2010..you've been sweet!

I absolutely cannot believe it will be 2011 tomorrow! As each new year comes to a close, I always feel it's important to look back and reflect. Not only does it remind me how much I have to be thankful for, and how things have changed, but it's an instant reminder of how great and faithful God has been, and will be in the coming year!

Our year began with a great leap of faith. We bought our first home! We searched for about 2 months and learned everything about the housing market (some of which brought me to tears). We knew we wanted an older home with character in a well-established neighborhood. As we drove up to what is now our current home, the realtor was nailing the 'For Sale' sign into the yard. We made an offer than night and moved in 2 months later. Being a homeowner teaches you a wealth of new lessons and information. We quickly learned there is a lot going on behind the scenes in a 50 year old home. We have taken on several projects including new landscaping, LOTS of painting (and more to come), furniture refinishing, new crown moulding, baseboards and wood blinds. There is nothing quite as sweet as coming home at the end of every day.

This was also a year of travels, one of my favorite things to do. Our adventures included several roadtrips to Arlington to see my brother, sis-in-law and precious niece and nephew. (we LOVE being an aunt and uncle) We also went with one of my oldest and dearest friends to Lake Travis in Austin to celebrate Easter. In May, we had a girls' trip to DC to visit Whit! It was fabulous and included lots of catch up time, great food and shopping. My family went to Florida and rented a sweet condo right on the beach. I am such a Florida girl at heart and was in paradise with the sand between my toes :)

This year also marked a big job change for me! As I looked back to my New Years post from last year, my goal was to pray a lot about the direction of my future. I mentioned not even knowing what my dream job would be, and now I know I have it! Looking back now, I am so thankful that God really gave me that opportunity to grow my faith during a trying time. I'm so blessed to have a job I love!

This year I also (shamed to admit it) attended my first Aggie game as an alum. I must admit it was very nice to be able to sit during the game. It was so homey and such a treat to be back in that stadium with all my fellow Aggies. College Station is still a magical place to visit!

Tyler and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary a little early this year and flew off to Portland, Maine on a whim. We absolutely fell in love with the area and were able to experience a real autumn. The weather was crisp and the leaves were a beautiful mix of orange, yellow and red. We really enjoyed not knowing a thing about the area until we arrived and let the locals guide the way. Great food and great fun were had. We hope to go back sometime soon!

We also celebrated our first Christmas in our new home. It was so much fun to decorate and make everything cozy. I think one of the things I love so much about Christmas is simply that it comes each year. That is so comforting to me. I love time with family, friends and just time to really enjoy the sweet things in life. I also took this time to read through Luke and really reflect on God's gift to me--his Son! This Christmas was really festive and filled my heart with warmth and love.

And finally, I am so grateful for the amazing new friendships we've made and for the time we've shared with old friends. Two of my best friends got married this year and it was such a joy getting to celebrate with them. We're also a part of an awesome home team that continues to be such a blessing in our lives and marriage.

When it's all said and done, this has been an amazing year filled with awesome friendships and experiences. I'm so grateful for this year and the people I've spent it with. Cheers to 2011, friends!

Drumroll...Tyler's DIY Gift!

This year I set out to create a meaningful, diy gift for Tyler. Tyler is always pursuing so many hobbies so giving him gifts is actually fun and allows me to get creative. As most of you may know, he has started homebrewing and has made some really great beer (my favorite is the Nut Brown Ale). He is passionate about brewing, bottling and everything beer! So, lo and behold..his gift!..

With some help I worked to design a label and logo for Ol' Rock Brewery (the name of the future Aggie hangout). I ordered some empty bottles and got these awesome crates from Anthropologie's leftover displays. After printing and labeling the bottles, they went into the crates ready for the big surprise.

The gift was a huge hit and it was so rewarding to work to create something special for the hubby! Now I have to top that idea in a few short weeks for his 26th birthday--geez!

Moral of the story: diy gifts are always worth the extra time and effort! It just takes a little energy to get creative :)

Christmas at home

Like most of you I'm sure, this has been a crazy, busy month for me! It's so comforting to come home to this at the end of the day. Tyler was a stud and hung all the lights on the outside of the house (perfectly of course). Our gifts are wrapped and under the tree of twinkling lights. Now is always the time of year I'd love for time to just slow down a bit to enjoy the wonder of this magical season!

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Mulled Wine

We served this delicious drink at our Christmas party and I highly recommend it! It tastes like that classic red wine with a touch of sweet and a touch of citrus. Yum!

