Today is my last day of work until 2010! Thank you baby Jesus!! Not only is this my favorite time of year, and I get to spend it with my man this year, but I am such a happier person when I'm not at work, just ask my husband! I have big plans for the next two weeks. Lots of exercising, baking, trying new recipes, organizing, probably exercising some more after eating all the baked goods, having dinner at a reasonable hour in the evenings, spending time with family, uploading pictures to recap my life on the blog and catching up on the dvr.
I.CAN'T.WAIT!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Weekend Recap
It's December 9th and it's currently 80 degrees with approximately 4,000% humidity. YUK! Boy, do I miss the snow and the cold air that smacks you in the face as soon as you step outside. I'm sure one of these days I am going to be eating these words because with my luck the Army will probably station us in Alaska or Antarctica!
I have so many pictures to post it's ridiculous. Johnny and I just got back on Monday from a weekend get-away in Charlotte, NC. For his birthday in August I bought him David Allan Coe (DAC) concert tickets for this past weekend. When I bought them, I remember thinking to myself, "December is so far away, it stinks we have to wait so long to enjoy the concert." HA! Those four months flew by and now here we are with Christmas right around the corner. The concert was great and we were so pumped up from the excitement of a live concert that we were actually the last ones to leave. And no, I'm not embarrassed by that statement in case you were wondering! Luckily, DAC has mellowed out a bit and didn't sing any of his crude/gross songs that he used to sing back in the day....it was just good ol' Outlaw country music.
We had such a great weekend and ate delicious food all weekend long and shopped at what I consider the best mall in existence...South Park Mall. I loved being back in Charlotte and being able to spend a few hours on Monday in Rock Hill, SC where I spent four pivotal years of my life at Winthrop University. I had the silliest grin on my face the entire time we drove around Rock Hill and the campus, reminiscing about all the good memories I made there.
I'm off to primp and beautify myself for my work's Christmas Party tonight.
Oh! If you need any gift ideas, check out THIS POST from last year!
I have so many pictures to post it's ridiculous. Johnny and I just got back on Monday from a weekend get-away in Charlotte, NC. For his birthday in August I bought him David Allan Coe (DAC) concert tickets for this past weekend. When I bought them, I remember thinking to myself, "December is so far away, it stinks we have to wait so long to enjoy the concert." HA! Those four months flew by and now here we are with Christmas right around the corner. The concert was great and we were so pumped up from the excitement of a live concert that we were actually the last ones to leave. And no, I'm not embarrassed by that statement in case you were wondering! Luckily, DAC has mellowed out a bit and didn't sing any of his crude/gross songs that he used to sing back in the day....it was just good ol' Outlaw country music.
We had such a great weekend and ate delicious food all weekend long and shopped at what I consider the best mall in existence...South Park Mall. I loved being back in Charlotte and being able to spend a few hours on Monday in Rock Hill, SC where I spent four pivotal years of my life at Winthrop University. I had the silliest grin on my face the entire time we drove around Rock Hill and the campus, reminiscing about all the good memories I made there.
I'm off to primp and beautify myself for my work's Christmas Party tonight.
Oh! If you need any gift ideas, check out THIS POST from last year!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Oh, I Have a Blog? What's That?
Hi, my name is Amanda. I started this blog about a year and a half ago to keep family and friends up to date on our ever-changing, Army controlled, God-loving life! My past-times include neglecting the blog, ignoring harassing texts and emails from my family about the blog, and eating Wavy Lays Chips and Heluva Good Dip.
I feel that it is only right that I introduce myself again considering I have been so rudely absent for almost two months.
Let me give you a quick recap of everything that's happened since I last posted.
1.) I scrubbed every square inch of our house because I was a nervous, anxious wreck about the man returning.
2.) Johnny FINALLY came home from a year-long deployment in Iraq.
3.) I flipped out and had a minor breakdown because it was such a huge, overwhelming change and I was not anticipating that anything would be different....but DUH...he was gone for a year.
4.) We rekindled our love, he told me I was bonkers and now we are slowly adjusting back to "normal" life....whatever that is.
5.) We had about 40 of our closest friends and family over to our house for a "Welcome Home Oyster Roast Party" which was awesome and Johnny got to catch up with his buddies that he hadn't seen since our wedding!
6.) We saw our two cute little nieces dressed up as fairies for Halloween.
7.) We went to Charleston for The Citadel's Homecoming weekend and spent lots of time with "couple friends" who don't have babies...it was amazing!
8.) We decided we are so over everyone having babies right now and are not planning on having kids for a long while. (So, no need to ask us anyone!!)
