easy yummy recipe!

My sweet teacher friends always make this yummy chicken dip and bring it to school, so I decided to try it! It is perfect for eating with ritz crackers, saltines, or on a croissant as a little sandwich! It is sooo easy and so yummy. You should definitly try it!

Here's what you need:

Ritz Crackers (or Saltines/cracker of your choice/croissant), cream cheese (8oz), ranch dip (dry packet), and chicken (the kind in the can...don't know what its called)

I used the whipped cream cheese because it was easier to mix...however you can use the regular kind in the tub or the stick kind (is that what you call the other kind of cream cheese? lol). If you use the "stick kind", you'll probably have to let it sit out for a little bit to let it soften.

Also, I found some "All Natural" chicken so use that and its less fat! My crazy health nut of a boyfriend will appreciate that :)

My target was out of the regular ranch so I had to get buttermilk flavor--wasn't too sure if it would taste the same but it does!

*So, all you do is mix together all of the ingredients! I put the chicken in the bowl first so I could break the chunks of chicken up. I then added the cream cheese and stirred it a little, then added the ranch dip. Stir it up really good and here's what you get:


You can put it in a baking dish (if you make double the recipe), or a glass bowl like I used. Also, some teachers roll it up into a ball.

It is SOOOO good. The picture doesn't do it justice. You can also add bacon bits to the top of it. It makes a GREAT appetizer or lunch or snack :)

SO, the only other exciting thing that happened this week was........

I got a new dresser! I have been needing this soooo bad! My old dresser was skinny and TINY and I always ended up putting clothes on the floor beside my dresser because I could never fit everything in it. Well, Ty's cousin donated this one to me. :) I love it! The dark brown goes great with my brown/blue colors in my room. And it's HUGE and fits everything perfectly! Ty's parents brought it down on Tuesday :)

Deep thought for the day....
My "teacher" daily quiet time got me thinking the other night. It talked about how we shouldn't expect the worst each day but instead look at all the opportunities in front of us that God has given us. This really hit home because I literally count down the days to the weekend or to the next break from school I have. I started really thinking about this when my sweet teacher friend passed away in December. Life is so sweet and so short and I need to stop counting down days and start looking for all the opportunities to honor God in my day. I work with children. Sweet, sweet children. What better way to honor God than by teaching a child? I get so frustrated sometimes and lately I've been trying to relax, and talk to God all throughout the day and pray for patience and pray for the right words to say to my sweet babies. This week I have done really good not "counting down" to Friday. I didn't even realize today is Thursday. :) I really love the weekends, i mean...who doesn't? But I need to stop counting down to Friday and treasure each day I have and look for opportunities each day to honor God. Please continue to pray for me and that I will not count my days away. Life is too short to do that!

Happy Happy Thursday! :)

food network and HGTV

So, lately I've been absolutely obsessed with:

and.......

Ty makes fun of me CONSTANTLY for watching these shows but I think I learn so much from them! My favorite show on HGTV is House Hunters so I learn lots of valuable information about buying a house...even though thats nowhere in the future for me. I also love House Hunters International....it is sooo interesting to me to see how other houses/flats/apts look in other countries.

On the Food Network, my favorite shows are any Paula Deen show (come on, who doesn't love some Paula Deen?), 30 Minute Meals (love me some Racheal Ray!), Down Home with the Neelys, and Ace of Cakes. I usually don't find whole meals that I would actually make but I have gotten SOME ideas and its so neat learning what spices go with what food, etc. I desperatlely need to learn how to cook...Ty's mom is like a chef in the kitchen and so if it works out with us, I have ALOT to live up to. Ty does cook, which is a VERY good thing, but I like cooking for him...makes me feel domestic :). He used to cook for me alllll the time...our first 6 months we dated, I never cooked...he cooked all the time! Anyways, I really like cooking.....makes me feel older and its very calming (which I always need after a long day of chasing 6 yr olds around)! Anyways, if anyone has any really good recipes, PLEASE share them with me...I have a little recipe collection coming along. I've made some good stuff lately! I also love to check out the recipes on the back of food boxes or on soup cans....they always seem to have good recipes!

So, if you've never watched either of these channels, don't...unless you want to get hooked! I am seriously hooked!!!!!!!!!

I started working out again and I feel sooooo good!!! I was such a lazy bum last semester...I just never had the energy to go work out after a long day at school but I have made myself this week and last and I feel so great! I hope I can keep it up...I seriously always feel alot better when I work out regularly and I could always lose a couple pounds...especially leading up to bathing suit season :)

It was Molly's birthday on Tuesday so in honor of her...
Here's your BIRTHDAY KISS!!! Love you to the moon and back!!!! Wish I could have been there to celebrate with you!

