- Marking the end of C' fourth year of teaching at Chamblee HS
- Brookhaven Bolt 5K Race and running into friends
- Buying a leaf blower (so exciting - here is to many more hours in the yard, and an end (?) to pine needles everywhere!)
- The first pool trip of the year hosted by good friends (thank you to the Masi's!)
- A lawn mower and an armoir from friends who are (sadly) moving
- Cleaning the house (yes, this makes me happy)
- A date-night at Coast thanks to the amazing Admission Fellows I worked with this past year
- Watching C coach the DeKalb County All-Star Soccer Game....soccer is a big deal in our house
- LOTS of time relaxing, reading books and catching up!
Weekends....
I LOVE weekends. Especially in the summer, but really any weekend is wonderful! (Can you tell that I miss "summer vacations"?) In honor of weekends, here are some highlights from the summer weekends so far:
Tag Sale
Oh, what a day! Post spring cleaning, I realized that we had many unused items in the house - a product of combining two lives. In an effort to make the most of the limited space in our house, I decided to have a tag sale (otherwise known as a yard sale in the south!).
Growing up, we had a tag sale almost every few years; I have great memories of donuts and coffee (for my parents) as we to put out clothes, furniture and other items that we no longer used. While my first tag sale did not include any donuts, I made sure to have the coffee covered! The day started with moving and arranging the following in our front yard:
Growing up, we had a tag sale almost every few years; I have great memories of donuts and coffee (for my parents) as we to put out clothes, furniture and other items that we no longer used. While my first tag sale did not include any donuts, I made sure to have the coffee covered! The day started with moving and arranging the following in our front yard:
- Double cast-iron (white) bed frame with mattresses
- Pier-1 bowl chair
- Small butcher block table
- Vacuum cleaner
- Media table
- Coffee table
- CD tower
- 2 sets of dishes
- Wine Rack
- Set of 3 Jars
- AC window unit
- LOTS of other miscellaneous items
Oreo Dessert
Growing up, I was not especially fond of cake. In lieu of having a birthday cake, I usually requested "Oreo Dessert". I am not sure exactly when this treat was introduced to my family, but I cannot remember a time without it!
The other weekend, we were having a get-together with friends so I made one on Friday night to take with us. It was great to share one of my favorites with friends. You see, it is really quite simple (and maybe that is what makes it so great!): Oreos, butter, cool whip, fluff, and Creme de Mint.
Freeze overnight for weekend dinner-party! (Or any party really.) So good. Enjoy!
The other weekend, we were having a get-together with friends so I made one on Friday night to take with us. It was great to share one of my favorites with friends. You see, it is really quite simple (and maybe that is what makes it so great!): Oreos, butter, cool whip, fluff, and Creme de Mint.
- Crush 1 package of Oreos
- Melt 1/4 cup of butter and pour over the Oreos
- Spread the mixture into a 9x13 pan (glass pyrex works best)
- In another bowl, mix the fluff and cool whip together
- Add less than 1/4 cup of Creme de Mint to the fluff and cool whip (or less depending on how minty you would like it)
- Finally, spread the topping (fluff, cool whip and Creme de Mint) over the Oreos in the pan. (I like to save a few extra Oreo pieces to sprinkle on top!)
Freeze overnight for weekend dinner-party! (Or any party really.) So good. Enjoy!
the Chandelier
When I moved into C' house after the wedding, there were many projects I had in mind to transform the house into our home. One example was the light in the dining room; to be perfectly honest, I did not like the fixture very much…it said standard and boring where I would have preferred some kind of statement. So when the light bulb went out, I was not too sad. Thinking ahead, I asked C just to take the light fixture down. It was going to be replaced sooner or later and I thought…why not jump into that process?
That resulted in 7 months of nothing but wires (sadly) looking like this...a blurry mess:
So much for jumping into the project! I will admit, it was not for a lack of trying to move forward. I searched online for hours, and days…trying to find the right fixture. I looked at the big stores including Lowe's and Home Depot, and all of the little stores Google could find, but couldn't find "the one".
Finding the one is a big deal in our house. Before any major purchase (and often minor too), C would ask if it was what I wanted for the next 10 years. There is something about a long term commitment that makes me pause while shopping. The light fixture was certainly in the category of needing to be the one, hence a 7 month search!
