Baker or Chef?

I'm having a 31 party tomorrow, so I was baking a few things this morning to have at the party. My friend Patience made these awesome Meringue cookies for our quad a few weeks ago and I've been waiting for a reason make some...so, this morning I pulled out everything I needed and got to it. I followed directions precisely knowing if I didn't do something right my cookies would not turn out right. I mean...I'm not by any means a perfected chef or baker, but I'm usually pretty good at trying new recipes or even making up my own. But... in this case...it was a disaster!

My cookies turned out to be flat egg/sugar somethings & they were so chewy it wasn't even funny. By the time I let them cool, they were stuck to the pan. This is what was left when I started trying to scrape them off, so I could at least salvage my pan:
Yeah, I don't know if I'll try these again for a while. I was a little bummed they didn't turn out like I had hoped, but I couldn't help but to laugh that it was SUCH a disaster. I've been wanting to get some new cookie sheets, guess I don't have a choice now...I still can't get the "meringues" off the pan! Matt even tried, so I guess I'll be shopping for those pans soon.

On the other hand, I made a very delicious dinner tonight. Saturday night has become our "at-home -date-night" in efforts to eat out less & spend some quality time together. Matt loves shrimp alfredo and I stumbled across a recipe for shrimp pasta earlier today on the KRAFT website. I decided to take the recipe, tweak it a little and attempt to make shrimp alfredo. I've never been a fan of mixing my 2 favorites together (pasta & seafood), but I guess the little one inside of me "encouraged" me to try it tonight...and it was delicious!
I've decided that if I had to choose, I'd be a chef and not a baker! I love sweets, but I'm so much better at making dishes, not desserts.

ps-Recipe for shrimp alfredo to come in another post. :)

My Secret

I'm letting out a secret...I listen to rap music. Yep, that's right...every morning on the way to school & my husband does too (not on his way to school, but when he's at Journey by himself and there is no one else around). We listen to it in our house & Matt knows the words to a lot of rap songs. He's actually a pretty good rapper.

What kind of rap music you ask? The best kind...116 clique, it's Christian rap. LeCrae, Trip Lee, Tedashii, Flame are some of the artists...LeCrae is definitely my favorite. They aren't cheesy, like some Christian rap artists...but like my kids at school would say "they're legit." Their music really helps at 6:30 in the morning when I'm headed into "the battle field." It's also good workout music, cleaning house music, or "I need to get out my frustration music." I'll also admit, sometimes I turn it up so that if you pulled up beside me at a stoplight, you might say "that person's music is way too loud." Matt does it too...don't let him fool you.

We were introduced to LeCrae back when we worked at Caswell and have actually served at several events with him. He's such a real person & has such a passion for sharing Christ with people through his music.

My favorite song right now, comes from his latest album "Rehab," it's called "Walking on Water."


Check out the lyrics...it's good stuff!

Chorus:
So I'm walkin' on water (4x)

Verse 1:
Yeah, go 'head, ask me how I do it, bruh
The sky falling, but I'm still flyin' through-and-through
Hey this ain't willpower, it's wheel power
When God's at the wheel, yeah that's the real power
I feel power, so I'm gon' trust that
That's how I persevere, that's how I jump back
The hurricanes never go away
So I'mma stand firm, tell 'em all to blow away

Hook:
I bet 'cha never see me with my head hung low
I bet 'cha never see me with my eyes to the floor
I bet the boys skit, homie they ain't no more
Aint no lookin back, letting everything go
When I see a problem, when it get tough
I don't get soft, man, I ain't givin' up
There ain't turnin' back, man, I will stay strong
It's time to go hard or it's time to go home
So I'm walkin' on water, hey (4x)

Verse 2:
I know it's all good, when it's all bad
There's somethin' workin' in me
Hey what 'ya call that?
Some people call it perseverance

Some people say endurance
But I know for sure it
It's got me secure
Yeah, I got faith, that's why I hold on
'Cause I'm an alien, I'm 'bout to phone home
I'll be long gone, see you hard times
Have your boy, love peace, and a sound mind


Verse 3:
I spit the Word any time you hear ya boy flowin'
So please plagerize me, take my word for it
Hey I'm Lecrae, but you can call me "Crayola"
Not because I'm in the kitchen whippin' up the soda
But because I'm here to paint a vivid picture for 'ya
I know the truth's hittin' by the way I pitch it for 'ya
You're fightin' for attention, I've got the Ritalin
I've got the hope, boy, I'm the middle-man
Let me show you my Supply, yeah you need to know 'em
He got me walking on the water when the wind's blowin'
And when the storm's brewin', and when the tide's high
That's when I lean into the truth that I abide by

Bet ya never saw that one coming, did ya...:)

Ahh...Spring!

I'm trying something new this week. When I actually have time to sit and blog, I'm doing it. Even if that means writing more than 1 blog a day....so, you may not be reading a post when I actually write it. I'm scheduling them to go out throughout the week, for the 5 people that actually read my blog.