9.) We finally became members of the church we've been attending for 3 years which is super exciting because we've been wanting to do it for about 2 years now, but he was always gone!
10.) We hosted Thanksgiving at our house this year and I cooked everything including a huge turkey all by myself!
And that's about it! See....you haven't missed much! I have lots of pictures that I need to upload from my camera to the computer, so when I do that, I will post some on here, too. Life is crazily busy now that he is home which in and of itself was a major change because my life was so quiet and simple while he was gone. Ya know, no one prepares the wives for this stuff...there was NO re-integration brief for me. I'm just thankful we are 100% committed to our marriage and that God is the center of our lives and relationship....I can't imagine how much harder it would be without that solid foundation.
Sorry for my absence friends :)
I feel that it is only right that I introduce myself again considering I have been so rudely absent for almost two months.
Let me give you a quick recap of everything that's happened since I last posted.
1.) I scrubbed every square inch of our house because I was a nervous, anxious wreck about the man returning.
2.) Johnny FINALLY came home from a year-long deployment in Iraq.
3.) I flipped out and had a minor breakdown because it was such a huge, overwhelming change and I was not anticipating that anything would be different....but DUH...he was gone for a year.
4.) We rekindled our love, he told me I was bonkers and now we are slowly adjusting back to "normal" life....whatever that is.
5.) We had about 40 of our closest friends and family over to our house for a "Welcome Home Oyster Roast Party" which was awesome and Johnny got to catch up with his buddies that he hadn't seen since our wedding!
6.) We saw our two cute little nieces dressed up as fairies for Halloween.
7.) We went to Charleston for The Citadel's Homecoming weekend and spent lots of time with "couple friends" who don't have babies...it was amazing!
8.) We decided we are so over everyone having babies right now and are not planning on having kids for a long while. (So, no need to ask us anyone!!)
9.) We finally became members of the church we've been attending for 3 years which is super exciting because we've been wanting to do it for about 2 years now, but he was always gone!
10.) We hosted Thanksgiving at our house this year and I cooked everything including a huge turkey all by myself!
And that's about it! See....you haven't missed much! I have lots of pictures that I need to upload from my camera to the computer, so when I do that, I will post some on here, too. Life is crazily busy now that he is home which in and of itself was a major change because my life was so quiet and simple while he was gone. Ya know, no one prepares the wives for this stuff...there was NO re-integration brief for me. I'm just thankful we are 100% committed to our marriage and that God is the center of our lives and relationship....I can't imagine how much harder it would be without that solid foundation.
Sorry for my absence friends :)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Pumpkin Recipes
Fall seems to be in full-swing here in Savannah, considering it is supposed to dip down into the 40s this weekend! I even made a big pot of chili last night to kick-off the cool weather.
In the mean time, I am craving all things PUMPKIN! Yes, I have already drank my weight in half-caff, low-fat Pumpkin Spice Latte's from Starbucks, just in case you are wondering. And I plan on trying out a new recipe for Pumpkin Gnocchi this weekend...I'll let you know how it goes!
Here are two recipes which I've tried and loved. Johnny and I made the Pumpkin Creme Brulee's for Thanksgiving dessert a few years back. It is extremely rich, so you could probably get away with smaller servings. And I just recently made the Pumpkin Cobbler. I love it best warm with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream and/or whipped cream. YUM!!
Pumpkin Crème Brulee
Serves: 7
Ingredients:
2 c. heavy cream
1 vanilla bean
5 Tbsp. (2.5 oz) sugar, divided
10 egg yolks, beaten
¼ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. powdered ginger
1 c. pumpkin puree
1 c. sugar for tops, or as needed
Combine the heavy cream, vanilla and half of the sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
In a separate bowl, combine the egg yolks and remaining sugar. Add 1/3 of the hot liquid to the egg mixture, stirring constantly. Add the egg yolk mixture to the remaining hot cream, stirring constantly. Sire in the cinnamon, allspice and ginger. Fold in the pumpkin puree.
Fill buttered ramekins 7/8 full, place in a water bath. (Place ramekins in a deep roasting pan and fill pan with enough water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.) Bake at 325° until just barely set, cook 30 minutes, chill overnight.
Cover the surface of each custard with 1/8-inch of sugar, set ramekins in a pan surrounded with ice (so the custard does not become reheated when caramelizing the top). Caramelize sugar under the broiler or with a torch.