One day I was discussing my disappointment with the search to our wonderful small group leader, and she suggested The Big Chandelier. It was exactly what I was looking for….AMAZING!
It wasn't long before I fell in love with....
and knew it was the one for our dining room. I was so excited about the possibility of having dinner at the table with light (beyond candles)!
At the end of January, the chandelier was finished (new color and wiring) and I thought the wait was finally over. With a whole day cleared on our calendars, we set out to hang the chandelier. We quickly realized that we live in a house with not so great electrical wiring. You see, C did a wonderful job of putting it up and it was beautiful....only it didn't turn OFF. Oops!
So after another week, and some tinkering with the assistance of
and help from my father-in-law over the phone, I am happy to announce we (finally) have a working light in the dining room!
Looking forward to having friends over for dinner parties soon! Who wants to come?
That resulted in 7 months of nothing but wires (sadly) looking like this...a blurry mess:
So much for jumping into the project! I will admit, it was not for a lack of trying to move forward. I searched online for hours, and days…trying to find the right fixture. I looked at the big stores including Lowe's and Home Depot, and all of the little stores Google could find, but couldn't find "the one".
Finding the one is a big deal in our house. Before any major purchase (and often minor too), C would ask if it was what I wanted for the next 10 years. There is something about a long term commitment that makes me pause while shopping. The light fixture was certainly in the category of needing to be the one, hence a 7 month search!
One day I was discussing my disappointment with the search to our wonderful small group leader, and she suggested The Big Chandelier. It was exactly what I was looking for….AMAZING!
It wasn't long before I fell in love with....
and knew it was the one for our dining room. I was so excited about the possibility of having dinner at the table with light (beyond candles)!
At the end of January, the chandelier was finished (new color and wiring) and I thought the wait was finally over. With a whole day cleared on our calendars, we set out to hang the chandelier. We quickly realized that we live in a house with not so great electrical wiring. You see, C did a wonderful job of putting it up and it was beautiful....only it didn't turn OFF. Oops!
So after another week, and some tinkering with the assistance of
and help from my father-in-law over the phone, I am happy to announce we (finally) have a working light in the dining room!
Looking forward to having friends over for dinner parties soon! Who wants to come?
In the Beginning
Spring makes me happy - it just may be my favorite season. The past few weeks have gone by so quickly! Not that we have been up to much, but I must admit that I am LOVING LIFE and that is keeping me busy. It seems that the change of weather has brought me a new perspective, or at least a refreshed outlook…which is gladly welcomed after a long "reading season".
I thought this might be a good time to tell a little bit about us. Is actually quite a long story - going back to 2000, or 2003 depending on how you look at it. To tell you all about the past twelve years (give or take) might take a few hundred posts….honestly! I thought the best introduction might be what C wrote for our wedding website:
We met in Ms. Hathaway's 9th grade English class, but never really talked until E asked C to junior prom. After a few dates, the couple hit it off at prom and their relationship continued through high school and into college. Sailing the waters of a long distance relationship (with E at Fairfield University and C at Georgia Tech) was rocky at times, but the couple made it through the college years with many fond memories of places like Charleston and Gatlinburg. Following graduation, E took the plunge, packing her life into her little 2-door Civic and moving down to Atlanta. Three long years later, C finally came to his senses and both were ready to take their relationship to the next level.
I thought this might be a good time to tell a little bit about us. Is actually quite a long story - going back to 2000, or 2003 depending on how you look at it. To tell you all about the past twelve years (give or take) might take a few hundred posts….honestly! I thought the best introduction might be what C wrote for our wedding website:
We met in Ms. Hathaway's 9th grade English class, but never really talked until E asked C to junior prom. After a few dates, the couple hit it off at prom and their relationship continued through high school and into college. Sailing the waters of a long distance relationship (with E at Fairfield University and C at Georgia Tech) was rocky at times, but the couple made it through the college years with many fond memories of places like Charleston and Gatlinburg. Following graduation, E took the plunge, packing her life into her little 2-door Civic and moving down to Atlanta. Three long years later, C finally came to his senses and both were ready to take their relationship to the next level.
Well, that is it...or at least the basics anyway. Yes, yes - there is so much that has been left out of those sentences…from "Monday night dinners" to date-night adventures, trips and time spent with friends, there are some wonderful memories that I am sure will be remembered through this blog at some point (so stay tuned!).
