home.

it's about time that i write again. november has been full of driving and running. so i will recap before all the exciting Christmas activities begin...

We celebrated this beautiful woman's (my aunt pam) birthday in early november...

and i made "the bread" for the party...

Thanksgiving 

thanksgiving break, we stayed in montgomery for the most part. we traveled to atlanta for the half marathon on Wednesday, ran Thursday morning and then drove back to montgomery to have dinner at our house. we had everyone here, including the grands from ATL.

the above pictures include mom's flowers she put together from some bouquets at wal-mart... and my apple spice cake with cider buttercream. i think it might be one of the greater cakes i've made so far.


pre-thanksgiving break we celebrated our last Mallard Ball. it was bittersweet. i wore shorts, as you can see, and enjoyed the comments made by all in attendance. it wasn't that cold out...

and as you are all aware... Adele didn't work out in October... and so my parents have been wracking their brains to figure out what to give me for my birthday... in november. so after much thought, my mom went out and picked up this little baby. never have i been more surprised by a gift. and truly know i will use this new gadget quite often. which only means more baking in the apartment.... which makes everyone happy!!

i also got to take pictures of my babies for their christmas card... 

they are little precious angels!

so thanks for dealing with my delay...

i am off to AUSTIN on friday for my lovely texan wedding! i am beyond excited... hopefully i will have plenty of photos to show off.

until then... it's 11 days until CHRISTMAS!! eeeee

{swagger wagon}

good morning!
okay.. two post in less than 12 hours?? i know...

today my grandparents are leaving for Russia. my grandmother is a talented speaker/writer and wrote a book called Her Husband is Known in the Gates about supporting your husband and being a Proverbs 31 woman. she had a terrific response from women in Russia, and a publisher came her to, asking to translate and publish the book in russian.

so, they are headed over to speak to 500 pastor's wives. needless to say, she is excited/nervous. please remember her in your prayers this week!

but the real reason behind this post is this video i found this morning.

it's kinda funny. and excellent PR done by toyota. check it... the SWAGGER WAGON

Source: youtube.com via Shannon on Pinteres

but yeah okay, they are pretty funny. great job toyota.

this is considered viral with over 9 million views. pretty impressive.

WELL... have a GREAT WEDNESDAY! 
and i read this verse this morning and wanted to share it's power... enjoy!

 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made ALIVE together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, NAILING IT TO THE CROSS.He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him!

Colossians 2:13-15

monday munchies.

happy tuesday everyone. it's been a productive week so far. from baking at 7:30 monday morning, to finishing a massive case study for class, everything from my "important" list was completed for the past two days.

as i would like to do every week (if only my wonderful college budget would allow), i completed a pinterest find monday morning! i woke up early and began this adventure into the "better than crack brownie" creation process.

Better Than Crack Brownies:


1 batch your FAV brownie.
1 1/2cup peanut butter cups (chopped)
1 cup peanuts (salted, chopped)
1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1 1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 tbspn. butter
1 1/2 cup Rice Krispie cereal

you cook your brownies in a 9 x 13 pan for about 20-22 minutes {make sure you grease your pan well!}. then you top the brownies with peanuts and pb cups and bake for another 5 mins.
while they finish baking, melt butter, PB and chocolate chips in the microwave. add in cereal.
remove brownies and pour the cereal mixture over them.
refrigerate for 2 hours before cutting and serving!

i made these for my friend for his birthday and he and his other friends agree they were in fact "very excellent" and another source commented on them saying "dude, they are awesome." so i am guessing people liked them. not too hard to make either!

sunday night i conquered an 8 mile jog. the first 3 always seem to last forever, but after about 5 i was golden. i even finished on an uphill sprint. so, in other words, i am proud of myself. i honestly didn't think my body was going to catch up with where my mind had already put it. next saturday or sunday is going to be the big TEN. i hope dad has been training as much... thanksgiving is only a couple weeks away...

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this weekend i got to time in atlanta with my grandparents. we went to secret church on friday night [their church did a simulcast of the sermon]. it was incredible. i felt i learned so much and was inspired to dig deeper into the topic we study often. i am very glad we got to go to it together. more on that another day...

i got to eat lunch with my cousin natalie. she is amazing and such an encouragement in my life. she is remarkable, and i LOVE spending time with her. i cannot wait for Christmas break when we get to hang out and laugh [a whole lot] with each other. 

i also got to go watch the lsu/bama game at this cool sports bar downtown. it is called Stats... and i would recommend it. although you may not have the pleasure of the same company as i, but you should check it out if you ever are in atl. 

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anyways, short and sweet for a tuesday night. 
i think i am going to take the baby [as in nikon the baby] out tomorrow... the fall colors are just begging to get some screen time on the ole blog.


