January 2012
15 posts
"You can't be good at everything!"
My mom has said this to me my whole life and I am glad she has!  You cannot be good at everything, but you can try your hardest in all that you do. This week has been very difficult for me and I have appreciated reading some very honest blogs whose authors have described some of their struggles.  I don’t do this to make myself feel better because I think their lives suck and mine is...
Jan 27th
Jan 20th
This is a love affair Sam might want in on...
So I finally bought a really nice fondue pot (thank you to all of the “river dogs” and their significant others who pitched in on our Sur la Table gift card over a year ago!!! we’re finally using it :)).  Tonight is the night….oh yeah!  It’s gonna be me, Emile Henry, some cheese, a little white wine, butter, garlic, bread, maybe some veggies….bom chicka wow...
Jan 16th
Jan 14th
78,402 notes
lucyhundley asked: I'm reaching out to you as my grown-ass, lady friend with a bachelorette background and a fine, culinary taste to ask you a very serious question. Since I moved into my own place I haven't cooked a single meal. I'm, like, overwhelmed at the prospect of cooking on my own after a full day at work. So, what's your cheap, easy, healthy go-to meal for one? (I have a Foreman grill,...
Jan 12th
Jan 12th
1 note
Jan 11th
Jan 11th
Jan 10th
I'm not making fun, I just laughed out loud and...
surisburnbook: This is a photo of Johnny Depp’s partner, Vanessa, and his daughter, Lily-Rose. She is twelve. I’m imagining Julia Roberts’s character from Pretty Woman and Sandy from the end of Grease (you know, the leather pants one) shopping together, and both of them pass this outfit over as inappropriate, particularly for a January day. It seems more like something Lindsay Lohan would...
Jan 9th
253 notes
Jan 5th
Two churches located across the street from each...
There are some pretty rad rocks that I just KNOW made it into Heaven. tithenai: wizasaur: -prettyprettyplease: ultraball: paranoidrobot: …Do the Presbyterians think Rocks are animals? ALL ROCKS GO TO HEAVEN CONVERTING TO CATHOLICISM DOES NOT MAGICALLY GRANT YOUR DOG A SOUL.  WOW. EPIC CATHOLIC WIN. I LOVE THIS.
Jan 5th
93,150 notes
"Let's get our train wreck on!"
Sam says last night right before we watch this season’s premier of The Bachelor.  I love him.  AND I love this show.  Because, yes, it is a total train wreck, and tonight’s episode (originally aired on Monday), did not disappoint!  There was so much crying from that one blogger girl, Jenna.  Then the weird tension between Blakely and Monica.  And Ben kept them!  I guess he enjoys girls...
Jan 4th
Jan 3rd
my life lately...in 4 pictures
Surprising a friend for her birthday, after the semester wrap up Sam waiting for Santa Clause Actin’ a fool on Boxing Day Us at the DC temple on New Year’s Eve day…the wind was quite windy; we look a little slow. No pictures from our NYE in downtown DC, but it was a good night walking around with an entire pizza from Pizza Paradisio, Mission Impossible, and street corner...
Jan 3rd
December 2011
32 posts
Happy 1st Anniversary, Sam!
One year ago today, I married the best man for me.  It has been an indescribable year of true happiness, memories, and fun!  We’ve cooked together, traveled to two countries and many cities, gone to funky art museums, made Peter & Cletus videos, celebrated friends’ weddings, saw family, watched the VCU Rams dominate in basketball, removed the “bachelor” aspects from...
Dec 31st
2 notes
a couple funny pictures from a while ago
Tanner, age 10 The family, summer 2002 Just having fun…undisclosed roommate and myself, fall 2003
Dec 30th
Dec 29th
Dec 29th
Dec 27th
Dec 27th
Dec 27th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Christmas DAY!
Apparently, I’m on both the parental and child varieties of crack this season. I went to bed around 1:30am, but then awoke at 5:14am and stayed that way! Some one please play me on words with friends. Or, feed me and bring me my presents ;) MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dec 25th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 24
Today was filled with fun, family, food, and a friend; games, memories, decorations, and the true spirit of Christmas.  My father-in-law remarked on something lovely tonight.  That whether or not you celebrate the holiday religiously, the Christmas season has a way of bringing people of all faiths together.  During this season, so many pause to be kinder, more thoughtful, charitable, giving,...
Dec 25th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 23
Clearly…because I realized that we have to go to the mall for a few things :(  I was told by a friend to bring mace.  #pleasepray
Dec 23rd
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 22
I normally let Sam get the mail.  I think he enjoys getting it and I don’t really care to check it at the end of a long day.  Seriously, even when he is out of town, I rarely check the mail.  I’m happy to admit this is out of laziness.  BUT, during December, I LOVE getting the mail, because that’s when we receive Christmas cards!! Thank you to those of us who shared Christmas...
Dec 22nd
I got on real clothes, pearls and I'm going out...
I feel like a real adult!!! HOORAH!