This spring season will surely bring new chapter(s) to share and we are excited for what is to come as we seek to grow in our relationship with the Lord and each other.
This spring season will surely bring new chapter(s) to share and we are excited for what is to come as we seek to grow in our relationship with the Lord and each other.
A Bucket List of Sorts
It took 2 full years of working full-time and going to school part-time, but this past December I completed my masters degree. So exciting! I have dedicated the "spring semester" to.... NOTHING. I did not add any more meetings or events, no additional commitments were made (not even one that is only monthly) - you can even ask my husband, as this is sort of a big deal. While I have given much of what would have been my free time to work over the past couple of months (reading applications), I also have been crafting a list of considerations. Let me share some ideas on what could/should be next:
Well, that is all I have for now. Anything sound especially fun?
- Train for a marathon (side note: it is my goal to run one before I am 30)
- Read a book, or two....or maybe an entire 'best seller list'?
- Start some projects around the house
- Landscaping, demolition / reinstallation, painting, decorating, etc.
- Take a photography class to be able to use the camera I bought after graduating from Fairfield University (almost 5 years ago!)
- More school?! (certificate in college counseling or perhaps an EdD?)
- Travel - there are friends I haven't seen in what feels like forever, and I would love to catch up! (Virginia, Colorado...and maybe even somewhere abroad)
- Learn Spanish
Well, that is all I have for now. Anything sound especially fun?
Prayer
Today begins the season of Lent, and while I grew up in the tradition of "giving something up" and not eating meat on Fridays, it has come to mean something entirely different as I have developed a relationship with the Lord.
(My story is far too long to a post tonight but I will give you a short summary...I grew up in the Catholic faith but did not really come to understand faith and grace until High School through my involvement in YoungLife).
I have come to see Lent as a period of time dedicated to growing in my relationship with the Lord - really a time of FOCUS. This year being married added a whole new element: namely if or how to incorporate my practices in Lent into our practices. After sharing my thoughts and proposing a few ideas, C decided we should spend time every day in prayer together.
You see, this together piece is an important note. Since completing my master's degree in December, I have been (attempting to) spend more time at home and with C. While I will argue that I am not doing "too much", and really only have a couple of things going on - I will also be honest and admit that I generally love to be busy and involved. The past two months have been a wonderful struggle of patience, and a time of reflection while considering and how I should be using time. In this first year of marriage, I feel blessed to have this opportunity (and a husband who continually reminds me that I am in a season/semester of quiet time)! (Only two more months to go....but then again, we will just have to see what that may, or may not, bring).
In praying together, we will not only be spending time together but also sharing our prayers with God and each other. Just this week, I have been struck by friends' comments on the importance of praying out loud. While I believe that God does hear our thoughts and prayers, even if not spoken - there may be something about voicing our acknowledgements of thanksgiving and petitions that is almost on a different level when said out loud.
So in this 2012 season of Lent, we are committed to a journey of communication with each other and with God as we pray together.
(My story is far too long to a post tonight but I will give you a short summary...I grew up in the Catholic faith but did not really come to understand faith and grace until High School through my involvement in YoungLife).
I have come to see Lent as a period of time dedicated to growing in my relationship with the Lord - really a time of FOCUS. This year being married added a whole new element: namely if or how to incorporate my practices in Lent into our practices. After sharing my thoughts and proposing a few ideas, C decided we should spend time every day in prayer together.
You see, this together piece is an important note. Since completing my master's degree in December, I have been (attempting to) spend more time at home and with C. While I will argue that I am not doing "too much", and really only have a couple of things going on - I will also be honest and admit that I generally love to be busy and involved. The past two months have been a wonderful struggle of patience, and a time of reflection while considering and how I should be using time. In this first year of marriage, I feel blessed to have this opportunity (and a husband who continually reminds me that I am in a season/semester of quiet time)! (Only two more months to go....but then again, we will just have to see what that may, or may not, bring).
In praying together, we will not only be spending time together but also sharing our prayers with God and each other. Just this week, I have been struck by friends' comments on the importance of praying out loud. While I believe that God does hear our thoughts and prayers, even if not spoken - there may be something about voicing our acknowledgements of thanksgiving and petitions that is almost on a different level when said out loud.
So in this 2012 season of Lent, we are committed to a journey of communication with each other and with God as we pray together.
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