ALSO, just as a side note... i am so thankful for the group of musicians i get to worship with every week. tonight, we spent some time in fellowship and i just sat there with joy filling my heart. what an incredible blessing cornerstone is. what a passionate, loving group i have been placed in! although they joke on me {mostly because i get to be the only girl a lot of the time}, i know they love me too {cheeese}.


 they have such talents and gift from the Lord, and i get to witness them worship. i am so thankful everyday for what they have taught me these past three years. i could not have asked for a better blessing. 

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME

All THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD

{staying awake}

i love caribou coffee. it is one of the better things in the library. i think i love caribou because of their cups. the tag line caribou uses is

LIFE IS SHORT. 

STAY AWAKE FOR IT.

which, as you know, is something i struggle with. however, with my nap therapy and routine early bed/rising time... i am doing much better. 

"For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish."

 At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.

Jeremiah 31:25 & 26

Source: impressyourkids.org via Jane on Pinterest

my ultra-crafty roommate did some fun pre-school sensory learning activities at the apartment yesterday. this included a massive amount of macaroni and food coloring. she is going to be a great teacher! 

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this beautiful woman is my Grandmama ( or gran'ma or gram'ma or Mama C...) and yesterday was her birthday. she is positively one of the most poised, beautiful, honored and lovely women i know. she is full of wisdom and knowledge of the word. 

she is a mother, teacher, grandmother, wife, caretaker, great-grandmother, chief extraordinaire, adopted mom, friend and brave as a bear.

her name is Bernadine, papaw calls her "bernie" and we know her to love all things peach and covered in ice cream. 

she is also an author and teacher. her mouth speaks truth and her hands work hard. she can make an 8-egg omelet in no time flat, along with the best coconut cake you have ever tasted. she has raised four children and 22 grands and now 4 great grands {with one on the way}.

her love for others is evident. her love for her husband is of legend. the legacy she has built will be hard to match.

i love my Grandmama. and i am thankful i get to spend some qt with her and Papaw this weekend.

so... HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMAMA! you are a blessing far beyond what we deserve.

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for this week, i have a recipe you are going to have to just wait for. i am making these "goodies" for the weekend with the grands, so you'll have to stick around to see what they are. 

i am pretty pumped about them. 

            any ways.... i need to get back to studying. xoxo

getting strength.

i've been trying to gain my strength back as a runner. last week i ran a 5-er and this week will be the big 7. it's always been a rough one for me, but seeing the weather report for the weekend made me excited for  the long haul around auburn.

gaining strength this week has come in other facets of my life this week. strength in school ( this was supposed to be an "easy" week... yeh right), strength for others, strength within my heart.

in third grade i met a girl who changed my life. her silly awkward love for others was captivating and i wanted in. our friendship grew over years of sleepovers, bike rides, prank phone calls, and limited too. we got sun burnt on the beach and pruned in the lake, we grew in our faith together and challenged each other to achieve more. although she moved schools, we stayed close.

now, 13 years later ( holy cow) we are still close. i know, no matter what distance or time has separated us, i can count on her. and she can count on me.

today i made a trip to montgomery to be with her. her mother is dying and i needed to be there. yet i had to gain new strength; strength i had never needed before. and i had to do it fast. yet i learned today, that if you have love, you have strength. and Jesus gave me strength today. strength i didn't know i had...

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this past weekend we spent some time in new orleans. it was a nice time to spend with the girls and we enjoyed taking advantage of everything the city had to offer. this was the first thing we did when we arrived... walk to cafe du monde and eat. i could only eat one... they are SO SWEET. but unreal. there as only a little day light to work with, but i did get some good photos of new orleans before the craziness came out. either way... it was a trip full of memories. and h i l a r i o u s stories ( tiger bait).

i obviously enjoyed the architecture in new orleans. i could have stayed all day just taking pictures... but i didn't want to get lost/stolen/mugged on bourbon street. so i stayed with the others and got what i could...

and the lsu fans the next day weren't too bad... but i prefer auburn any day.

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soo for WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY i actually did a tasty tuesday!! i think i outdid myself personally... now it may not be the most beautiful thing ((i gave the pretty ones away))... but believe me it wouldn't matter...

this is a Peanut Butter Cup Brownie. i found them on pinterest (shocking i know) and made them for someone (mallard ball date YAY) and i had to try one. they are to die for and actually taste like a peanut butter cup. i mean they are not that hard to make (but let's pretend they are).

1. just make your favorite brownies in muffin tins (i used some with paper and some without) and let them cook almost all the way... until the tops are firm but not cooked all the way through. take them out and set them somewhere to cool. the tops should fall in while they cool... however, if they don't, take the back of a spoon and create a little indention.

2. take the pb of your choice (i used kroger creamy... 1/3 of a regular sized jar) and microwave for 40 seconds. 

