It's Cold.

Source

Yeah, I think the title of this post says it all. 

It's.  Friggin'.  Cold. 

And icy. 

Andy had to bring me to work today because everything was a sheet of ice and I didn't really feel like having my car "accidentally" slide into another car... because I know that's what would have happened if I drove.  I just know it.  I'm proud to say that I maneuvered across the sidewalk without falling, so that was an accomplishment.

Andy's shop closed up early today too, so we got to spend the afternoon together.  Which pretty much consisted of going to get some lunch and currently I'm baking some peanut butter cookies.  Yup, the house smells AWESOME right now.

So hopefully tomorrow will be a little safer on the roadways.  And I definitely know tomorrow is gonna be good anyway because it's FRIDAY!  And I've got the weekend off, so it's going to be splendid!

Have a great Thursday... well what's left of it anyway.  And stay warm!

Tis the Season for Lights!

Andy is funny.  He's normally a laid back, care-free kind of fellow that just goes with the flow.  Almost always.  Except when it comes to the subject of outdoor Christmas lights.  He's downright anal. 

Now, I like looking at Christmas lights.  Spending endless hours driving around town looking for the house that has that Clark Griswald effect.  You know, the houses with electric bills that sum up to a whole year's worth in just a few weeks?  Yeah, those are cool.

This is a little too much for me, but would be perfect for Andy. (Source)

But Andy.  Andy acts like he's a Christmas light critic for the New York Times when we're out on these journeys.  He's downright snobby about it.  He says you can't mix colored lights with white lights.  You can't mix light bulb sizes.  Seriously?  Light bulb sizes?  Come on babe.

Don't dare combine these big babies with little ones or the "light police" will come after you! (Source)

And people with only lights around the doorway?  Or just on a couple of bushes?  That irks him.  Irks him A LOT.  Me... I just like looking at the pretty lights.

Ha... I just saw this and HAD to laugh. (Source)

And as far as our house?  Do we decorate the outside with lights?  No.  And I find that funny, considering I'm living with the "chief" of Christmas light decor, himself.

What about you guys?  Are you particular about your outdoor Christmas lights?  Or are you like me, and just like looking at the pretty colors glowing in the dark nights of winter?

And despite our different opinions of Christmas lighting... I still can't help but love the guy! =)

Good Grades Put Smiles On Faces

I'm happy to report that the Molecular Biology test I took on Tuesday yielded very good results... in the form of a 96%!  Woop woop.  Let me take a moment to just throw a little party for myself.  Okay, I'm done.  The only thing I could kick myself for was that I totally skipped a whole page on the exam!  And I knew the answers on that page!  So hell, I could have gotten a 100%!  Oh well, no harm, no foul.

And I've practically sealed an A+ in my Spanish class, too.  I think I could fail the final and still pull off an A.  So all is well there too.

Even better news, my Developmental Biology class, which I've loathed about ever since my first test... I may actually pull of a B in that!  So hey, B's are better than C's.  And I'm down with that!

I'm absolutely exhausted (really pushed myself on the treadmill today!) so no cute pictures or anything today, just thought I'd share the good news about my grades.  And thank goodness next week is finals!  I'm ready for that month off!  I really need to work a bunch and replenish all that money I've been spending on Christmas presents!

Hope you guys have a good Thursday and I'll be back tomorrow with that much anticipated recipe for a Buckeye Cake!  (So sorry to keep you all waiting so long!)

Being Thankful

November is that time of the year, at least in the U.S., where families start to put their heads together and decide who's having Thanksgiving, Christmas, and what all is going to go down.

Thanksgiving has always been one of those holidays that I hold very special.  Of course, the major consumption of food is amazing, but the feeling of being together with my family (especially when these things just DON'T happen), is what puts great excitement in my heart.

And it's odd that we save a holiday for giving thanks for things we love.  We should always be thankful for them, and not take them for granted.  So today, I thought I'd run through a few things that I'm truly thankful for...

My family.

