Before a few months ago I had never heard of Ree Drummond. For those out there that have also not heard of her she is the Pioneer Woman. Every time I hear the word pioneer, my mind immediately goes to two things, the Little House on the Prairie series and Oregon Trail. When I was younger, I loved Little House on the Prairie. I actually still do. I just started rereading the series. It is excellent.
My roommate Natalie recently purchased The Pioneer Woman cookbook. She has made several different recipes, all delicious, and I am now inspired. Ree's cookbook as well as her website are filled with recipes that look so amazing you want to eat your computer. Not only does she have step by step instructions, but also step by step pictures of whatever it is your are making should look like along the way. This seems genius, but so simple in the cooking world. I am always wondering if something looks right while I'm making it.
Anyway, my point to this is, I bought into the craze here among a lot of women in Norman. I made my first pioneer woman recipe, "The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake. Ever." It's sitting on the table cooling with all of it's chocolatey goodness. I'm excited to try it. I'll let you know how it is...maybe.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Last Year, This Year and Beyond...
As most of you know, I'm engaged (to be married). For those that didn't know, I'm sorry I haven't blogged about it yet. On December 29th, 2009, Michael asked me to marry him and I said yes!! I am really excited to get to marry my best friend and the greatest guy I know.
After getting engaged, we entered into a whirlwind of wedding planning and life planning. It is strange to actually have to decide what I am going to do with the rest of my life and that whatever it is affects someone else. I am already learning that I am terribly selfish and not a great person. Those are probably good things to be aware of.
So, we got engaged. Set a date. And are now deciding life after marriage. Michael and I are hoping to go to seminary and are in the process of applying and getting things lined up to do that. It is scary, but exciting. I am trying to trust Jesus in all of the planning and preparations for so many life changes. I fail every minute. I am thankful he is gracious and patient and is changing me.
In light of planning a wedding, we will undoubtedly have music and dancing. Which means there will need to be good music so that people will dance. I love dancing...others do not...that is ok, I guess. In your opinion, what are your top 5 songs to dance? They can be anything. We'll more than likely use them.
After getting engaged, we entered into a whirlwind of wedding planning and life planning. It is strange to actually have to decide what I am going to do with the rest of my life and that whatever it is affects someone else. I am already learning that I am terribly selfish and not a great person. Those are probably good things to be aware of.
So, we got engaged. Set a date. And are now deciding life after marriage. Michael and I are hoping to go to seminary and are in the process of applying and getting things lined up to do that. It is scary, but exciting. I am trying to trust Jesus in all of the planning and preparations for so many life changes. I fail every minute. I am thankful he is gracious and patient and is changing me.
In light of planning a wedding, we will undoubtedly have music and dancing. Which means there will need to be good music so that people will dance. I love dancing...others do not...that is ok, I guess. In your opinion, what are your top 5 songs to dance? They can be anything. We'll more than likely use them.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Only Recently Well Read
Growing up I tried lot of different activities. I danced, I sang, I played sports. There is a long list of hobbies that I took part in, but listing them here would bore you to tears. I tried just about everything. With every new opportunity, I knew it was going to be the one thing I would do for life. It never was. I enthusiastically persuaded my parents allow me to take piano lessons. I quit two years later due to lack of interest and talent. I begged to take dance. I quit that too due to lack of interest and talent. I tried out for cheerleading, made the squad and asked for parental sponsorship for all of the uniforms and fees required. I quit after a year. The list goes on and on. Somethings lasted a month, others last years, but in the end. I did not seem to be as interested in them as I thought I would be in the beginning. I would guess a lot of kids were like this. Some were forced to stick with what they asked for. I pitched fits frequently. So eventually, I was always allowed to give up.
Of all the things I "loved" doing as a child, reading was not one of them. I hated it. I liked being read to. I liked the stories. The act of reading myself was miserable. I learned to read pretty early, but it was not my great passion. Reading was what the kids that were socially challenged did. I was socially inclined. Reading was not for me. Fortunately, my parents made me read anyway. In elementary school, all I wanted was to get my ears pierced. But getting them pierced would cost me. 11 chapter books. I tried negotiating a low price, but was denied. The parents held firm to their price. So, I quickly skimmed through them and received two holes in my ears. In high school, I read one book per summer of my summer reading and spark noted the rest. Reading was slow, uninteresting and antisocial. After graduating, I picked up a copy of Pride and Prejudice. I was no longer forced to read. I would not be test on any material. I figured it was worth a shot. Something changed. I loved it! I immediately started reading everything I could get my hands on. All of the books I skipped reading in high school I read. I bought new books. I read and read and read. I had found what I loved to do and it was wonderful. Every book opened up a new world and new adventure. Each one was different. It didn't get old. So far, I still love to read. I'm hoping this is one of those things that sticks around for life. I don't consider myself a well read person. There is so much more to read and know. It's difficult to know where to begin. Books are like people. Each one is so uniquely different. You can't just lump them all together and define them. You have to get to know them. You can judge a book by its cover, but you might be horribly wrong.