Mulled Wine

Ingredients:

2 bottles dry red wine

4 ounces port or brandy

12 whole cloves

4 cinnamon sticks

1 large orange zested

Simply combine ingredients in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Do not allow mixture to boil. Heat for 20 minutes and serve in a large, heat resistant punch bowl.

Christmas Bash!

Hello friends! Please forgive my blogging silence. As I discussed with my best friend, Whit (check out her blog), I think it's just that time of year I want to cozy up and enjoy the quiet (rare for me)!

BUT, last weekend Tyler and I threw a Christmas party at our little home. It was really fun to get everything ready together and did we ever bake up a storm. We served lots of great desserts to munch on including chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate cinnamon fudge, peanut butter fudge, pumpkin bread and peppermint bark. It was all delicious!

I also made a diy party favor which was a lot of fun. I created a CD with all of our favorite Christmas tunes along with homemade CD covers out of scrapbook paper and yarn. Such a simple little idea!

How To

What you need:

CD

Scrapbook paper (16" x16")

Paper cutter or scissors

Hole punch

Fluffy Yarn

Hot Glue Gun

Pom Poms

Just burn the CD. Cut the scrapbook paper in half and fold. On 2 consecutive sides of the square (excluding the folded side), punch holes evenly spaced. Then string the yarn through the holes and leave a little excess to tie knots on either end. With the hot glue gun, glue the pom poms on the excess yarn in the top corner and wa-la! A precious little gift.

We really enjoyed hosting together, time with close friends and ringing in the season in style!

A Great Fall Find!

This dish is absolutely incredible! The perfect cozy comfort food for fall. Try it and let me know your thoughts!

Pork and Sweet Potato Stew

(1) 2 1/2-3 lb pork loin, cut into 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch cubes
3 to 4 T all-purpose flour
3 T olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 to 3 stalks celery, chopped
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
(1) 14 oz can chicken broth
(1) 10 oz bottle apple-cranberry juice (or we used apple juice and fresh cranberries!)
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/4 inch cubes
1 to 2 T snipped fresh sage (we used dry)

1. Sprinkle pork with 1/2 t salt an 1/4 t pepper. Place flour in a large bowl; add pork and toss to coat. In a 5-6 qt Dutch oven heat 1 T of the oil over medium-high heat. Add half the pork; brown on all sides. Remove. Repeat with another 1 T oil and remaining pork. Remove pork from pan.
2. Add remaining oil to pan along with onion and celery; cook 5 to 7 minutes or until tender. Stir in garlic. Sprinkle with any remaining flour; stir to coat. Slowly stir in broth, juice, and 1 cup water. Return pork to pan; add sweet potatoes and sage. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and cook 20 to 25 minutes more until potatoes and pork are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. To serve, top with fresh sage leaves. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Yum! Enjoy!

It's that time of year!

We've been busy decking the halls! Here are a few photos of our home for the holidays. It was exciting to decorate for our first Christmas in our home! We picked out a real tree and it smells wonderful. It was fun filling it with twinkling lights and meaningful ornaments. I just love this time of year and how warm and cheerful our home feels!

Apple-Cranberry Pie

I'm so grateful to have some time at home to relax and bake! We just made this totally homemade apple-cranberry pie from Better Homes and Gardens and my-oh-my, is it delicious!

Ingredients:
2 homemade pie pastries or rolled refrigerated piecrusts
6 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1/2 cup cranberries
2 T lemon juice
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/4 t ground allspice
1/8 t salt
1 recipe Pastry Cream, below
1 egg, beaten
1 T whipping cream

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out pastry on a floured work surface to a circle about 14 inches in diameter. Transfer to a 9-inch deep dish pie tin or plate without stretching. Trim pastry even with rim of tin.
2. In a large bowl combine apples, cranberries, and lemon juice. In a small bowl combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, allspice and salt.
3. Spread bottom of crust with Pastry Cream. Toss apple mixture with dry ingredients; pile over pastry cream in pie tin. Roll remaining pastry portion to 12-inch circle; place over apples. Trim to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie tin. Fold top pastry under bottom pastry. Crimp edges as desired. Cut 4 small slits in top crust to allow steam to escape. Combine egg and cream; brush on pastry. Place on a foil-lines baking sheet.
4. Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes. If necessary, cover edges of pie with foil to prevent overbrowning. Cool on wire rack. Makes 10 servings.

