The Worst

I've become such a bad blogger.

I know.

One post a week - so lame. 

(No offense to any 1/weekers out there)

The good news is that while I'm being a bad blogger, I'm being a good student!

Or, I'm trying to be.

My motto for the past month has been, "Just make through the first week of October"

Really...Michael has heard me say variations of this alot lately.

For some reason I picked all the presentation dates in the first month of school. 

Great idea in the later months.

Terrible idea right now.

But now, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

But I'm still digging my way through.

Ugh! 

I'm so over papers and presentations, but I'm loving school, and loving my career choice even more!

I was able to fit in a date with my sweet husband tonight though.

We went to the movies...with a Groupon of course.

We saw 50/50.

 It was decent. 

Sad, dramatic, a little humorous...decent.

One of the main characters was a therapist though, and I spent most of the movie pointing out ethical issues.

 What have I become??

Finally Fall

Friday was the official first day of fall.

FINALLY!!

I hoping that it means some cooler temperatures are headed our way soon.

I'm sure it will still be at least another month before the highs are anywhere near the 70s, but I can dream.

Anyway, I wasn't at home on the Friday (I was at the AAMFT Conference, but that's a later post) so I celebrated today.

Hobby Lobby had all their wreaths, and wreathing (probably not a word) materials on 50% off last week, so I figured it was the perfect time to make something like this that I found on Pinterest. 

via livingwithlindsay.com

 I started with a twine wreath, but forgot to take a picture.

Then, I took some fall picks of leaves, cut the leaves off, and hot glued them around the wreath.

(You can also buy the leaf garland, but the picks are better quality)

 Then I took another fall pick, cut the pieces off...

 and glued them around the wreath.

 Last, I took a "J" that I found for $2 in the craft section and tied it on the wreath with ribbon.

Then you just hang it on the door.

I didn't have a hook, so I had to wait until I bought one, and it was a little dark outside.

What do you think?

Have you made any fun Fall crafts

Procrastination At It's Best

I have a big paper due tomorrow, so naturally I am thinking about everything but that paper.

Luckily, I have about 5/8s of it completed. 

That's pretty good for me.

There are just so many other things that I would rather be doing with my time.

Such as seeing this new movie.

Or going to the state fair and eating this

Yum!

Or going to Hobby Lobby and crafting the day away.

Yard work is even crossing my mind.

(I really will do anything to put this paper off!)

Its times like this that I really miss summer and being able to do whatever I want with my time. 

Is this what adulthood feels like?

Happy Birthday Dad

Happy 55th Birthday to my Dad!!

I'm sure he will be so thrilled that I just posted his age...

Hope that your day is so special and wonderful Dad!

I love you!!

On my Dad's 50th birthday, our family had pictures made.

I can't help but think of this picture every year on my Dad's birthday.

 Classic.

Don't worry.

We can be normal.

(This photo has been in Michael's wallet for the past 5 years.

That's why its ratty.)

This seems like so long ago.

Back in the days when my mom made Tosha and Michael stand on the ends in case we had to crop them out later.

Haha!

Its That Time of Year

You're probably wondering what time of year it is.

We all know its not exactly Fall time of year yet (thanks upper 90s temps all this week)

Its not October, so it can't be Halloween time of year.

It is Paper Writing time of year, but I'm trying to block that out right now.

So what is it???

Yep.

Its that time.

If you didn't know...you're welcome.

If you don't care...are we friends?

If you haven't seen this... 

 Watch it.

Is it bad that I'm already planning on "being sick" from class on opening night?

I get colds alot.

I can't help it!

Its going to be so good. 

You just wait...

Pan-Fried Panko

Sometimes Michael makes up words.

Or, he just says the wrong words when talking about things.

He did this once with the word "Panko"

Turns out it was the right word though, so I bought some Panko crumbs the next time I was at the grocery store.

And they sad in our pantry for a few months...

until today!

I had pinned this recipe on Pinterest a while back, and I decided to make it tonight!

Mondays are the only weekdays that I am able to cook dinner.

Sometimes, its the only day of the week that I get to cook dinner.

We're just always gone...I'm not that bad of a wife.

Or am I?

Anyways, instead of something super easy and quick, I decided to get creative and try these!

Turns out it was still really easy and quick!

(Click here for the original recipe)

Here's how it goes:

Ingredients:

- 1 bag (half a box) of Parmesan and Garlic Panko Crumbs

- Boneless Skinless Chicken (I go for the tenders. Just my preference though)

- Basil

- Salt and Pepper

- Any other seasonings you think might taste good

- Olive Oil (enough to fry the chicken in)

Recipe:

- Wash chicken (yes, I follow the Pioneer Woman's rules and wash my poultry! It helps to easy my heebie-jeebies. I hate raw meat. Especially chicken)

- Lay out chicken and cover with plastic wrap or wax paper.

