Spring break! (and catching up)

Wow it has been an age since I last blogged. Time has just been zipping by!! After going home for Christmas and New Years to spend time with family, I came back to Waco and hit the ground running. Starting a new class load and just keeping up with it (why did I pick these classes to take together?! Someone should've warned me....), finishing writing my masters thesis, defending the thesis (aka, slaying le monstre), editing said thesis, and beginning to plan out the dissertation (which shall be aptly named the hydra) has been far more than enough to keep me busy. I'm becoming well-known by friends as the girl who regularly operates on next to no sleep!! Thank goodness for church, where I get to play music, still. It's the one regular bit of fun I get, and I still find it a pleasure and a thrill. Aside from this, there has been time to do very little else!

I am SO thankful that it is spring break this week! My work-list is no shorter, but the absence of looming deadlines for a week is incredibly liberating. It has already given me the opportunity to actually take some time off from school work this weekend to catch up on the rest of my life! First order of business, oil change and new tires for Zippy Car. Before and after:

As you can see, my tires were in dire need of changing. I don't think I've ever seen such smooth tires before! Eeek.

So grateful for a week of rest (albeit a working break, but I'll take it!). Let's see how it all plays out!

ps: Have I mentioned? I am going to be an aunt come June! Wheeeeee!!!!! I'm already collecting ideas for some great hand-mades for my niece-to-be, which if I get my act together, I will blog about. I can't wait to meet you, Poppy!!

Beautiful and creative!

This post is admittedly more for me than anyone else. Pinterest/visualize.us aside, I can't think of a better way to remember this gorgeous wedding, shot by This Modern Romance. The location and photography is just stunning. The hand-made details are to die for! So many wonderful ideas. :)

To see the whole wedding, click here: Jodi & Kurt's wedding

Peeks from the phone || A twist on the usual.

Things happen every day and we often use our phones to document them! 'Peeks from the phone' is meant to be a low-key way to capture life as it happens. It could be one photo or more; it could come with a blurb or let the title say it all! Join in the fun if you choose, and please leave a link in the comments if you do!

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I am fully aware of the fact that my little web space here is quickly getting taken over by Princess Booger (Yes. After a weekend-long hiatus to whoknowswhere when I was supposed to be watching her, and sauntering back home Monday morning like it was no big deal, she fully deserves it.). Can't really help myself.... she is so full of personality!

A couple of afternoons ago:

Instead of, "My dog ate my homework"...... "My cat sat on my thesis"?

Silly but true...

I got home last night and all was quiet. Lauren was out doing laundry, and Laura was in her room on the phone. Charlie was sleeping like a log and Sammie was in Laura's room. So I unpacked things and went straight into the bathroom for a shower. By the time I turned the water off, I could hear that Lauren was home, and Laura and Sammie were over by her room saying hello.

So I get dressed and open the bathroom door... and right away I hear the sound of little jingle bells. Sammie racing through the house, like she couldn't wait to see me! It kinda made my evening. :) I scooped her up and gave her kisses for the 5 seconds she would let me hold her without squirming.

I don't know what it is..... but affection from her is SO sweet. Probably because it is hard-won. Probably because Sammie was originally from the streets and hasn't grown up around loving humans..... It's like she deigns us worthy to grace us with her purrs and cuddles. Lol.

When did I become such a kitty person??

Good thought for Tuesday.

LOVE this blog by Starfield today, about being led by the spirit. Deciphering God's will for my life has been such a big thing, and continues to be... especially at this point in my life. In the past few years, I've learned a little and seen the fruits of what Jon blogs about: stepping out in faith and confidence, trusting that I have done due diligence through prayer and trying my best to listen to that Still Small Voice. But I feel like it's something I am continually learning, and will never really quite get adept at. Agreed?

"The most, productive, free, and respectable people I know seem to have one thing in common, they don't obsess over the will of God in their lives. Instead, they live with confidence and freedom, trusting that God is leading them."

Black-eyed pea soup

I've had these packages of dried beans and black-eyed peas in my pantry since forever.... my mum brought them for me when she came to visit but I've never known what to do with them. Lucky for me, Laura knew exactly what to do! We have grand plans for my dried green mung beans when the weather gets really cold, but this weekend she taught me to make a soup/stew with black-eyed peas. I'm eating my first bowl right now and it is delicious!! Of course, I left my camera in my office at school so there is no photographic evidence. Next time! :)

This recipe is so flexible. You can incorporate just about anything into it, so it's a very good way to clear the fridge. Try it soon! It's the perfect autumn food. Here's (roughly) what we did:

1. We rinsed about 1 cup of black-eyed peas, and soaked them overnight.

2. Next day, I sauteed red and green peppers, onions, garlic (lots!!), and jalepenos with Italian sausage. I added black pepper and some salt to the veggies.

3. When the sausage was fairly cooked through, I deglazed the pot with chicken stock. Then I dumped in the black-eyed peas (and the soaking water too), added ginger and more garlic, then added more chicken stock until the peas, veggies and meat were just covered.

4. Turn the burner on max. When the soup comes to a good rolling boil, turn it down to med-high and simmer. At this point I was snacking on celery and decided to throw some celery leaves in too!

5. Put the lid on and let it simmer until the beans are as soft as you want it. I kept checking the pot every 15 min or so (I couldn't wait to eat!) and at one point decided to add some Belizean spices in there too.

And that's it! Hopefully you can tell from my sort-of directions.... this is an anything-goes recipe. Have fun and enjoy!

Peeks from the phone || Hello, 3am

Things happen every day and we often use our phones to document them! 'Peeks from the phone' is meant to be a low-key way to capture life as it happens. It could be one photo or more; it could come with a blurb or let the title say it all! Join in the fun if you choose, and please leave a link in the comments if you do!

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My wild and crazy (ok, perhaps just crazy) Thursday night.