Update!

Here are some things going on now and in August:

1. Kyle will be starting a new job tomorrow at a local university. :)

2. My birthday is next month!

3. I will finish up another quarter of grad school! :) Im looking forward to my classes in the fall.

4. August is one month closer to fall. (football, cooler weather, and of course decorating)

5. I have a lot of craft ideas that I can't wait to start working on! :) (Pinterest is the coolest website. Check it out when you have a few hours....you will need it)

6. My phone finally went ka-put. I sucked it up and went ahead and got a new phone. I'm now up to date with the I-Phone 4. :)

Recipe I used to make a friend's birthday cake:

Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Lemonade Cream Cheese Icing

Cake Ingredients:
-1 box classic white cake mix
-1 1/4 c water
-3/4 c egg beaters
-3 TBS all natural applesauce
-2-3 TBS lemon juice
-1/2 c sugar free strawberry preserves

Icing ingredients:
-1 (8 oz) container low fat strawberry cream cheese
-1 (8 oz) container sugar free fat free cool whip
-3/4-1 c splenda
-1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325. Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, water and egg beaters.
3. With mixer, beat at low to med speed until well incorporated.
4. Add applesauce, lemon juice, and preserves to mix and beat at med speed until smooth.
5. Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for 34-38 min.
6. While cake is baking, make the icing by combining all icing ingredients at low-med speed until smooth and creamy.
7. Once cake has baked and cooled, pour icing on top of cake and refrigerate approximately 2-3 hours. Enjoy.

Breaded Chicken Parmesan and Cheesy Hamburger Casserole

Breaded Chicken Parmesan

4 pieces of chicken breast
1 TBSP grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup Italian style bread crumbs
1 tsp garlic powder
1 TBSP onions, dried
Crushed red peppers (if desired)

1. Cut the chicken breast horizontally (filet it) so you will end up with 2 thin places.
2. Rub each piece with olive oil
3. Mix dry ingredients together and pat each piece with the crumb mixture until well covered
4. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

I served this on top of marinara sauce and noodles. It turned out great!

Cheesy Hamburger Casserole

1 pound of ground beef (I used deer meat)
2 cups elbow macaroni
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 TBSP oregano
1 TBSP basil
1 TBSP ground cumin
salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Cook macaroni according to package and drain.
3. In a skillet, saute onions and peppers until soft. Remove and set aside
4. Brown hamburger meat and drain.
5. Add onions, peppers, meat, tomatoes, oregano, basil, cumin, salt and pepper. Mix together
6, Add mixture to macaroni and pour in a baking dish coated in cooking spray.
7. Heat in oven for 5 minutes.
8. Add cheese to the top and bake until cheese melts and dish is bubbly (around 5-10 min).

i added some shredded cheddar cheese to the top and it turned out pretty good. I really liked the different spices added.

Baked Potato Dip and new workout gear!

I had the most fabulous dip while serving at VBS with my church. I honestly have no clue who made it, but I ended up getting the recipe bc it was so delicious.

Baked Potato Dip

1 8 oz. sour cream
1 8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1 pkg. real bacon bits
2 cups shredded colby jack cheese
jalapenos to taste

Mix all ingredients together and bake for 25-30 min @ 350

Serve with Ruffles Potato Chips

B. and I have been working out for a few months now at least once a week. I call her my trainer bc she always pushes me to go the extra mile. She shows me different techniques to use while I am working out the other days of the week. Earlier this week she decided that we should workout in the pool. I thought that we would be just treading water for 30 min. I was terrified bc I literally swim like a dog. I doggie paddle and still feel like Im drowning. I do best with a noodle or raft. I decided that I would give it a shot though and knew that she would save me if I started drowning. (She used to be a lifeguard). Thank goodness. Well I arrived at her house and she had these nifty workout things. She had weights, a kick board, and a water belt. We used all the gear and I really enjoyed it. She gave me different things to do and I really like doing the exercises. I couldn't wait to get these things to do at my pool. I asked her where they came from and she said Academy. Well Tuesday I made a trip to Academy and picked them up.



I worked out using the new water gear by myself yesterday and loved it. :)

I'm not as fearless as I once was....

Two years ago, (almost to the day) I moved to a city that I spread my wings in and were I learned to be fearless. i learned to keep up with the traffic or you would be run over. I learned to not get scared at every little "bump in the night" while living alone. I learned how to be comfortable eating at a restaurant by myself. I learned to be independent and rely totally on God. At some points in my life in the city....he was all I had. I was never scared or terrified. I can't say that I didn't feel alone at times. I was fearless...

This past weekend, I visited the fabulous city that I once lived in. I saw it through fresh eyes and I was speechless. I saw cars speeding around me and gripped the steering wheel and held on for dear life. I heard every noise while staying at a friend's house and didn't sleep a wink. Overall, I was terrified and I couldn't figure out why. I guess I'm so used to "small town living" that I forgot what it was like to be on my own.

I guess I'm not as fearless as I once was......maybe I'm just growing up.

Re-cap

I have been meaning to post on what has been going on in my life, but I haven't had a large enough chunk of time. Of course right now I should be studying for my test that is in 4 hours, but I would much rather be blogging.

Highlights of the past week:

1. Sis and her hubby came in for the 4th of July (don't think I took 1 pic..boo) oh and they brought Dolce (adorable pup)
2. Scrapbooked (long overdue) with my bestie
3. purged my closet and I can finally wear everything in my closet (plus I fit into my skinny girl clothes..wahoo)
4. cooked/assisted in cooking 1. ribs and veggies cooked on the grill 2. chocolate chip peanut butter squares 3. baked potato dip
5. got a manicure with a good friend of mine on Saturday (and the paint is still staying on :)
6. went to the lake and hung out with the whole family. I even bumper tubed and got some "major air"

I have a very close friend that lost her mother to cancer this week. She was a very Godly, amazing woman and my heart hurts for this precious family. They are finding joy in the fact that she is healed and dancing with Jesus right now. Please be with the Emerson family as they are grieving.

I am thrilled to be going to my home away from home tomorrow. I can't wait to get back to my old stomping grounds and visit my favorite places (Cupcakery, North Park Mall, Katy Trail) and see my precious friends that I miss a whole bunch.

That's all for now! :)

Pictures

A close friend of ours took some pics of Kyle and I the other day. We just wanted some pictures for us because we have never had pictures taken of us. We had a great time and the pictures turned out great! :) Here are my favorites!







And before you ask....no this isn't an engagement picture. You will know when the event happens. Lol. These pics are just for us and for fun! :)