Pumpkin Cobbler - from THIS site
Ingredients:
6 eggs, beaten
3 cups cooked pumpkin
2 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. cloves
1 spice cake mix (or yellow cake mix if you prefer)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional
Mix eggs, pumpkin, sugar, salt and spices. Pour into a greased 9x13 cake pan. Sprinkle cake mix over the top. Pour melted butter all over the cake mix. Sprinkle nuts on top. DO NOT MIX. Cover with foil and bake at 325 for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 40 minutes.
In the mean time, I am craving all things PUMPKIN! Yes, I have already drank my weight in half-caff, low-fat Pumpkin Spice Latte's from Starbucks, just in case you are wondering. And I plan on trying out a new recipe for Pumpkin Gnocchi this weekend...I'll let you know how it goes!
Here are two recipes which I've tried and loved. Johnny and I made the Pumpkin Creme Brulee's for Thanksgiving dessert a few years back. It is extremely rich, so you could probably get away with smaller servings. And I just recently made the Pumpkin Cobbler. I love it best warm with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream and/or whipped cream. YUM!!
Pumpkin Crème Brulee
Serves: 7
Ingredients:
2 c. heavy cream
1 vanilla bean
5 Tbsp. (2.5 oz) sugar, divided
10 egg yolks, beaten
¼ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. powdered ginger
1 c. pumpkin puree
1 c. sugar for tops, or as needed
Combine the heavy cream, vanilla and half of the sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
In a separate bowl, combine the egg yolks and remaining sugar. Add 1/3 of the hot liquid to the egg mixture, stirring constantly. Add the egg yolk mixture to the remaining hot cream, stirring constantly. Sire in the cinnamon, allspice and ginger. Fold in the pumpkin puree.
Fill buttered ramekins 7/8 full, place in a water bath. (Place ramekins in a deep roasting pan and fill pan with enough water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.) Bake at 325° until just barely set, cook 30 minutes, chill overnight.
Cover the surface of each custard with 1/8-inch of sugar, set ramekins in a pan surrounded with ice (so the custard does not become reheated when caramelizing the top). Caramelize sugar under the broiler or with a torch.
Pumpkin Cobbler - from THIS site
Ingredients:
6 eggs, beaten
3 cups cooked pumpkin
2 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. cloves
1 spice cake mix (or yellow cake mix if you prefer)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional
Mix eggs, pumpkin, sugar, salt and spices. Pour into a greased 9x13 cake pan. Sprinkle cake mix over the top. Pour melted butter all over the cake mix. Sprinkle nuts on top. DO NOT MIX. Cover with foil and bake at 325 for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 40 minutes.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Getting Ready...
It's almost time to welcome the man back home. I think it is actually starting to sink in finally. It is such a mixture of emotions....excitement, anxiousness, a little nervous, lots of happy tears, and relief. Would it be terrible for me to say that it's hard for me to remember what life was like when he was home? I had to email him this morning to find out what kind of soap he uses these days so I could stock the bathroom with his products again. What a weird feeling to not know what kind of soap your husband uses.
He is officially out of Iraq and currently waiting in Kuwait for his flight home. He sent me an email yesterday once they arrived to Kuwait after packing up and saying good-bye to the only "home" he's known for the past year. He said, "I am glad to be out of that place. It was weird leaving; It was like moving out of an apartment...you take one last look around and hope that wherever you go next is better, and hope to never go back there again."
Below is a video my mom sent me this morning with the disclaimer to not watch it at work because it was a tear-jerker, the happy kind. Well, everything is a tear-jerker these days; I am so my mother's daughter! And of course I didn't listen to her because I watched it as soon as I got into the office!
My favorite part on the video is when he points to the soldier and says "You ARE the man!"
What an exciting time...he's coming home...and he is actually gonna stay put for awhile!!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Recap
It was 53° this morning in Savannah when I woke up! I couldn’t believe it! I realize there are many places across the country that have already had their first snow, however, 53° is chilly for Savannah in September. Are there any other locals out there who think Fall weather is hitting us much earlier this year??!
Last weekend I spent Saturday at the beach with a few of my girlfriends. We had such an awesome time. We all brought something to contribute to our picnic and just spent the day talking, eating, snoozing, reading, and relaxing ocean-side. It really was therapy for my soul!
On Sunday, I spent the morning volunteering with the Food Ministry at my church. I spent 4 hours chopping and mixing to help prepare for a Missions Lunch that afternoon and I loved every second of it. I think they thought I was kidding when I said I could stand and chop vegetables literally all day long and actually enjoy it! It is a dream of mine to one day go to culinary school….wonder if that will ever happen J
The work week was only mildly painful. Luckily I was able to stay rather busy so it went by quickly. The evenings this week were spent catching up on my DVR since all my favorite shows are finally back on.