Okay, since I havent written since the BIG WIN.....here we go....perfect season, Iron Bowl Champions, SEC Champions, 1st Heisman Trophy Winner, and National Champions...Who could ever ask for anything more???? Gosh, last Thursday was a wonderful night! Of course, we win the first year I'm out of school but I still feel so much a part of this school because I still live in Tuscaloosa and I did just graduate. I am so glad and proud that I am a BAMA graduate and apart of BAMA NATION!!!!! I am so proud of our team and couldn't be a bigger fan right now!!! Of course, I made Ty go with me last weekend to find a National Championship T -shirt...I could tell deep down that he really wanted a shirt too ;). haha, I really need to work on converting him....poor thing, who would ever want to be am Auburn fan? :)



This was my facebook profile picture last Thursday :)

Happy Thursday :)

So glad tomorrow is Friday AND I get a 3 day weekend!!! yippee!

more paintings!

Here are some more paintings!!!







Remember, I can do any colors, any writing...any size...whatever you want!

oh and just a little sidenote.....NO SCHOOL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Snow Day!!!! :) Somehow, I think I'm more excited about this than when I was in school. haha...I could always use a few extra days of resting. :)

Happy Wednesday and ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!! We're comin after you McCoy!!!!!!!!!!!

Green and Money

So, after a recent post from someone's blog I read (Jennifer Durham), I decided to start trying to use re-usable grocery bags. I ended up finding 2 in my apt that I have collected from various places/people so I was already ahead! I went to Wal-Mart today and got another one! I carried all of my groceries up my 3 flights of stairs in ONE trip and all in those 3 bags! I am usually carrying like 13 bags on each arm to try and make it up to my apt in one trip because I refuse to go back down and make a 2nd trip for groceries. And, they all three just go right over my shoulder. I loved it. Anyways, I throw away so many grocery bags and it is just really terrible of me considering EVERYWHERE sells re-usable grocery bags to try and "go green". So...from now on....I'm Going Green....and you should too!

My 3 re-usable grocery bags! Go Me!!!!!

I also got a water purifier from Ty for Christmas and this is also a great way to save water bottles. Now, I always always reuse water bottles. I refill them ALL the time! However, Tuscaloosa water isn't that up to par so I do give in sometimes and buy new water because it really does taste different. Anyways, I am sooo excited I get to have nice clean water and I don't ever have to buy water bottles again! Well, maybe every now and then. Here is my other "Going Green" accesory.....

Ty hasn't put it on yet....I tried yesterday but....well, it's back in the box. :)

Okay...Onto Money. I need a way to make a little extra cash. I've been thinking about doing our summer program at school this summer to make a little extra cash but in the mean time...anyone have any ideas? Well, I have painted canvases for friends and family before as gifts or just for my room/their room, etc. I'll post a few pictures and if you or anyone would want one...let me know.



I have more laying around somewhere. They are really cute. I have one in my bathroom....2 in my bedroom, and even one in my closet!! In my old house, we also had them around our house. Anyways, some cute ideas for the canvases are: Names, Sayings, Bible Verses, Parts of songs, Home Sweet Home, Dorm Sweet Dorm, Sorority saying or Sorority Letters/Name, Merry Christmas, Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Halloween, etc. I can write anything you want on it! They also come in various different sizes. I'm just in desperate need of some extra money! I am trying to pay of the last four years of college and save up for a new car and it's not going too well! haha, anyways...if you would like one or know someone who would....don't hesitate to let me know!! :)

Happy Tuesday!!!

Anyone still here?

Well, to say the least...it's been awhile. And ya know, I think my sister is the only one who reads this (which is okay with me :)) but, thats okay. I like blogging because it lets me drain my mind. And anyone who knows me, knows my mind runs at 100 miles a minute in 500 different ways. I am very scatterbrained. So, this helps me unload my brain.

Well, to recap...since last time I wrote - I went to Nashville with Ty, his parents, and my parents - did Christmas activities with my kids the last 2 days before break - and had a GREAT Christmas break. It was wayyyy too short but oh well...the countdown to Spring Break begins. :) I seriously feel like I just got out yesterday and I'm already going back tomorrow. I am very ready to see all my babies though. I spend every single day with them...so when I am away from them for a long period of time...i miss them and I wonder what they are doing and how they are doing. :) So, even though I'm not really ready to go back to school, in a way, I'm excited because I want to see them!