- Pound with mallet until 1/4 inch thick.

-  Heat olive oil in a large, tall-sided pan over medium-high heat

**Disclaimer: the tall sides are important!

Trust me! 

I didn't think they were either. My stove top was covered in oil and my hands are covered in burns!

-While oil heats, mix panko and other seasonings into a large, flat dish

- Dredge the chicken in the panko/seasonings

- Fry in oil for approximately 3 minutes on each side or until outside is golden brown

- Let chicken cool and then serve with your choice of pasta and sauce!

Here is the process in pictures.

I used my bad camera though. And didn't take many pictures.

You should be used to it by now.

I chose to serve mine with tomato alfredo sauce and cheese ravioli.

It was all we had. 

It tasted great though!

Reminiscing

Lately I have been thinking a lot about one of my favorite places in the world.

Vienna.

4 years ago (really, its been that long?!?) our group was still spending our first week in the city we would come to know and love. 

Every year around this time I start to miss it again and wish that I could go back.

And I will go back...

I'm just not quite sure when.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures and places in Vienna.

Stephansdom

Our home away from home

Schonbrunn Castle

Grocery store with delicious bread

Our stop on the 43

Yum-O!

The Von Trapps

Christmas Markets!!

Ice Skating

Harry Potter Night in the Castle - Awesome

Any time you guys are ready to go back...count me in!

I miss it!

All of it!

Drafted

I don't know how it happened, but somehow Michael has dragged me over to the dark side.

I participated in my first fantasy football draft.

Which means, I am in my first fantasy football league this season.

Its an "Adam vs. Eve" league.

So, its 6 married couples (I think they're all married...I don't know everyone though)

and the girls are in one division, the boys are in another.

Have I lost you yet?

Yeah, I lost myself too. 

Michael said I will play the other girls' teams most weeks, and occasionally play a guy's team. 

Then, at the end of the season, it will be the girls' division winner playing the boys' division winner.

And we will see who is better - Adam or Eve.

I still don't understand how the whole thing works.

I barely remember how to log in to my account.

Not that I even know what to do once I'm there.

The boys all had to promise that they wouldn't help their wives, so I guess I'm on my own.

Any tips you have to offer are greatly appreciated!

And Courtney Hutchins, I really could have used an episode of the Simple Life on Monday night...it would have saved me from crossing over to this side.

Help me!

For the Love of...Blazers

One of my fall fashion "must-haves" are blazers.

I absolutely love them!

They are the perfect item to wear when you are feeling casual, but want to look a little more classy.

With Oliver this past Spring

Last year I got this gray one for Christmas and wore it every day that I could until it just got too hot (which only took about 2 months...darn tropical weather)

And this year, they are back...only in every color you can imagine.

Here are some of my recent blazer Pins:

Via lucylaucht.com

via fashionsalade.com

via theglitterguide.tumblr.com

If you are as in love with this fashion trend as me, then go to Forever 21.

I just bought a navy blazer there for $21!

That's right. 

A lovely, navy blazer for under $25!

They have them in every color...and every price range.

I decided to go with the cheapest one just because I figured it would last as long as the trend does. 

What trends are you loving for this fall?

Let's Go to the Movies...The Drive-In Movies

When people come into town they always ask us, "What's there to do in Houston?" or "What should we do while we are in Houston?" and our best answer is usually "eat Mexican food!"

I think we have finally found something I would recommend to out-of-town (and in-town actually) visitors.

The Drive-In!!

 We took the youth group on Friday night and we had so much fun!

It only costs $5 to see 2 movies!!

We only stayed for one because we didn't want to get back really late.

We brought out our lawn chairs, blankets, stereos, and candy and set up to watch the Smurfs.

It rained (sprinkled really) for about 2 minutes when we first got there, but it made it a much cooler evening and we had perfect weather for sitting outside at a movie.

Our candy for the movie

Waiting for it to start

Some of the youth playing teatherball - Great sky!

The Smurfin Movie - So cute and funny!

Girls Pic!

After the movie

So if you are ever in Houston, or if you life here now, you should definitely spend an evening out at the drive-in. 

It is a Houston "must-do" according to us!

Sooner Born and Sooner Bred

I've been counting down to this day for the past 6 months at least.

Its opening day of the Sooner football season!

I have been raised on Sooner football. 

I don't care about NFL.

I don't really care about other college sports.

But I love Oklahoma football.

It helps that they are ranked in the top 3 (depending on which poll you look at)

At 7:00 tonight it all starts!

The band (My dad loves this part when he is at Memorial Stadium)

The players

And the game!

I just wish we lived closer so that we could go to games more often.

Hope you all have a great long weekend!