celebrities and hot dip.

I am a horrible blogger, this I know.

After a long long lonely day (Paul took an impromptu trip to Nashville for work today) of cleaning, laundry, and many episodes of Gilmore Girls (I've decided to watch all the seasons from the very beginning, a co-worker is letting me borrow them :]), I decided it was time to post something on here.

(This is the long version of the story. If you want the short version, scroll down and read the part in bold.)

This past weekend I had my very first Kentucky Derby experience. The last time we lived in Louisville, we arrived a month after the Derby had passed and left a month before the Derby began again. Bummer. This time we were here for the entire Derby experience. Although we didn't go to Thunder over Louisville (the BIGGEST fireworks show in the country), we watched it on TV and it was pretty amazing...we'll definitely be going next year. The day before the Derby there was a big festival on the waterfront, where Gavin DeGraw was playing...and it was FREE! We decided to go to that, to get into the Derby spirit, of course, and because it's GAVIN DEGRAW! Hellooo. Anyways...after arriving downtown it started POURING and pouring, and freezing, and winding, and pouring. Needless to say, as much as we loveee Gavin, we decided he wasn't quite worth hypothermia and pneumonia (sorry, Gavin)...and he's gonna be here again in June for free. After leaving the freezingness we decided to go down to 4th Street Live and do some bowling. Upon arriving at 4th Street, a member of our party had to go to the bathroom, and since Subway wouldn't let non-customers use their bathroom, we decided to go in the Hyatt. After using the bathrooms, we met back up in the Lobby where we spotted a nicely dressed guy and wife with security guard. We then came to the conclusion that it MUST be a celebrity in town, of course, because of Derby Weekend. A friend, Leslie, was SURE he was a member of the very very famous country band Rascal Flatts, but she couldn't be positive and definitely didn't know his name. After many minutes of trying to secretly stalk said guy and wife around the lobby while Google-ing Rascal Flatts band members on our phones...Paul just decided to go up to him and ask if he was in the band. Low and behold, HE WAS! He introduced himself as Jay DeMarcus from Rascal Flatts as he shook all of our hands. His lovely wife Allison introduced herself and offered to take our picture on my phone! Ahh! It was exciting (although I'm not a country fan, it was my first random celebrity encounter.)

This is the short version of the story for all those who didn't want to read the long version:

We ran into Jay DeMarcus from Rascal Flatts at the Hyatt downtown Louisville!

Paul, Me, Jay, Leslie & Phil.

I've been taking lots of pictures of new meals I've been cooking lately. I have many meal pictures stored on my camera and I've just been waiting for the perfect time to post them. Since it's spring and the weather has been so lovely as of late, I d

ecided to make a summery, refreshing chilled avocado and crab soup that I found from a recipe book one slow boring day at work. Sounds delicious, huh? Not so much. Paul can vouch for that one...eek. So instead of a delicious summery, refreshing soup...I will share a delicious, summery (and wintery, falley, and springy...all seasons!) dip.

This is my mother-in-law's recipe...with a few added tweaks to make it my own. So good...it's called Buffalo Chicken Dip. Mmmm.

Ingredients:

2-3 boneless chicken breasts, boiled, shredded.

2 packages of cream cheese, softened. (You can use full fat, or less..your choice!)

3/4 cup buffalo hot sauce (although the original recipe says you must use Frank's brand..I used Kroger and it was just fine.) You can adjust the amount depending on the spice factor you enjoy.

1/2 cup ranch dressing

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar.

Mix shredded chicken with hot sauce and spread evenly on the bottom of a 9x9 baking dish.

Mix together cream cheese and ranch dressing, layer on top of chicken. (In the pictures I mixed the chicken mixture with the cream cheese, but it turns out better as the recipe directs.)

Top with even layer of cheese and bake for 20 minutes on 350. (I forgot to take a pic of the finished product...it was just SOO good!)

Serve with tortilla chips or celery sticks.

Exciting news...

Just a quick little update before Paul and I start watching American Idol...

I got a phone call last night with some very good and exciting news! I am one of three people being awarded a full scholarship to Sullivan University for Culinary Arts! I'm so very excited to go back to school and study something I absolutely love and sooo grateful for the financial help--without it it wouldn't be possible.

I'd like to thank Paul for eating all my failed attempts at creative meals.

I'd like to thank Southeast Christian Church for the scholarship.

I'd like to thank my family for continually making fun of me when I was younger for my lack of cooking skills and burning water.

I'd like to thank Gracie, my loyal beagle, for constantly standing at my feet while cooking and eating up all the dropped scraps. Even onions. And jalepenos.

