Progressive Dinner

Last night was another one of our Friday Night Lights.

These take place every first Friday of the month, and were started as an outreach event by our teens.

We do something different every time, and this month it was a progressive dinner.

There were 3 stops throughout the night, one for appetizers, one for entrees, one for dessert.

The first stop was Chilis:

I'll be real honest, the Chili's staff had a love-hate relationship with us.

The manager loved us.

She was super nice and very thankful that we "picked her Chili's".

The hosts hated us.

They were running around like crazy trying to get all 30 of us seated.

The waiters hated us at first.

I mean, we were their worst nightmare: 

A huge group of teenagers, ordering waters, and just eating appetizers.

I would be scared too.

But after we gave them a very generous tip, I'm pretty sure they loved us.

 Next stop, and much less dramatic I might add, was Smashburger.

They were super sweet, and even gave us a couple free burgers...

how teens can forget what they ordered by the time the food gets there is beyond me.

Happy my friend Apple came with us!

The last stop was originally planned to be the Yogurt Cup,

but we got there at 10:10, and they were closed. 

The next choice was a cupcake place - also closed.

So last resort, we all went to Sonic and got sundaes and blasts.

How many kids can fit in the back of my car?

It took us the entire 4 hours to go to all 3 places (and actually a little more, but I won't mention that...

(it was Michael's first time being late to parents' pickup)

Good times were had, and great food was eaten!

Egg-celent Easter

As per usual, Michael and I spent most of Easter weekend at LTC.

Luckily, our church stays in town for the Houston LTC Conference,

so we were at home on Saturday night and had time for one of my favorite traditions - dying eggs.

Since Pinterest was blowing up with ways to cook the eggs,

I decided to try to new to me "bake them in the oven" method.

I have to give the Pinterest people credit, they weren't lying that the egg would taste the same.

They did leave out a few MAJOR minor details:

 1) The eggs can burn

I don't even know how it happened really.

The inside of the eggs weren't burnt, just the shell.

2) It will make your house REEK!

I mean, the boiling method produce a fine odor,

but it is nothing compared to this!

We had to turn on fans, open the windows, and light candles.

It was bad.

 Here are our finished eggs!

Above is my attempt at ombre, and the far right in the top picture is Michael's attempt at mixing every color of dye. 

That's about as creative as we got.

I had already let Pinterest get the best of me once, 

I wasn't going to start trying to tie-dye eggs or anything crazy like that,

because, well I think Sweet Brown says it best,

"Ain't nobody got time for that!"

Easter by Target

I just love Easter Sunday!

It means Spring is here.

For at least one day my entire Facebook news feed is full of posts about Jesus.

Everyone is wearing bright colors and pastels.

Its a beautiful, wonderful day.

And today seemed to be brought to us by 2 places:

Target and Kohl's.

Everyone I talked to was wearing something from one of these 2 stores.

I even did an impromptu add for Target with some of the youth kids.

 I'm such a skilled model I can even make it look like I don't have fingers.

But alas, I have all five.

The Kohl's/Target trend was even true for me and Michael.

His is Kohl's. Mine is Target.

Unfortunately, this hipster pic is the only one I have of us from today.

I hope your Easter was blessed, and that you took time to focus on the real reason for the day.

Our Savior, Christ Jesus!

He is Risen!

Dress: Target
Cardigan : H&M
Purse: Target

Check out the Easter link-up at Grace's blog, and join the dress party!

Texas in Springtime

Yesterday Michael and I got to experience one of the most beautiful parts of Texas - 

the bluebonnets.

I saw a few of them on my way to Belton a couple weeks ago,

but nothing like we saw yesterday.

People have told me stories about the fields full of bluebonnets, but I just couldn't picture it.

Well today, we saw it, and it was just beautiful!

There really is nothing like driving over a hill, and seeing an entire field covered in blue.

And these are just a small portion.

Of course, we weren't the only ones to find this magnificent collection...

I mean it was right off Highway 290.

We had to park quite a ways down on the side of the highway,

and then trek our way to the field, 

and as per usual, I was not wearing the best shoes.

We made it to the field and had the best time doing our own little photo shoot with the flowers.

We gave 'selfies' our best shot, but finally caved and asked someone to take our picture.

Cutest little windmills at the store next to the bluebonnet field

Some of the others in the field with us

After our time in the field, we drove on to Brenham,

where we had lunch at a little cafe called Must Be Heaven.

We ate here this past summer with the youth group, and I've been thinking about the French Dip ever since.

We both even got some pie.

It was SO delicious!

I believe my exact words to Michael were,

"I don't care how sick I get, this food is too good to not eat every bite!"

I couldn't eat it all though, and ended up giving him some of my sandwich.

I did almost get sick though.

Totally worth it!

The cafe is in downtown Brenham, which is absolutely adorable, so we walked around a bit, took some pictures, and even went to a little antique shop.

It was the perfect Spring day, and I was so happy I got to spend it all with my guy!

Friday's 5 Photos

Remember the pollen problem I told you about last week?

I was serious.

These were Buster's paws after about 10 minutes outside.

Gross.

Anyone else take dressing room pics?

Nope?

Just me?

Cool.

Usually I reserve this for Target, and then I text them to Michael who is in Electronics to see what he thinks about it.

I've recently started taking pics at other stores too, and it really helps me to think through the purchase.

In this case, I said no to the dress (bad fit, cute stripes though) and big time YES to the blazer.

I just love Kohl's.

Thanks for the support Lindsay.

That is all.

Last weekend we were invited to dinner by a family from church,

and we FINALLY got to meet their pet chicken!

That's right, I said pet.

Her name is Clucky, and she is 9 years old.

It was pretty awesome.

Isn't this cake adorable?!

One of my friends at church has her own at-home bakery,

and this week she did a Tiny Cake fundraiser for some of the teens that are going on Wilderness Trek this summer.

This is the cake I bought for my internship site (and future workplace!! Eeeekk!!) Shield Bearer.

Fighting for Hearts is our motto, and my coworkers LOVED it!

Plus, the cake was completely delicious!

*Hope you enjoyed the blog's newest addition - Friday's Five Photos.

It may not happen every Friday,

but I hope it will help me to take and post more pictures!

Throwback Thursday - Easter Edition

Just a few of my favorites to get you in the Easter spirit.

Top: One of my very first Easter egg hunts with my Grandma.

I love the entire picture: 

My Grandma's classy ensemble, her surprised face, my happiness at finding an egg, and of course, 

that beautiful aqua-colored car!

Bottom: Me and Ben's last Easter (and picture even) as just me and Ben.

Bailey was born the very next day!

I love the creepy (and dirty-looking) bunny, and the eyeballs on my brother's shoes.

Perfection.

Happy Easter Weekend!

Guest Ready

Michael and I are so excited for my family to come visit us in May.

They have come to visit before, but never all of them at one time,

so we have been working hard to make sure they all have somewhere to sleep.

We have been talking about getting a futon for our game room for a while now,

and last week we finally purchased one.

I looked on several websites, and found this one at Walmart.

They had a HUGE selection, for the best prices,

and I am so happy with the one that we chose to buy.

 It is really thick and comfortable,

and it has not 2 but 3 different positions.

It is nice.

Our game room is finally coming together (furniture-wise)!

Here is a view of the whole room.

It definitely needs a painting, and some new decor,

but other than that it is just how I want it.

And, we have just enough room for all my family!

I'm counting down the days until my graduation and the weekend with them!

*Those pillows actually came with our couches when we bought them.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I hate the color black, so I put them in a closet.

Good thing I have the tendencies of a hoarder, because now, 2 years later, they look great on that futon!