My break was VERY relaxing. I did travel back and forth from Atlanta to Birmingham what seemed like 6 times but I really just went from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Atlanta then back to Birmingham...and now I'm back in Tuscsaloosa. I loved being with my family and Ty's family and I am so lucky that they are friends so I get to hang out with both families together alot of the time! :) I sooo enjoyed time with my nephew and niece. Luke is growing up so fast and I love that I get to actually have conversations with him now!!! He is at such a fun age. I got to see my friends from home too so that is always nice. Well, instead of sharing every detail of my break...I'll share it in pictures!

Oh-and my favorite Christmas gift....Ty got me a GPS!!!! and I'm a little obsessed with it!!!!

Luke and I at his birthday party...he can't sit still long enough to look at the camera!

Cousins on my mom's side

Ty and I before we opened our presents from each other!

Hayride at Ty's house a couple of days before Christmas!

Ty and I on New Years Eve!

I am so excited to see what God has in store for my 2010! 2009 was so wonderful, I don't know how 2010 could be any better but I think it will be!!! Between graduating, finding an amazing job, meeting my new niece, and falling in love...I'd say 2009 was pretty wonderful. :) I am so blessed and so grateful for the wonderful life God has given me and I absolutely cannot wait to see what 2010 has in store for me!!!

Wordless Monday... :)

haha, so i know its supposed to be wordless wednesday but i wanted to post some pictures, but don't have time to write a post because, lets face it...im a loser who goes to bed at 9. :) and its 9:15. so here it goes...oh, and it wont be wordless either. bahaha

My sweet niece! she is so precious!

After we dominated Florida at the SEC Championship...yes, i know...im a little late.

Both team's bands played the National Anthem

Take a look at that awesome score. :) Can I get a ROLL TIDE??

Some of our friends after the game! Still on cloud nine! This was right after Dad asked if we HAD to leave the dome?? haha.

Last but not least, I LOVE THIS PICTURE OF US!!! :)

Countdown Update: 6 days! only 6 days til Christmas Break! wahoo!

please pray...

the last few days i have had so many emotions i don't even know where to start. thursday morning i was teaching reading when the teacher across the hall came over crying and told me to come outside. i knew something was terribly wrong, i was shaking as i walked to the door. and the moment she told me the news, is a moment i will never forget. one of our precious 2nd grade teachers died in her sleep on Thursday morning. When she didn't show up for work, the office called her and her sweet 5 yr old little boy answered the phone. he told our office lady that he couldn't get his mommy to open her eyes. :( it breaks my heart to think about it. we don't know what happened yet, we are waiting for the autopsy to tell us anything. i just can't get over the fact that she was at school wednesday, perfectly fine and healthy- i passed by her room while she was teaching math and i stopped to listen to her sweet voice teach- and now she is gone. she was so good with those precious kids. she had such a soft tone, hardly ever raised her voice. and those kids adored her. when me and lauren were placed at cottondale our junior year of college, she was lauren's teacher. so, needless to say, lauren was heartbroken too. she was such a great mentor and friend. my first week or 2 of school, she came to check on me every day after school to make sure i was okay. i know God has a purpose for this, i just have to keep reminding myself of that. it breaks my heart to know that her son will have very few memories of his sweet mommy. her son was her whole world and i hope people tell him that when he gets older. i just still can't believe that i won't see her sweet smile every day. she was such a kind lady and she will be missed by so many. i know for a fact that she is in a better place, so it gives me peace.

so, thursday and friday were pretty awful. however, saturday was pretty freakin awesome!!!! dad and i got to go to the SEC Championship game and it was so awesome! i am so glad i got to witness history being made and so glad i got to be there with my dad! i will post pictures when i have time to upload them on my computer. we stayed for like 30 minutes after the game and dad looked at me and said, "do we have to leave?" haha....i didn't want to either!!!! we were in the nosebleed section and halfway into the Florida section but as molly told me, "i don't care if you're in the toilet section, at least you're there!!" hahaha..couldn't have put it any better!!!! they were actually good seats because you could see everything! after the game, we got home to my moms amazing chili waiting for us! it was soooo yummy! and i got to spend time with my sweet friend melissa. :)

after a wonderful saturday, i had to drive back early sunday for the memorial service. it was such a sweet service, perfect for her. it was a hard day saying goodbye to a sweet friend, but again i say, i know she is in a better place, which gives me peace.

well, i'll leave you with these pictures because i havent uploaded mine from the game yet.....

Revenge is so sweet :)




BAHAHAHAA!!!!

ok-update on the countdown....11 more school days until Christmas Break!!!!! :)