Johnny’s return date was delayed about a week which is a bummer, but honestly…what’s another week when we’ve already done a year of this mess! I am ready for it to be here though, fo sho!
I have a fun weekend coming up with lots of plans with sweet friends that I don’t get to spend nearly enough time with. Next week, I’ll be making lots of to-do lists and getting things ready for Johnny’s return….can’t wait!
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!
Last weekend I spent Saturday at the beach with a few of my girlfriends. We had such an awesome time. We all brought something to contribute to our picnic and just spent the day talking, eating, snoozing, reading, and relaxing ocean-side. It really was therapy for my soul!
On Sunday, I spent the morning volunteering with the Food Ministry at my church. I spent 4 hours chopping and mixing to help prepare for a Missions Lunch that afternoon and I loved every second of it. I think they thought I was kidding when I said I could stand and chop vegetables literally all day long and actually enjoy it! It is a dream of mine to one day go to culinary school….wonder if that will ever happen J
The work week was only mildly painful. Luckily I was able to stay rather busy so it went by quickly. The evenings this week were spent catching up on my DVR since all my favorite shows are finally back on.
Johnny’s return date was delayed about a week which is a bummer, but honestly…what’s another week when we’ve already done a year of this mess! I am ready for it to be here though, fo sho!
I have a fun weekend coming up with lots of plans with sweet friends that I don’t get to spend nearly enough time with. Next week, I’ll be making lots of to-do lists and getting things ready for Johnny’s return….can’t wait!
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Overwhelmed.
I'm feeling overwhelmed at the moment.
Because I have a lot to do before JOHNNY COMES HOME!!!!!
That's right friends, you heard correctly! We've made it through a year-long deployment in Iraq! There have been many necessary time-outs from life when it was all just too much to handle, a lot of ugly crying and a lot of randomness on this blog, but we made it. It wasn't anything that an extra large helping of God, a big dose of daily exercise and a few Xanax couldn't fix.
I am currently trying to get things in order and crossed off my to-do list. Lots of little things, the majority of which are not mandatory, just pleasant niceties...things like having fresh flowers around the house and stocking our fridge and pantry with some of his favorite things. I want our home to be as welcoming and clean as possible!
I am also a bit overwhelmed and frustrated with work. There are many specific points of contention but my main frustration is currently because I don't think I'm going to be able to take the time off from work that I wanted to take when Johnny returns home. My leave hours are minimal and my boss won't allow me to take time off without pay as I have done previously. It stresses me out because I feel like it is going to be crucial for Johnny and I to reconnect and get back into the swings of things as quickly as possible since we have been apart for so long. I know it will all work out and Johnny and I will be fine even if I have to work that first week, I am just eager to hang out with my best friend again...duh :)
I still have another week or two until he arrives...but we are so close I get goosebumps every time I think about seeing his face again. This will be the longest stretch of time we will have spent with each other since we were married a year and a half ago!!!
It will be such an overwhelming relief to know he is back on American soil and "safe." After a year of earnest prayers being lifted up for his safe return home, they soon will all be answered.
Because I have a lot to do before JOHNNY COMES HOME!!!!!
That's right friends, you heard correctly! We've made it through a year-long deployment in Iraq! There have been many necessary time-outs from life when it was all just too much to handle, a lot of ugly crying and a lot of randomness on this blog, but we made it. It wasn't anything that an extra large helping of God, a big dose of daily exercise and a few Xanax couldn't fix.
I am currently trying to get things in order and crossed off my to-do list. Lots of little things, the majority of which are not mandatory, just pleasant niceties...things like having fresh flowers around the house and stocking our fridge and pantry with some of his favorite things. I want our home to be as welcoming and clean as possible!
I am also a bit overwhelmed and frustrated with work. There are many specific points of contention but my main frustration is currently because I don't think I'm going to be able to take the time off from work that I wanted to take when Johnny returns home. My leave hours are minimal and my boss won't allow me to take time off without pay as I have done previously. It stresses me out because I feel like it is going to be crucial for Johnny and I to reconnect and get back into the swings of things as quickly as possible since we have been apart for so long. I know it will all work out and Johnny and I will be fine even if I have to work that first week, I am just eager to hang out with my best friend again...duh :)
I still have another week or two until he arrives...but we are so close I get goosebumps every time I think about seeing his face again. This will be the longest stretch of time we will have spent with each other since we were married a year and a half ago!!!
It will be such an overwhelming relief to know he is back on American soil and "safe." After a year of earnest prayers being lifted up for his safe return home, they soon will all be answered.
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