When I was driving home from school this afternoon I heard Darius Rucker on the radio. Which automatically made me think of Charleston, SC (because that's where he's from)...which made me think of one of my favorite times of the year. SPRING! This post may be a little early, but I can't wait for:

The sun coming up before I leave for work at 6:30
Birds chirping in the morning
Flip flops
Cute spring dresses
Longer days
70 degree weather
Eating on my back porch
Driving around with my windows down & music loud
Spring break! (A perk of being a teacher)
My birthday
Weddings of several wonderful friends
Laney's baby showers
Graduation for my sister-in-laws (which also means a trip to BOONE)
Green trees, grass, & flowers


There are so many more wonderful things I could post about spring...I just can't wait!

Smelly Good...One of my Favorites!

My sister is a big fan of these little car air fresheners that Bath & Body Works makes. I'm not a huge shopper at Bath & Body Works, but Anna convinced me to get one for my car and I love it!

They come in different scents and different designs (I just bought the turtle because it reminded me of the beach) These little things are called "Scentportables" and they are great! If you're interested check out this link OR just go to the mall. :)

Consignment Sale

Growing up we always wore hand-me-downs, there were 4 of us...my mom was smart. Occasionally we got new outfits, especially if my Grandma Moon had say or if it was a special occasion, but a lot of times people gave us clothes. I'm so thankful that my mom taught me it's okay to wear 2nd hand clothes, shoot...I'd still do it today if I had someone to give me clothes.

Over the weekend my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, Matt's aunt and I set out on a little consignment shopping at a children's consignment sale at 1st United Methodist Church in Cary. I wasn't sure what we would find, although we had heard it would be a great sale. AND it was!

I got all of this...
for about $18. Yep...I spent less than $20. I don't think I did too bad for my first time and it was a smaller sale. My mother-in-law got a really nice pack-n-play, a bouncy seat, a baby bathtub, & some clothes for about $70 and I think Matt's aunt got a really really nice high chair for around $10.

I have a lot of friends that go to the BIG consignment sale at the fair grounds twice a year and they really rack up. I've always been amazed at the amount of money they save, I mean kids grow so fast and you can find really nice things that are gently used at these sales. I'm really looking forward to doing more consigning in the future...I've always liked to bargain shop. I can't tell you the last time I bought a pair of shoes or clothing full price. I like the challenge and I always like the feeling of accomplishment after I see how much I've saved. :)

He is Good!

You know...it's so awesome to see God's relief & comfort at just the right time. I mean, I know he's with us all the time...but it just seems like when you can't take it anymore in difficult situations he always brings relief at just the right time.

I can't explain the whole situation, but I've been struggling through some pretty difficult things recently and we've been praying for God to do his will, regardless of whether or not it was exactly what we want or not. I've felt like no one understands and people don't really care when I share what I'm going through. I've even felt like people totally don't want to be around me because I've been so miserable. I am so thankful that I serve a God that totally understands what I've been through and will never "not want to around me" because of my circumstances." AND he brings relief. He's brought me relief, the pain & frustration I'm dealing with still exists but God's given me the relief I need in order to glorify him until the problem is resolved completely. And it's the little things that he uses to remind us that he is with us...like...
-My sister spoke at our winter sports award Tuesday night. It was so great to see my little sister talk about how God has brought her out of the self-esteem issues she had growing up. AND my mom surprised me by riding with Anna to Knightdale. They came all the way here from Charlotte and drove all the way back after the ceremony. JUST FOR ME!
-I've had 2 planning periods with NO meetings this week. Because of this, I've gotten a lot of work done so I haven't had to bring stuff home. I've been able to rest more and take care of the little one growing inside of me.
-AND today...a student brought me a whole bag of Ghiradelli dark chocolate (which is my favorite!)
-Not to mention...we have NO plans this weekend and the weather is going to be glorious!

God's love is so good and sometimes it just blows my mind. Romans 8:31-39 is a perfect picture of how NO matter what we go through, nothing...nothing will separate us from the love of Christ.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Ahhh, Jesus is SO good!

Yummy Recipe

I hate that I never blog anymore...if only I had more time.

Just wanted to share an easy recipe for a yummy fruit salad my mother-in-law shared with me.

Fruit Salad:

1 20 oz can of chunk pineapple (drain)
1 11 oz can of mandarin oranges
1-1/2 cups of seedless grapes (cut in half)
1 cup of mini-marshmellows
1 cup of coconut
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
3/4 cup of sour cream or vanilla yogurt
1 tablespoon of sugar

Drain pineapple and oranges. Combine pineapple, oranges, grapes, marshmellows, coconut and walnuts. Mix sour cream (or yogurt) with sugar. Stir into fruit mixture and chill.

It's so yummy! Enjoy :)