Summer has been Awesome!

Ok, so this summer has been completely awesome. So much has happened and it seems like it's gone by so fast! I've spent alot of time looking for a job, since I just recently graduated. That has been difficult and slow. In the teaching profession, getting a job is all about who you know. At this point, I don't know many people. My mentor teacher from last year has been helping with this some, and for that I am grateful. Anyway, I just keep praying and remember that God has a plan for my life. If I don't get a teaching job, I'll probably just substitute teacher or work work for a tutoring company.

My sister got a job this summer working as a veterinary assistant. I'm so proud of her! She's awesome and has an amazing job and she's just 17.

We had some of our ducks hatch this summer. We were especially thrilled to get this yellow duck (Donald or Donna...we don't know yet).  What a cutie. We have a Mallard flock so no idea where this little yellow guy came from.

It seems like I've been waiting all summer for the new season of project runway to start!! Finally, this Thrusday. Some friends and I are having a watch party where we're eating veggies (because isn't that only what models eat anyway) and decorate your own cupcakes (so we can do a "project" too). I know, silly! But fun.

I'm the Proud Owner of A Master of Arts in Teaching!!!

Finally, it's over!... My Master of Arts in Teaching program that is!
"I have fought the good fight...I have finished the race!"...and with a 4.0 at that!!

My graduation weekend was extra special because my sister was also turning 17 years old! So, we decided to combine and party even harder with a BirthGrad Party! Held at Crystal Hall in Rogers, over 55 of our closest friends joined us in celebrating. The menu included mixed nuts, strawberries, grapes, assorted fruit, potato Salad, crackers, bagels and cream cheese, danish, brownies, muffins, cheese, vege meat, Hawaiian rolls, spreads, black & green olives, kettle chips, lemon raspberry green tea, bottled root beer and grape crush, and bottled water....not to mention the two-tiered cake from Rick's Bakery in Fayetteville which was FABULOUS! Top tier was chocolate with white chocolate mousse and the bottom tier was white cake with chocolate mousse! I am so grateful to everyone who came and made it such a special celebration!

After that party, we had the "after party" at the Embassy Suites in Rogers. Me, my two friends, my sister, and her two friends....along with my Aunite (who just happens to be a massage therapist!!!) crashed for a fun sleepover. We all got chair massages, of course, ate junk food (Doritos, Pringles, Gardetoes, Twizzlers, m&ms, sour gummy worms, soda, and chocolate covered strawberries...oh and whip cream), and watched "The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treador"....have to say, a little disappointed in this Narnia instalment...but still worth the watch.

Anyway, overall, such a fabulous weekend! Will never ever forget it!
Here's a little video of the highlights...

A little spring Yummy

Find the recipe and instructions at

http://thecraftingchicks.com/2011/03/tweet-tweet-you-are-sweet-easter-treat-ideas-free-tags.html

Annie

Once a year I direct a play done by our church youth group. We do the play in conjunction with a valentine banquet as a fundraiser. This year, the play was "Annie". So much work, but so much fun! It helps where you are working with fabulous "actors"! Here are a few pictures from the night of our performance.

"Oliver Warbucks" and "Annie"

"Annie" backstage

Singing "Tomorrow"

The red carpet entrance

"Rooster", "Annie", and "Lilly"

Table Settings

Graduation Photos...a new hobby?

A friend of mine asked me to take her college graduation photos. I was a little wary at first because I am NOT a professional photographer. I just play around with pictures. However, since I got my new Canon Rebel T2i at Christmas, I've been learning more. Anyway, I agreed to give it a shot and she agreed not to have too high of an expectation.

However, after a couple hours at the beautiful UofA campus...and praying for it not to rain, we ended up with some fabulous picture for an amateur photographer. Below are some examples. So...if you need a  photographer in Northwest Arkansas, I'd be more than happy to give it a whirl. :)

Chess Squares

I found an awesome recipe at Kevin & Amanda's blog and thought I'd give it a try. Eveyrthing went grade except I had to bake it about 10 minutes longer than the recipe called for...and I think it still could have gone another 5. This may have been due to the fact that I tried using fat free cream cheese and light butter. Overall, they are fabulous though!

Winter Blast...and we thought last week was bad!

Greetings from Arkansas!

Last week schools were closed 4 days because of the "unprecidented storm": 1 inch ice, 10 inches of snow. People were calling it the "100 year storm". Well, today, mother nature blew the "100 year storm" out of the water! Last night and throughout the day today we recieved 25 inches of snow!! This is the most snow I have ever seen in my life...without a doubt!

My family and I spent a fabulous day "drift diving", digging our vehicles out (and subsequently getting them stuck again), and just completely being overtaken by the "wow" factor! Here are a few pictures from the "500 year storm"...as it is now being called.

The Road is more like a trough.

Burried Cars! 

 Chillin' with a cold drink!

Poor cold little birdies! 

Drift Diving

Treasure Quest

Last February (oops, I'm little behind on the scrapbooking) I directed a play with my church youth group entitled "Treasure Quest".  It was set in the jungle and followed an "could-have-been-true" story of the youth group going on a mission trip. While on the trip, several of the kids discover a treaure map that leads them on the journey of a lifetime. If your interested, you can watch the play on youtube.

Anyway, this is a scrapbook page I just completed from the night of the play. I went out of the box a little bit and used alot of 3D embellsihments to recreate scenes from the play. It was alot of fun. All supplies (embellishments, paper, cardstock, and alphabets) were purchased at Hobby Lobby.

50th Annivesary Card

A 50th wedding anniversary card for a very special couple: "Still Mr. & Mrs. (inside reads)...even after 50 years!"



Potatoe Pancakes

Still snowed in here in Arkansas! Thought it was the perfect morning for some comfort food, aka Potatoe Pancakes.

1 pound Hashbrowns, Thawed

5 Eggs

3 Tbs. Flour

1 cup cheese

2 stalks green onion, chopped

1/4 cup half-n-half

1 tsp garlic (or to taste)

2 tsp season salt (or to taste)

Mix all ingredients. Form into paties. Fry until crispy and brown on both sides. Serve with sliced avlacado and salsa.