I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

And I didn't get one but I did have a wonderful first Christmas as husband and wife. I got off work around 3 on Christmas eve and we headed down to Monticello for Chad's dads family Christmas. We had such a good time seeing everyone and spending time with everyone. Wouldn't you know that on a rainy Christmas eve that we would have to roll over something in the truck on the way back. Yep! We pulled over; Chad, Clay and Joey checked it out. We stopped and put air in the tire and went on our way...Then the windshield wipers started giving us trouble...Good Grief! After the eventful ride home we make it back to our house at midnight. We went to sleep and the kid in me set the alarm for 8:00 to open presents. Waking up next to my husband on Christmas morning was wonderful and new. I called my family to wish them a Merry Christmas and to send my love. I made Cinnamon Rolls (Chad's fav) and then we opened presents while, A Christmas Story played in the background. You cannot miss that movie on Christmas here in GA, they play it for 24 hours on TBS.

Drum Roll Please....

Chad told me what my gift was two days before Christmas. 1) He couldn't stand it, 2) He wanted to make sure it was what I wanted.

Chad set up a ski trip for us at Maggie Valley, North Carolina:) I couldn't believe my ears!! We are going to have our own little cabin for the weekend and be able to ski Saturday and Sunday!! We will be staying in Cabin Number 8 and we will ski HERE Jan 29-31 cannot get here soon enough!

I have a truly remarkable and amazing husband. He must have been reading my mind because that same day when I got home I had been looking at ski vacations due to the fact that I really wanted to go!! I am looking forward to us having time together. Thank you babe!

I received many wonderful gifts from my family (cute new jacket- Thanks sis, New suit- thanks mom and dad). I also got The Office Season 1 and The Office Board game!!! Whoo-hoo! If you do not like that show than you should. I got new red canisters for the kitchen, new steak knives, new sheets for the bed:) and new clothes:)

Christmas night we went to have dinner with Chad's moms side of the family which is always alot of fun getting to see everyone. The food is always amazing! Kudos to Aunt Brenda on the chicken noodle soup. I will be having that tonight for dinner:) I would love to have the recipe;)

Our tree was on it's last leg by Sunday so we spent Sunday afternoon taking the Christmas decorations down. I mean, Really? Where does time go? I need to correct my first statement. Chad and I started taking down the decorations together but then Clay sent him a text that he and Matt were both online for the XBOX. (Thanks Clay) So Chad haaadddd to stop so that he could race them online for a couple races. Well, what seemed like 20 races later he quit and by that point, Yes, everything was boxed up and off the tree. We carried it out the front door and took it to Home Depot in Peachtree City. If you are looking for somewhere, they are taking them.

This Christmas was very new/different for me. Not waking up in the home I grew up in was weird but I handled it very well I think. During the church service on Sunday they did things a little different. It was a Celebration of Life Service. Meaning Celebrating God's gift to us and Celebrating those who went home to be with the Lord this year. During the service they carried in this large wooden cross down the aisles and held it at the front during one of the songs. I would like to think if that doesn't hit you in the heart, something is wrong. I cried. It is that and so many other things during the Christmas season that reminds me of all my Savior has done for me. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband, a wonderful family, a wonderful-new family that I have married into, new sister and brother who I don't get to see as often as I would like, a beautiful new home, and good health. Most importantly I have been blessed with eternal life. I asked the Lord to come into my life years ago and he has never left my side. I would encourage you to reflect on all of the blessings in your life and if you haven't accepted Christ as your Savior to do so. It will change your life in ways you cannot imagine.

Hostess- I can totally handle it or Can I?

I think it is safe to say that I comletely underestimated what being a hostess entails. Let me elaborate.


Chad and I (well I volunteered our house) for our Sunday School Christmas Party. What a crazy day leading up to the party!!

It is humorous now but at the time not so much. We were running around that morning trying to get plates, cups, napkins, etc. We ended up going to what seemed like 20 different stores. I was having a hard time finding a tree skirt that I liked. Can I just say that I think tree skirts are wayyy over priced. I couldn't believe some of the prices I was seeing. I have been looking for one for awhile! Needless to say we found one that will suffice until I find one I am in love with at Hobby Lobby.