Dec 21st
Dec 21st
I'm on Christmas Crack: Days 19 + 20 + 21
Day 19: My final day of work for the year!  Time to stay up late staring at my Christmas tree and watching Christmas movies!  Time to sleep in and work out!  There is now TIME in my life :)  Tonight; dinner with the Waters…nom, noms! Day 20: Today I’m planning a night full of surprises for Sam.  He has been so helpful to me this semester.  In addition to the fact that he has made me...
Dec 21st
I'm on Christmas Crack: Days 17 + 18
Day 17: I had the most productive/fun Saturday in a long time.  I woke up and Sam helped me clean our entire house…top to bottom!  It feels great!  All that’s left are the ceiling fan blades and my desk.  Whichhhhh, since I have off work (beginning Tuesday) for a month, I have plenty of time to do!  After cleaning, we had some of the kids that we teach in Sunday School over to watch...
Dec 18th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 16
Open Nite at the Pollak Building will be Friday, December 16 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm. Free and open to the public, Open Nite is a collaborative event involving VCUarts Fashion, Graphic Design and Interior Design departments. Tour design studios, take a look at what students have been doing this semester. Visit the new Green Roof and listen to music by The Low Branches. Call 804.828.1709 for more...
Dec 16th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 15
You will never watch another cooking show again after this…I am love with him!  And I think Sam is too, so it’s OK.  Sugar Cookies, the official cookie of Christmas!
Dec 15th
I'm obsessed with dogs, therefore I present...
my favorite educational internet video of all time.
Dec 14th
I'm on Christmas crack: Days 13 + 14
Day 13: look what my super duper awesome boss gave me for Christmas!!!  Day 14: Last night friends Brigitte & Jared brought us over some cocoa and cookies, YUMMM!  How Christmas is that??  AND, today is my final major school presentation for the semester.  After that, I only have one project due on Friday night, which will be significantly easier.  HOORAH!!!!!  Christmas is mere days away!! ...
Dec 14th
Dec 13th
Dogs!
SO darling!!
Dec 12th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 12
Please, don’t forget to vote for our tree!!!!!!!!!!
Dec 12th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 11
A Gift to the World
Dec 12th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 10
Some members from my graduate class and myself put together a tree to support St. Andrews, a local private school that sponsors qualifying children’s education.   from their site: St. Andrew’s School’s Annual Fund provides a pool of unrestricted funds from individuals, corporations, foundations, churches, and organizations that support opening a window of educational opportunity for...
Dec 10th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 9
  Thanks for all the Christmas cooking gear Grandma Francis!!!!!!!!!!  It’s definitely making the picture scream: CHRISTMAS!!!!!   I’m certain that preparing my dinner decked out in such festive finery made everything taste a million times better.  Again, thank you! 
Dec 9th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 8
No description needed…but click the link :)
Dec 8th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Days 6 + 7
Day 6: I’d been cutting wood most of the day at my parents’ home and as I drive said cut wood back to downtown, and finally find a parking spot, I realize I have to now schlep it all the way to my building and up a few flights of stairs.  Cut wood, you say. What’s the big deal?  Well, some of these pieces were as big as 2’x4’ and there were multiple pieces!  It became...
Dec 7th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 5
I had cookies for breakfast!!!!!!!!!  These cookies, specifically. Take that Santa!  I am justifying my choice for three reasons: They were made using only whole wheat flour They are loaded with pumpkin!  That’s a true-blue orange vegetable, according to my mom! It’s Christmas time and cookie recipes must be tested before left out for the man in red.  I don’t know if these...
Dec 5th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 4
Tis the reason for the season! As much as I’m a fool for a Rothko or DeKooning and their abstract modern cohorts, I’m also a huge fan of really old religious art.  Not just Christian art either.  I love Hindu and Islamic art especially, as they are full of color and symbolism.  But, since I’m a Christian, celebrating Christmas, what better time to bust out some nativity...
Dec 4th
I'm on Christmas Crack: Day 3
 Welcome home, to the land of Christmas crack!!!!!!!
Dec 3rd
Dec 3rd
1 tag
I'm on Christmas Crack: Days 1 + 2
December is here; therefore, I’m on Christmas crack!  Here’s to 25 days of getting shockingly excited about Christmas! Day 1: Classes are done in 1 week! 1 WEEK!!!! Exams will be done in 2.  This is exciting.  This means more time to look at my glorious Christmas tree all lit up.  More time to watch movies like Elf and Love Actually!  More time to see much neglected family and...
Dec 2nd
November 2011
17 posts
Christmas is coming!!!
 And we’ll be ready!  Thank you to my elves, Sam and Wesley.  The poor angel at the top barely fits! Thank you Mom and Dad for the extra ornaments! We had just enough!!!
Nov 28th
Thanksgiving recap
 Driving to Abingdon, VA to eat at my sister and brother-in-law’s house!  We ate a lot.  We bonded.  And had a lot of this! Here is the proof. Peter and Cletus showed up!! We look almost normal here! Photo by Ian Harmon.
Nov 27th
Breaking Dawn
I had these ladies over (with my mom, who graciously took this picture for us), before we left to see the most epic film of all time. OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!   I stand by this statement.  Haters can hate ;)
Nov 27th
1 note