I'd like to thank everyone in the future that I will eventually cook for.

That's all. American Idol now. :)

Several Points..

I've been trying to think of something to blog about for the past few days--then suddenly today I have SO MUCH, I don't know what to choose. Such dilemmas in my life.

Disclaimer: This entry may seem very random and out of order, but will hopefully all come together in the end.

Point #1:

I've been in a baking kick lately. This is very weird for me because I am not a baker. At all. I'm more of a cook, I just throw stuff in and skip the measuring...so baking requires way to much patience and science for me. Now that I've started my job as a baker, I've been on quite a kick to learn as much about baking as possible. I'm working on it...and hope to get there soon, but as of right now I'm failing (failing at home...I do okay at work with all the fancy equipment and real, true bakers to tell me how things go.)

Point#2:

I've been trying lately to become a more organized wife, grocery shopper, and recipe keeper. Ideally, I'd like to have planned dinner menu's for each week, which would result in actual grocery lists which equals greater money savings which equals better, more organized wifey. I also want to make a new fun meal every Thursday (since Thursday is my day off and I have all day to perfect it.) I found this amazingly wonderful application called MacGourmet which is helping me with all of my aforementioned list. This program is AWESOME. It allows me to enter all of my recipes; including pictures, and ingredient lists--which is just nice and handy to have...like a recipe box, but electronic and with the times. Along with my recipes, it has a weekly meal planner which compiles a shopping list of all the ingredients needed for the nightly meals--so no forgetting small things and running to the store during the middle of the dinner making process or 53829582 times a week. I love it. Love it love it love it. Yay. (I hope I keep up with it...)

Point #3:

With my new application, I'm working on making all of my usual recipes so I can take pictures of them to store with my recipe. With this comes the opportunity to share my favorite recipes with all of my fellow blogging friends (and include pictures! Everyone loves pictures.) I've also been reading a lot of cooking blogs which makes me want to do this even more. So with no further introductions, I present to you my Italian Focaccia Pizza-ey Thing. :)

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 teaspoon of italian seasoning

2 cloves of garlic

1 cup of shredded mozzarella

3/4 cup of shredded parmesan

1 small can of sliced black olives

2 plum tomatoes, sliced

1 small red onion, chopped (optional)

pizza dough

(this was one of my baking endeavors that failed miserably.)

You can use store bought dough, such as Pillsbury (you'll need 2 packages) or you can make your own.

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2) Roll dough evenly onto round baking sheet.

3) In a small bowl, combine oil, italian seasoning, and minced garlic. Mix well and brush over pizza dough. Layer with 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.

4) Top with sliced tomatoes, onions, and olives. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and parmesan. Sprinkle with additional italian seasoning.

5) Bake 18-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

And there it is! The pizza is absolutely delicious, even for the non-tomato-likers...it tastes really great and is very simple.

Need I say more?

My "As-Seen-On-TV" Obsessions...

Everyone has these obsessions. I know you do. I get so obsessed with a product when I see them on informercials on TV and I just can't stop thinking about them. I get sooo excited when I see the commercial on TV and it takes every muscle in my body to not get my credit card and just order it. Even worse, when I see the "As-Seen-On-TV" section at Target, Paul automatically knows just to pull me the opposite way or else he'll be standing there with me for approximately 20 minutes while I read all the boxes and labels and beg him for a new present. Past As-Seen-On-TV obsessions of mine have been items such as:

(click on link for video)

The Snuggie

I'm sure you've all heard of the Snuggie by now. It's the blanket with sleeves so you don't have to uncover your arms while reading a book, or to answer the phone while you're cuddled on the couch watching a movie. It may be kind of dorky, especially to wear to a sports game with your family like on the commercial, but it really is quite genius and you know you want one too.

Sham-Wow

I LOVE Sham-Wow...don't be fooled by imitators. Granted, I don't actually have one, and I'm sure it's probably not as cool as it looks...but how temping is that!? He soaks up a WHOLE BOWL of water...and it cleans carpets too! I don't even know what I'd really use it for--we don't use paper towel too much, and when we do it's for stuff you'll definitely want to throw away after.

Now, this next one wasn't really an obsession for me...but.....When we moved we discovered that our 1 and a half bathrooms are connected with a door in between (that doesn't even go all the way to the floor), I decided that this was necessary when I saw it at Target (Paul wasn't with me to distract me from the section.)

