I got back to the apartment, we decided to go eat and do a little shopping.  We finally have a little patio and we needed some chairs and a table.  We found these at Wal*Mart.  Next spring I will buy a potted plant or two and some sort of mosquito repellant.  I hate the little boogers but they seem to love me.  We also had some time and decided to hang up some pictures. 

    This is in the hall way.  I know it’s hard to tell but the round thing is a big beautiful red clock.      

Britney