Of all the things I "loved" doing as a child, reading was not one of them. I hated it. I liked being read to. I liked the stories. The act of reading myself was miserable. I learned to read pretty early, but it was not my great passion. Reading was what the kids that were socially challenged did. I was socially inclined. Reading was not for me. Fortunately, my parents made me read anyway. In elementary school, all I wanted was to get my ears pierced. But getting them pierced would cost me. 11 chapter books. I tried negotiating a low price, but was denied. The parents held firm to their price. So, I quickly skimmed through them and received two holes in my ears. In high school, I read one book per summer of my summer reading and spark noted the rest. Reading was slow, uninteresting and antisocial. After graduating, I picked up a copy of Pride and Prejudice. I was no longer forced to read. I would not be test on any material. I figured it was worth a shot. Something changed. I loved it! I immediately started reading everything I could get my hands on. All of the books I skipped reading in high school I read. I bought new books. I read and read and read. I had found what I loved to do and it was wonderful. Every book opened up a new world and new adventure. Each one was different. It didn't get old. So far, I still love to read. I'm hoping this is one of those things that sticks around for life. I don't consider myself a well read person. There is so much more to read and know. It's difficult to know where to begin. Books are like people. Each one is so uniquely different. You can't just lump them all together and define them. You have to get to know them. You can judge a book by its cover, but you might be horribly wrong.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Oklahoma to Alabama to Oklahoma to Alabama to...
Living over 700 miles from where I grew up sometimes gets a little complicated. I love my family and want to be there for every activity that happens. But I love my friends in Norman and want to be there for every activity that happens. This can be difficult when there are things going on in both places. Especially around the holidays. As of Tuesday at 1:30pm, I became officially unemployed. That's exciting. I was offered a job at Republic Bank and Trust, but regretfully turned it down due to family commitments and weddings I am involved in and promised to be in or at. I am happy with that decision. (I guess I shouldn't have said regretfully then). Over the past couple of days I have been concerned with how I am going to make it financially until I return to Norman in mid-January to see what other job opportunities I could find. I have brainstormed different part time seasonal businesses I could start...Annie Mac's Holiday Snacks seemed to be the best of all. Basically, I would send out something to people that have Christmas parties in Huntsville and see if they need someone to bake things for them. And then they'd pay me. Simple right? I think so. I will still potentially do that.
Today, my dad called me and told me some happenings at ministry he runs in Huntsville. They are in need of someone to work at their preschool from now until the holidays. I said that I could do that. It seems like a pretty good deal. I will get to be at home for the holidays, getting paid and directly working with people. The downside, I already have a lot of plans in Oklahoma between now and Dec. 25. So, I will be in Huntsville for a week then drive to Tulsa for a few days then back to Alabama and stay for a little bit then back to Tulsa then back to Alabama then to Georgia and back to Alabama and then finally back to Norman. I'm going to need some good music. Suggestions?
Today, my dad called me and told me some happenings at ministry he runs in Huntsville. They are in need of someone to work at their preschool from now until the holidays. I said that I could do that. It seems like a pretty good deal. I will get to be at home for the holidays, getting paid and directly working with people. The downside, I already have a lot of plans in Oklahoma between now and Dec. 25. So, I will be in Huntsville for a week then drive to Tulsa for a few days then back to Alabama and stay for a little bit then back to Tulsa then back to Alabama then to Georgia and back to Alabama and then finally back to Norman. I'm going to need some good music. Suggestions?
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Etsy
I've heard about Etsy for a long time, but have not spent a good deal of time looking through the stuff talented people all over the country make by hand! It's great! I am a sucker for hand crafted, one of a kind (or at least not mass produced) stuff. It is inspiring. I want to start painting again, learn to sew better and just do awesome stuff. I would also love to learn how to make pottery. Become a potter, as it were. Here are some of my favorite things I've seen on so far.
This is a watercolor print. You can buy it for $12. I really like the style of the trees.
This is a ceramic mug. ha. I like that it is just "brown" but there are so many other colors making it just brown. It can also be bought, but for $20.
This is a rubber stamp to put in your books. I would probably get it to say Anna McDowell rather than Stacey Burns. I think that could get confusing. $13.50
This seller has a lot of cute post earrings. I really like them. And they are only $4.50-$6.50. Right there is a deal for buy 3 get 1 free on all of the seller's stuff. Woot.
I guess that wraps up this post.
This is a watercolor print. You can buy it for $12. I really like the style of the trees.
This is a ceramic mug. ha. I like that it is just "brown" but there are so many other colors making it just brown. It can also be bought, but for $20.
This is a rubber stamp to put in your books. I would probably get it to say Anna McDowell rather than Stacey Burns. I think that could get confusing. $13.50
This seller has a lot of cute post earrings. I really like them. And they are only $4.50-$6.50. Right there is a deal for buy 3 get 1 free on all of the seller's stuff. Woot.I guess that wraps up this post.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Job Update #3
I have a second interview on Wednesday for the bank job. That seems like good news. That's all I have at the moment.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Job Update #2
I have officially put in my two weeks notice at La Baguette. My last day will be November 10th. I'm pretty excited about this! No, I do not have another job at the moment. You might be thinking, "That's crazy!!" It probably is. But I do have two interviews this week. So, I am hoping that something great comes from one or both of those. The first one is today (Thursday) at a consulting company for a receptionist job. They work with companies to help them reduce the amount of energy they use. That seems pretty great of them to do that. Ha. The second one is tomorrow (Friday) at Republic Bank and Trust for a teller position. A bank is where people deposit and withdraw money...along with many other things. I am pretty excited that people are at least interested in talking in person with me. That seems promising. I am trying to trust God in all of this. He is faithful and good even when I am not. I am thankful for that.
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