Pastry Cream: In a small saucepan combine 1 cup milk and 1/4 cup sugar; cook over medium heat until bubbly on edges. Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl beat 2 egg yolks, 3 T sugar, 3 T cornstarch, and 1/4 t salt until combined. Gradually beat in 1/3 cup hot milk mixture; quickly beat in remaining milk mixture. Return to saucepan; cook and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in 2 T butter and 1/2 t vanilla. Transfer to bowl; cover surface with plastic wrap. Cool. Store in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

Serve and enjoy :)!

1 Year Strong!

Last weekend we celebrated our 1 year anniversary! We enjoyed a great steak dinner, tried our year old wedding cake (which was pretty good!), and curled up with our wedding video. We loved reliving that special day spent with our loved ones, and enjoyed talking married life. It's truly hard to believe how quickly the time went by. A year ago, I was walking down the aisle towards my future, and now I'm living it every day!

I'm so blessed by our marriage and by Tyler's love and kindness. He is so patient, understanding, and still manages to crack me up. It was a fun year, filled with new challenges and changes. It's exciting to know we only continue to learn more and grow more with time. I'm grateful for the day-to-day and the special memories we share from this 1st year and can't wait to see what's to come!

Yoga Love

Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm still not used to the Daylight Savings time change. It is absolutely pitch black when I leave work, leaving little time to do anything active with my evening! So, I recently purchased Jillian Michaels' yoga workout and it's been kicking my butt ever since. I highly recommend it for a great, 30 minute, indoor work out! Namaste :)

Real World

So, let me set the scene for you! I am currently sitting in my sweet sitting room (which Tyler just painted and surprised me with), with Christmas music playing, a book, my Bible, fresh coffee and one of my favorite candles. This time is precious!

I must admit I've felt a little out of touch with myself lately. I can never quite put my finger on it, but sometimes I think I just get lost in the hustle and bustle of the real world. Hopefully others can relate. So, this got me thinking about the real world in general and how to also retain and nurture all the things that make me, well, me! First of all, I'd like to say I'm pretty sure no one is adequately prepared for the real world. It's such a shift from the days of growing up and college and the transition is something people in general don't seem to address. I have a few small tips (and things I need to remind myself of) in the midst of it all, so here goes:

1. Always look to try new things. Even in very small ways. Switch up your lunch break for instance. Eat fast and go browse through an antique store. Mixing it up makes you feel like you're experiencing things rather than just eating for an hour.

2. Plan fun things for week nights! This one is huge for me. We all live for the weekends (if we're honest with ourselves), but why not mix in some fun during the week?

3. Try new projects. This is one I really need to work on. Sometimes I'm just so tired and spent at the end of the work day, but taking a few minutes to do something creative is energizing!

4. Talk with friends throughout the week! This has always been important to me. I also think it's important in the hustle of everything to keep in touch with people you care about and expand your view! It's nice to hear what's going on in other lives in other parts of the world.

5. Enjoy the little things! Sometimes that's all there is during the week, and that's ok :)

So, that's it! I'm going to try to take my own advice now (never easy!)

A Semi Grown-Up Halloween!

It's hard to believe Halloween has already come and gone! This year, I definitely felt a bit more grown up (still fighting it though!) After a great Aggie victory, we headed to Northgate for a chill night with friends and some awesome people watching. We actually saw girls out in roller skates. I'm very curious to know how that went as the night progressed.

For Halloween night, I sported a witch's hat and black lipstick and Tyler had a pirate hat (probably made for a 5 year old.) We sat out with neighbors and wished tons of kids a Happy Halloween with lots of candy and licks from Snoop. It was really precious to experience their genuine excitement for the holiday. We had so many kids we actually had to close up shop at 8:50 pm with no candy left to give! It was a fun holiday and reminded me what a special time that was as a child :)

Autumn Getaway!

We just recently celebrated our 1 year anniversary (a month early) in Portland, Maine! It was such an incredible trip; a great mix of relaxation, nature's beauty, yummy food and quality time with Tyler.

The trip started a bit on the rocky side with my luggage not arriving with us. I was told I'd get it on the next flight in, and assumed that would be first thing in the morning. Nope! My luggage arrived mid afternoon the next day and with it, my dignity and sense of being girl (yay make up!) We started out the day on a hunt for a local cup of coffee. We ran through the rain, but rest assured, we landed ourselves a delicious coffee treat! We then toured the fabulous Victoria Mansion. Afterwards, we visited Allagash brewery and tasted some yummy beers. Tyler was very pleased to learn Maine had a ton of breweries. We spent the rest of the afternoon browsing Old Port, an area full of local restaurants and precious shops. We checked into our amazing B&B and settled in with a delicious dinner (I even got the recipe!)