Twin Draft Guard

It doesn't really work. It might be because it's an interior door and its not very thick. The product is poorly made--it's just two styrofoam tubes inside fabric, easily made better from home. t would almost seem better if I filled it with rice rather than the lightweight foam to better block noises and drafts. At least it came in brown to match my bathroom towels :)

And finally...I have come to the moment to reveal my latest As-Seen-On-TV obsession....

Bump-Its

I realllly want this product. As a sufferer of very thin, flat hair, this product would be my refuge--especially working in a field where I have to wear my hair in a ponytail everyday. Some people think this product is a bit crazy, but if you use it the right way I think it could be successful. Paul will have to try his hardest to keep me away from this next time I go to Target or we might be out $9.99.

The Final Week

Rochelle and I are quite blessed. It's actually quite weird too. Right out of college I get my dream internship. I learned a ton from the guys there, my best friend lived 15 minutes away, and I loved my job. Coming out of the internship I had a fairly large church(not Southeast large) pursue me hard as if I actually knew what I was doing. They moved us down here, we had a great place to live, and we've made close friends as well. Though it was a trying year, I've learned a ton from the experience. A year later we are now returning back to Louisville, KY where I will be Music Director of Southeast Christian Church. Thank you Jesus.

I remember when I was leaving Southeast and a conversation I had with Brian Sites at Skyline, one of our favorite joints. We were talking about me leaving and how we had a great year. I remember saying to him, "Dude, keep me in mind down the road. Wouldn't it be great to work with each other again?" and him saying "You know it." It's surprising to me that God has allowed Rochelle and I return back to a place we call home so soon. Here's 20 things God has blessed me with this year.

1. A job here at Cape Christian Fellowship

2. Returning home to Southeast Christian Church

3. Our 1 year anniversary, going on two here pretty soon and it's been amazing.

4. Gracie... who's a blessing and yet a tyrant at the same time. I think I'm only saying this now because she's sleeping... and she looks cute.

5. Our friends down here in the Cape.

6. Jesse and Kara.

7. Clare, Jesse and Kara's little girl who I'm very excited to get to know.

8. Brian, Bets, Caleb, Gwen and Jack. What an incredible gift.

9. T-Money and Nicole and their little jelly bean growing inside. I know I can always talk with Tyler.

10. Rochelle! She's actually number 1 on my list. She's the best wife ever.

11. The moments this year that I laughed all night with my friends here in the Cape. You know the times.

12. Getting a couple hundred dollars taken off of my fines for traffic violations.

13. Joe Murphy. A friend and a person I did ministry with this whole year.

14. Mitch and Sunny. They live in Korea and yet we've seen them a ton this year.

15. Our families, who have been incredibly understanding about us living so far away. i appreciate them letting me take their daughter(daughter-in-law) halfway across the country.

16. A car that isn't going to fall apart on us. We were able to get a Jetta that at the time was just cool. Now I'm grateful we chose one of the safest cars out there.

17. Rochelle having a job when I didn't. Because she got the job at the exact time she did, we aren't struggling like we could have with me not bringing home any bread.

18. Last 3 weeks. I've been a house husband(we should make a show) for the last 3 weeks. It's pretty humbling since I grew up thinking it was the guys job to make the money. I have a great wife who works hard. It's actually been a great few week sabbatical.

19. My first Christmas Program. Although it was crazy, I learned a lot about myself, forgiveness, and the true meaning of it all which is easy to forget being behind the scenes all the time.

20. Moving back to Louisville. With this move we'll be much closer to our families. We'll be able to visit for the holidays easier and have unexpected trips back to GR and Lansing. We'll be closer to my best friend and brother and get to see their family grow. We'll be in an environment where we're appreciated and respected. We'll be able to plant ourselves in a church that we strongly believe is doing the works of God.

About 2 weeks ago, before we had heard anything about a job, Rochelle said to me, "I'm scared." I asked her why and she said "because God has blessed us so much the last couple years that I just figure something bad has got to happen now." I told her that I had thought the same thing. Thankfully, God doesn't work like that...

It's been a great year. We've learned so much about ourselves. We're very excited about the move back. We know where we'll be living, I'll be able to have coffee with Jesse, and Gracie and Diesel will finally meet each other. So much to look forward too but so much more to be grateful for.

~ Paul

Nick & Aubrey's Engagement Pics!

So this weekend Paul (and I!) took our friends engagement pictures. We went to Ft Myers Beach and walked around. We got some pretty great shots, they all turned out very well. (I'm proud of my husband!) Here is a preview of what we did, and you can also view the full album. I'm trying to convince Paul to make a side-business out of the deal to make a little extra cash ;)





To view the rest of the pictures, Click Here!