They are cooky. They are crazy.  But they are my family. They have never let me down.  They've never disowned me, despite the many temper tantrums I've thrown throughout my years.  They love me and I equally love them back.

Andy.

Why wouldn't I be thankful for this goober?!  He's one of the most amazing people I have ever met (please don't let that go to your head, babe!) and I wouldn't be the person I am today without him.  And I'm glad we don't have our lives all mapped out, that we slowly live by the edge of our seats, and take every surprise that comes at us!  (And he's earned bonus points because I came home to a completely clean pantry and kitchen!)

Mocha & Zappa.

The dogs drive me nuts, but I love them.  I was never much of an animal person as a kid.  Dogs, specifically, always freaked me out.  So I suppose I deserve to have the most in-your-face, I want attention 24/7 kind of dogs.  I'm sure they've caused me to have high blood pressure at times, but I wouldn't trade them in for replacement dogs.  No way.

How could I not love a face like this?

My friends.

Every one of them is different in their own way.  Every one of them contribute to who I am in their own way.  And through everything we've been through (I mean, it's been 7 years since I graduated high school!), we still remain the same friends that we were from the get go.  And I hope that never changes.

I couldn't help but die from laughter after finding this picture: our homemade "flag" for Bonnaroo from 3 years ago!

The 3 amigos in New Orleans!

The bounty of unique food we get to enjoy.

I really am thankful to have experience food in such a different way.  I mean, not many 25 year old people can say that they've mastered cooking duck breasts, or say that they cook 90% of their meals instead of getting take-out.  Hell, I know grown adults that can't even say that!

And you guys!

Without you guys, I wouldn't smile after every blog post.  I wouldn't be posting these recipes on this blog.  I wouldn't be having fun.  You guys brighten up my day when I see comments flooded (okay, not flooded, but even 1 comment makes a difference in my day!) in my inbox.  So thank you guys for still sticking around and putting up with my goofy self!

What about you guys?  What are you thankful for?

Home Sweet Home

Wish there was more time to landscape =)

 There were certain times in my life where I never thought that being independent, or living on my own, were ever possible.  Prime example... the entire duration of high school.  My parents drove me crazy.  I drove my parents crazy.  And all I wanted to do was get away. 

So when college time approached, I decided to go away.  I made it a year, and while living away for college was a blast, it just didn't seem "right". 

After my first year of college, I moved to Florida.  With a boy.   And I lived there 4 months before coming back home.  While certain events took place, those of which I don't really feel comfortable discussing (it's been almost 6 years, and it still makes me tremble, but that story is for another day, maybe), I moved back home.  Back home with my parents.  And so I came full circle. 

And so I took time off school, and worked.  Worked to save money.  To save money, so that one day, I would be set free, again.  It didn't come as fast as I had wanted.  And then... I met a boy.  A boy named Andy, who worked in a music shop.  And my life changed.  Not instantly, of course, but slowly. 

At first, I just dated to date.  Andy was a nice guy, but he was older, and I was still somewhat immature.  Definitely nothing like I am now.  But as our relationship progressed, I found myself growing as a person.  And in that time, we grew together, as well. 

Andy may not realize this, but he's one of the major reasons I went back to school in the first place.  They always say that once you take a break from school, it's hard to get back to it.  You work, you make money, so why give that up?  But Andy had so many goals, so much ambition to get things accomplished.  I had to evaluate myself and say "I have goals, I have ambition, too."  And so I went back to school. 

And eventually, 2 years after we'd went on that "1st date" we decided to move in together.  I was finally independent from my parents... truly on my own.  And we live in that cute little house in the Highlands of Louisville.  And while we're not your perfect couple, we compliment eachother... like peanut butter and jelly. 

So yeah... thanks for sitting and letting me go on a Cliff's Notes rant about Andy and I.  But seriously, if it wasn't for Andy... I wouldn't be independent.  I wouldn't be mature.  I wouldn't have an appreciation for certain things.  I wouldn't be blogging. 

I wouldn't be cooking! 

The magic happens here.

And that would be a travesty. 

Life without cooking would be quite dark, indeed.