Saturday morning, we woke up to a homemade breakfast and took off on a leaf peeping drive across the state. We actually at one point crossed into New Hampshire and enjoyed seeing all the charming towns and worked in some spontaneous hiking here and there. Saturday night, we ate and hung out in Old Port!

Sunday we spent on the coast and wow, is it gorgeous! We visited several state parks and beautiful beaches. We saw the Portland Light and explored the quaint little coastal town of Boothbay Harbor. We ended the day with a big, messy, yummy lobster dinner! It was a fabulous trip. I've always wanted to experience a real autumn, and what better reason than to celebrate 1 happy year!

Yum!

Mmm, such a great fall treat! Tyler made me this delicious homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte. Try it out!

Servings: 3

Ingredients:

3 cups hot whole milk

4 teaspoons white sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

6 ounces double-strength brewed coffee

3 tablespoons sweetened whipped cream

3 pinches pumpkin pie spice

Combine the hot milk, sugar, vanilla extract and pumpkin pie spice in a blender; blend until frothy. Pour the mixture into 3 coffee mugs to about 2/3 full. Pour 2 ounces coffee into each mug. Garnish each mug with whipped topping and pumpkin pie spice.

Curl up and enjoy :)

Well, it's officially fall in Houston, though it doesn't always feel like it. Our precious little wreath from Etsy came in and I picked out a mum for fall to warm up the front of our home. So ready to experience real autumn in the Northeast later this week!

Little Kitchen Window

This is one of my favorite little nooks in our house. Recently, at the Round Top Antique Festival, I set out to find a stained glass window. I ended up finding this non-stained stained glass window from the 1930s and thought it would be perfect in this little window.

I also love this little detail. My mom knows me too well and knew I had been looking for the perfect way to save corks to display in the kitchen. Lo and behold, she found this precious little bottle. As you can see, I have quite a ways to go until it's filled!

Ready for lobster!

It's hard to believe it's almost time for our anniversary trip to Portland, Maine! We're so excited to see leaf change, light houses and eat lobster to our heart's content. :)

Gratitude

Though it might come easily for most, I made a goal for myself this year. To genuinely feel and express gratitude. I've been told by some that I can be pretty cut and dry, one who so easily blows through life's experiences onto the next fun. I decided (finally) that this would lead to a pretty unfulfilling existence once I was no longer surrounded by the constant comforts and fun of friendships and experiences. I struggle with having a sense of entitlement in life sometimes. Who knows, maybe I'm not just speaking for myself. But, as this year has brought with it so many changes, I have learned to stop and be grateful. Grateful for a gorgeous day, a thoughtful gift, a good conversation with my husband, rich relationships, and life's little celebrations. I know this is the only way to live that life of abundance we're called to! I'm glad God stepped in and showed me this weakness. Life seems just a touch brighter now :)

Houston Wine Fest

Today was an absolute blast! Tyler got us tickets to the Inaugural Houston Wine Fest. The weather was delightful and we spent the afternoon tooling through historic Sam Houston Park sipping tasty wines and enjoying live music. We definitely plan to go again next year!

23...came and went!

Last week I turned the big 2-4, a step closer to those 'mid twenties.' It's been an incredible year as I look back at all the changes. To make a long story short; I got engaged, graduated, found my first job, got married, bought a house, and found a second job. Phew! It's great to look back and see how God was moving in my life through all the big and small changes. Though sometimes I wished life would just slow down, I'm so blessed to be where I am today!

I feel like I have learned and grown so much this year. I have learned that life is not always a party and a relaxing date night in can be just as fun. I've learned how important it is to take great joy in the little things in life: enjoying time outside in our front yard, a great phone conversation and a home cooked meal. Life just seems to get a little richer each year through sweet experiences and close relationships. Cheers for 24!

Blessings

This weekend was wonderful. We got to spend some great time with our sweet niece and nephew! On the way home today, we chatted about why we like being aunts/uncles (plenty of time on a 4 hour roadtrip). We both agree it's one of the most rewarding positions to be in.

I feel so blessed by these sweet kiddos and love getting to see the world through a child's eyes. I know God works through us in their lives, and vice versa. There's nothing quite as special as receiving a phone call from your 3 year old nephew because he misses you. I'm so incredibly grateful for the chance to love on them and be involved as they grow up!

Feeling Fall!