3. spoon pb into the indention in the brownies just to the top. 

4. while the brownies are still warm, garnish with milk chocolate and semi sweet chocolate chips.

5. let them cool completely before removing them! store in a cool place:)

these little guys will rock your world. its a perfect combo of what you need. try 'em and let me know.

today i was informed that i looked like a "fashionista". never in my life have i been called such. i would like to think i can occasionally style myself and look trendy. mostly, however, i go with what i like. i just thought it was funny. 

and so i am off to sleep. i have had an emotional day, and blog world gives me a creative outlet to invest in. 

finally.

it finally feels like F A L L. pulling on sweatpants this morning in order to make my coffee was an exceptional way to wake up. as i drove to nanny, i could see the colors of fall creeping into the trees. leaves are falling as the wind blows. it's perfect. and i love it.

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Cydnee on Pinterest

as you know, Adele pulled a ninja move on us an cancelled her concert sunday. sister and i made the trip to ATL anyways and it was quite better then expected. lunch at Houston's (always a crowd pleaser) and conversation on the couch always proves to encourage, motivate and challenge me. not to mention the company was far above any adele concert. we enjoyed laughs, breakfast for dinner, a roach named allen and a 24-hour gas station. needless to say, i am ready to go back to atlanta again.

this weekend auburn exceeded my expectations as well. they beat florida. and it wasn't a heart wrenching event. i was proud of the tigers and enjoyed not going into cardiac arrest at the end of the game. so war eagle to that.

stead ventured to auburn this weekend. i was pleased to see him on the plains, however not so pleased with his choice in colors. typical of a "the other team" fan i guess. kidding... he didn't wear crimson, just florida blue and green. either way, sister and i are going to have to work hard at getting him here. but it is a battle we are willing to take.

monday munchies didn't happen... neither did tasty tuesday. so i guess wonderful wednesday will have to suffice. here is something i found that i think is wonderful. we have two categories... food (shocking i know) and event in the news.

1. food. feast your little eyes on these two things...

Source: wholefoodsmarket.com via Morgan on Pinterest

these are Cheesy Lasagna Rolls with Spinach and Ricotta and they look SO GOOD. they are beautifully put together too. honestly, the recipe doesn't sound too difficult either. it's a new way to spice up an old favorite.

and now this... i realized i must really like this because i pinned it twice on Pinterest....

Source: picasaweb.google.com via Morgan on Pinterest

i mean how cute is that. it's individual, which makes everyone feel special. AND you can customize for each person if you wanted, which is something i love. i really want do these for something... so give me something to do them for!

2. news...

Parents Urged Again to Limit TV for Youngest

Daniel Lai/Aurora Photos

Watching TV while a parent is busy: Video screen time has no educational benefits for young children, a report says.

Found this article in the NY Times today... i agree with this. and, as you are well aware, i do not watch tv anyways... so yea. i thought this was interesting. not really "wonderful" but you get the idea...

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looking forward to some new pictures from this weekend. NOLA and Baton Rouge could be a promising event for my nikon and me.

maybe i'll be brave enough to take the nikon to the game... we'll see.

until then....

a verse from my devotion today/last night

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." Mark 9:35

darkness.

Source: None via Melanie on Pinterest

for the first time in my life, i actually have a glimpse into what it means to be blind; to actually live in darkness.

sunday morning i woke up with red, bloodshot, weeping eyes. i thought i was having a reaction to my contacts. but they weren't getting better, unlike the times in the past. sunday, i was so sensitive to light, i went to bed at 7:45. no joke. i haven't been to bed that early since i was 7.

monday, after a day of nannying, kimmy called the med clinic, took me, and we discovered i had 3 abrasions on the upper third of my left eye.

eww. it hurt as much as you can imagine. they gave me drops, but i went to bed by 8 monday night. i felt like an old woman.

but monday and tuesday, i really couldn't stand to me in any light all day. thankfully, it was raining and cloudy all day, allowing me to stay cooped up in my bedroom like a recluse.

i experienced real darkness. 

and of course, the Lord showed me something through it...

there are so many times i grow comfortable in my life here at Auburn. we live here in a little bubble, and forget that there are people who daily struggle and are persecuted for their beliefs in Christ. however, living in the "Bible belt", we don't experience this as much.

i don't know what it's like to live in darkness without the Lord. everyday, i encounter Him. i recognize Him. i spend time with Him. 

i know Him.

but there are so many who don't. and that's what Jesus was reminding me the past two days... don't forget those who live in constant darkness. i need to remember those who suffer to live their lives for the Lord... not grow so comfortable.

it reminds me of africa. of my little ugandan children. i am praying the Lord will give me a heart for where He wants me to go. back to africa... or somewhere else.

i just wanna share the light. 

Source: vi.sualize.us via Adrienne on Pinterest