When we arrived back at the house we did some quick cleaning and then the cooking began. I think the temperature is a little off in my oven. I started baking some cookies that I have made atleast 20 times before and they burnt (yucky smell). It was weird; they were at the right temp and they cook for 10 minutes at 8 minutes I could smell them and they were burned. Any ideas on how to check things out with my oven? Everything we cooked that day was a little on the well done side and I don't know why that happened. Rather frustrating!! I haven't really tested is since but I guess I will attempt to make the cookies again and go from there and see what happens...

I thought I was going crazy. I found by the end of the night the party was a success and we had a wonderful evening. My advice to you future hostesses out there: Timing is the Key. My mom tells me it gets easier with experience. When you are baking desserts and casseroles timing is everything.

We had a wonderful evening of opening presents, stealing presents from each other, and wonderful fellowship. I can only imagine how sad I will be when we begin our search for a new church home closer to our home.



Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!

It Snowed

If you have not heard Meaghan Smith's song, It snowed, you should. I just heard it this week and I love it! If you are into Big Band/1940's style music then you will enjoy it :)

Have a great day!

Meaghan Smith

SEC Championship Game 2009

I volunteered to work the SEC Championship game in doing this I received two free tickets to the game. What was my job at the game you ask? I was the BEST Cow handler you have ever seen! In better terms, I was the Cow's bodyguard. I underwent intense training with Louis (Personal Trainer) in the weeks prior to the game to buff up and make sure I was ready for this challenge. I wanted to make sure my muscles were busting out of the Chick-fil-A shirt provided. Go ahead and ask me, "Did my cow get taunted or attacked?"

That answer is definitely....not ;)

My cow went unharmed. All I had to do was flash the guns and they knew better.

On another note, I took my sister to the game and we had a wonderful time. Talk about intense fans. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend time with my sister. Granted, we are not really fans of either team we pulled for Alabama. I just wish I would not have been sick. I was on antibiotics for a sinus infection and man was my head pounding by the end of the night.

As we were leaving the game we saw Alabama fans hanging an alligator from the top of their RV. Hilarious! The picture did not turn out otherwise you could see it for yourself.

The ride home will be a memory for Jennifer and I alone. Good times. Love you Jenn:) I'm glad that we are always cracking each other up :)

Reichert's Christmas Tree

This is a real tree and we had to do a little work on the shaping of it. All in all I must say I think it is beautiful but I am a little partial:)

We got lucky with this tree too! We have super high ceilings and if you know me at Christmas my motto is go big. However, huge trees didn't fit our budget. We found this 10 ft tree in the 8-9 ft. section and got it for $50!! Go us!

Julie and Julia - Simply Wonderful

While having some of my mint green tea last night (My fav) I watched one of my new favorite movies for the first time, Julie and Julia. Such a wonderful movie. I knew this movie was about cooking and blogging. Two things I thoroughly enjoy. There is nothing like having a hard day at work or just one of those days and be able to come home and create a wonderful dinner. Something you can rely on:)

Meryl Streep and Amy Adams nailed this movie. I completely felt a connection with Julie. I had no idea she was an operator and deals with her fair share of angry/upset customers. ( I totally feel her on that one). It comes with the job. Her outlet: Cooking. I love coming home and preparing a wonderful dinner. She has a hard time actually completing anything she starts. Her husband nudges her to start a blog where she can type about anything. She gives herself a deadline of a year to cook her way through Mastering the Art of French Cuisine by Julia Childs. I think it ended up being close to 450 recipes in 365 days. I found the movie very entertaining. At one point she is in the kitchen floor in tears having a temper tantrum because something went wrong. I think we have all been there and if you haven't I'm pretty sure you will. That's what makes a good cook. Admitting you have made mistakes and you learn from them. Trying new things and not being afraid of them. The lobster and duck scenes are hilarious! For me; this was a feel good movie. One of the few movies I felt a strong connection with. I would love nothing more than to go to culinary school and become a chef. My modern day Julia Childs is....Drum roll please: Rachel Ray. I am trying to convince Chad to get Tivo so that I can record her show and watch it in the evening. In a nut shell; I loved this movie. My favorite quote from this movie is when Julia Childs finishes something in the kitchen, she taste it and then says, "Perfection, even if it isnt, never apologize, no excuses, no explanations."

I would like to have this hanging in my kitchen. Now to find someone with a creative vibe to help me make it :) Anyone out there?

Go Dawgs?