Well I must say I have embarked on my annual practice of 'wishing' Fall into existence. Fall is without a doubt my favorite season! I'm in a happier mood, I love the clothes, and the holidays are fast approaching. It just makes me feel good to know it's chilly outside.

So, this year I decided I would travel to experience autumn and will be heading to Maine in a month! I cannot wait. In the meantime, I just ordered this precious wreath off of Etsy. Just wishin' and hopin' :)...

Good Times

This picture makes me oh-so happy! Shelby's wedding was an incredible celebration and reunion. It's great how close friends can pick up right where we left off no matter what. It was so refreshing to spend some quality time with these amazing girls. I am so blessed by their character and friendship :)

40-wow!

Tonight we'll be celebrating my parents' 40th Anniversary! Wow--just the thought of being happy with someone for 40 years amazes me. I've learned so much from my parents, both as individuals and about marriage. In terms of marriage, I've learned laughter is the best medicine. My parents are still best friends and truly just enjoy life together. They know how to appreciate the small things and see the best in every situation. I'm so blessed to have such incredible parents and to experience such a loving marriage. Cheers to the big 4-0!

Fresh New Look

Well anyone I've spoken to lately knows that our sweet 50 year-old house continues to provide little projects for us to undertake! This weekend, we gave a fresh, new look to our entryway. It now boasts of a rich color, crown moulding and baseboards. We're happy with the way it turned out and the way it creates a warm welcome for our visitors :)!

DIY in the Garden

I must give Tyler credit for our cheery fence :) Here is a quick way to really spice up a long stretch of fence. These were 1/2 off at Hob Lob. We love our bright, colorful birdhouses!

Saturday Fun!

This weekend Tyler and I spent a day tooling through the historic Heights area! It is so charming with shops and restaurants--great antiques too. I always enjoy exploring historic areas. I definitely recommend this for a pretty afternoon!

Mission

So, those who know me well know that I absolutely adore the beliefs and mission of my church! This weekend, the sermon focused on the Great Commission found in Matthew 28. Unlike some, this idea doesn't always seem easy to me. That's when I'm so thankful to learn that we're not called to simply try to change people with our Words, but instead we're just supposed to care enough to live out what we experience through the Christian faith. What an awesome calling! In 1st Peter, I learned that the way I live should make a difference in other lives. The Christian faith is not simply mine to make my life better, but instead my 'heart should drive my legs' to befriend and care for others in an unconditional way.

Before Jesus sent out the 12, the Bible spoke of the compassion he felt for others. Not of his behavior, not of his preaching-but of his heart. What a refreshing idea! Jesus had such perspective that he didn't judge and simply learned to love on and care for these people. Rather than spending His time telling bad people they're bad, Jesus lived out His mission.

This was such a great reminder of the way we're called to live and love!

Humility

This morning at church, I learned a powerful lesson, one that's always a bit hard to swallow as a human I think. Patrick spoke from 1 Peter about being humble and thinking of others. He talked about living a good life, and not just to be a 'good Christian', but because we feel compelled by following Christ as our leader. He stressed that we have to take our eyes off ourselves and it will change our perspective and our source of hope. By following and being like Christ, we are changed inside out, and we can be living examples of Christ's love.

In a time when so much of the world is me-focused, it's so refreshing to be reminded about the very heart of Christ. It's nice to remember the source of hope in a broken world! I hope to always carry this with me!

Sunshine

Here is a picture of my happy place! Tyler and I enjoyed a much needed vacation away from all the hustle and bustle of the city, on the beaches of Florida. It was so relaxing to spend the long weekend with family and the white sandy beaches. Ah, if only we could go back!

Thriller

Wow, may I highly recommend The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo! I wasn't quite sure how I would like a 'thriller', but this book takes you on a wild ride. It's definitely a page turner..check it out!

Fresh Peaches

So last weekend my mom and I went to charming Fredericksburg to enjoy shopping, quality time, eating and some yummy wine! I made Paula Deen's fabulous peach cobbler with the fresh peaches and highly recommend it! Enjoy :)

Ingredients

• 4 cups peeled, sliced peaches
• 2 cups sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup water
• 8 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• Ground cinnamon, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the peaches, 1 cup sugar, and water in a saucepan and mix well. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Put the butter in a 3-quart baking dish and place in oven to melt.

Mix remaining 1 cup sugar, flour, and milk slowly to prevent clumping. Pour mixture over melted butter. Do not stir. Spoon fruit on top, gently pouring in syrup. Sprinkle top with ground cinnamon, if using. Batter will rise to top during baking. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes.

To serve, scoop onto a plate and serve with your choice of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.