Yes Sir! That is correct! Chad and I had the best time Saturday night at the UGA vs. GA Tech Game!! It was my first game ever and might I say a good first! Chad and I did not take part in any trash talking prior to the game. Who would? After this season we thought for sure it was not going to go in our favor...It's great to be Georgia Bulldog!

We met up with Sam Waldrip and Marvin Massey at The Varsity before the game. Ended up running into Ty and Brittany Lewis and chatted with them and then made our way to the stadium. Granted our seats we're in the nosebleed section we were definitely surrounded by fellow Dawgs which was awesome! The random barking, high-fiving random people, jumping up and down and sweet victory was such an awesome experience! The in-state rivalry at the this game is one of a kind. Growing up in Georgia you know what this game means. Bragging rights for a whole year! Regardless, some may think the game was unfair, bad calls by the refs, injured players, and bad play calling. Irrelevant...that's the game of football! Until next year...Go Dawgs!

Thanksgiving and a 32 ft. extension ladder?

Thanksgiving was wonderful this year! We had a great time with our families. Chad and I were able to have a four day weekend which was amazing! So I was all excited about it being my first Thanksgiving and taking something to Honey's. Chad and I make a delish Pecan Pie. Chad makes the crust and I do the filling and all I can say is yum! Or at least that is what I thought the family would say. It looked absolutely amazing. As Tina, Jenn and I are washing dishes and cleaning up I hear my mom, "Laura, did you put sugar in this?" All of these thoughts are going through my head I know I put sugar in there. I walk to where my mom is and everyone continues eating with a sour face...At this point I am really confused. I love cooking! What did I do wrong? Well you see the recipe called for 1/3 tsp salt and I misread it and thought it called for 3 tsp. Poor Uncle Georgia had to chug water afterwards...Oh well, atleast I know what I did wrong but it still looked good as you can tell...

9 inch pie crust

1 cup light corn syrup

3 eggs slightly beaten

1/3 butter melted
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup brown sugar

1/3 TSP SALT

1 cup pecan halves

Preheat oven to 350. Combine corn syrup, sugar, eggs, butter, salt and vanilla. Mix well in large bowl. Pour into crust. Add pecans on top. Bake for 45 mins or toothpick comes out clean. I think the key to this being so good is the curst made from scratch found on the back of the Crisco can:) Enjoy and go easy on the salt ;)

On the way home we stopped at Wal-mart and checked out what was going to be on sale the next morning. After walking around and looking at the paper we didnt really see a whole lot. I was super pumped about sleeping in the next morning. Much to my suprise....I heard Chad grunting next to me. After the third time I was like, "What babe?" to which he responded, "wanna go shopping?" I looked at my cell...Time:5:15am! Are you kidding me? We got up and went to Walmart, For what exactly? Not sure...but we got some tools and DVD's; went home and went to sleep...Very random morning...

Then the Christmas decorating began....
So after waking up from sleeping when we got back from shopping we headed outside to begin our fun with icycle lights. We have a little 17 ft ladder and Chad begins to prop the ladder up against the house. If you have seen our house you know that 17 ft. is not going to cut it. We came back inside to look on Craig's List for an extension ladder. Wouldn't you know that someone about 5 minutes away was selling a 32 ft. extension ladder and asking $230 for it. We called him and offered $200. He accepts. We go to the bank to get the cash and head to the guys house. We get into the neighborhood and it dawns on my we have no ropes or straps...Nothing for this huge ladder we are about to buy. Did I mention that Chad has a Ford Ranger? We proceed down the driveway...Make our purchase and then begin trying to figure out how in the world we are going to do this. The guy offers us the sorriest excuse for rope I think I have ever seen. But hey we can't complain we had nothing...We tie it down but of course it is not going to stay. We then decide what we are going to do...
Me- "I guess you are going to have to sit on it to hold it in while I drive home..."

and that is what we did. Chad in his PJ's is sitting on a 32 ft long extension ladder while I drive home and it's not exactly warm outside. I wish I had a picture but Chad refused to let me take one. Please know that while I am driving to the house I am laughing my butt off in the truck. Poor Chad was smiling at the guy behind us and lets just say he was not getting one in return.

I think it is safe to say that after 2 days of trying to get icycle lights on the house Chad is not a fan. I can only imagine what he was saying when he was on the ladder...but at least we didn't have a Chevy Chase style ladder experience (Christmas Vacation)...