Proposal Recap

Last year on Christmas day, it was my sweet man's and mine six month anniversary. To most people that doesn't seem like a very long time but we've been family friends with his family for about 7 or so years. Everybody always thought I had a HUGE crush on Mr. Army Man's brother, Coach. But boy they we're wrong.

We all had a delicious Christmas breakfast of: biscuits, chocolate gravy, milk gravy, breakfast casserole, eggs, bacon, sausage, hash brown casserole, and tons more. We were stuffed. Everyone from both our families were at his parents house and we all sat down to finally open presents. We had finished opening all of them and supposedly I forgot to open one. I opened it and while I was opening the last present I saw Mr. Army Man get down on one knee. The present I opened was this little tile:

He asked me verbally, "Will you Marry Me?" and ALL the fluff you say with it. Lol. Kidding. It was really sweet. And of course, I said yes!

The hubby did good. Today we have been together for a year and a half. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Merry Christmas Y'all! Hope everyone got everything they wanted and more. And remember the TRUE reason for the season. Happy Birthday Jesus! We love you!:)

The Versatile Blogger

I am elated to report that I have received my first blogger award-whoop!! Many thanks to the amazing Brittney at The Life of Delta Daisies.  I don't know I've said it before, but I'm sure I'll say it again, I am so thankful for all the wonderful people I have connected with in the blogging world. Who knew there were so many incredible ladies out there?

Rules for the award:

1. Nominate fifteen fellow bloggers.

2. Inform the bloggers of their nomination.

3. Share seven random things about yourself.

4. Thank the blogger who nominated you.

5. Add the Versatile Blog Award picture on your blog post.

The following are my blog must-reads! These women are truly fabby! Follow them:)

1. Carolyn from The Life and Time of a Steel Magnolia

2. Lauren from The Cleek Family

3. Morgan from Our Little Life

4. Christin from A Classy, Southern Wife

5. Meg from "La Bonne Vie"

6. Valerie from Along the Way with V & J

7. Brook from Our Crazy Little Life

Your supposed to do fifteen but I'm new to the blog world and don't follow many. If you know any good blogs let me know I'd love to read some new ones!!

Seven Random Things About Moi

1. I don't eat eggs unless I watch someone make them or they are made at my house.

2. I am lactose intolerant.

3. My favorite color is green, because it's the color of money and grass. My two favorite things.

4. My husband and my favorite quotes is: The sky is blue because, God loves the Infantry.

5. I always say, "If you don't have family, you don't have nothin'!"

6. I sell Mary Kay, hit me up if you wanna buy! (You can contact me above!)

7. I love clothes, shoes, jewelry and anything girly!

Congrats to everyone who has been nominated for this phenomenal award! Forreals, let me know some more great bloggers! Much love to ma ladies!

Monday Funday

Yesterday, I went for lunch at my fave Mexican restaurant in Arkansas called Pancho's. If you ever see their cheese dip in the grocery store. It is a MUST try!! I ate there with my mom and her good friend ReRe. We had a great time. And found ourselves sitting at the table an hour after having eaten and paid for our lunch.

After I made a couple stops visiting people at there offices. A little later I ended up shopping around town at Pitchfork, Merry Magnolia and Sally's with a good friend, K. Munch. Very fun and relaxing.

I made a pot of French onion soup. (Recipe to follow.)

And then we went to a Dirrrrrrtyy Santa Christmas Part-ay! It was extremely fun. The girls in my Senior class started it last year we play Dirrrrrrty Santa, eat and play games. We also have a "firsts lists" we compare every year. Example: First to get married, have a baby, graduate college, get divorced, end up in jail, etc. So fun!! Of course, I was the first to get married! LOL!!

I ended up with a sweet little gift! A twenty-five dollar gift card to visit Blue Fin (an amazing sushi restaurant in downtown Memphis). I will be going there for lunch today with Miss Brittney from The Life of Delta Daisies. And then for some shopping after. (I'll tell all about that later.)

We had so much fun. After I went and looked at Christmas lights with my dad and my niece, Meggy Lou. It tow with popcorn and coke! A two year olds favorite things. Needless to say I am still wore out and I'm going to be needing that massage I'm getting today!

I hope everyone has a terrific Tuesday!

Missed

I've realized that I've missed quite a few things from back home since moving off to North Carolina. Here's what I've missed:

107.1

These little ones- my neices and nephew (well, just family in general)

Pancho's Cheese Dip

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! I know we sure are tired from our 12 hour drive yesterday!

Accessory Blog Swap

Calling all bloggers!!

This is a cute little accessory swap for anyone willing to participate. You have to is:

Sign up deadline: December 26th
You'll have your partner by the 31st & ALL packages need to be shipped
by January 6, 2012! {Happy New Year!}
Share what you've received on January 16th - this is a MUST do!
Buying Cost = $25 before shipping cost!

Check out this post to sign up!

Obsessions Lately

1. Diet Dr. Pepper:

I adore this stuff.. Every time I look down I find one of these in my hand. Ridiculous!

2. Extra: Classic Bubble

Love this stuff!

3. Confessions of a 20 Something

Pink Lou Lou and her blog are absolutely adorable. Look her up. She has hair, makeup and any other kind of advice possible!

4. The fact that Friday is my last day of classes. HELLO Christmas break! Ya hear me?

5. Solitaire

I play it on my phone non-stop!

I am completely madly obsessed with these lately. I don't know how'd I get through the day without some of these! Hope everyone is gearing up for Christmas it's just around the corner!

A Good Friend

Brittney may kill me but I found this old picture of her and my brother from his prom in 2006 and had to share. Aren't they adorable!?

Brittney is the girl from The Life of Delta Daisies, she has an amazing bloggy and I adore her. She turned me on to the blogging world. I've read her blog for over a year and decided I should have my own. She  hooked me up and showed me how. I started my blog back in June of this year. And I've been greeted by love and support from her and many other bloggers! I can't wait to come home next week and have dinner with her and catch up!

Hope you all have a fabby weekend! And Ms. Delta Daisies doesn't murder me! Love you girl!:)

Easy Chicken Rice Recipe

You'll need:
Rice (I used regular white, but any kind will work)
Chicken broth
White wine
Shredded/pulled chicken (I roasted my own, but you can boil chicken or buy a rotisserie for a quicker version)
French fried onions
Flour
Butter
Onions

Sorry nothing has measurements. I don't measure when I cook because I just created it with what I had on hand without going to the grocery store. It's raining here. So, I wanted something warm and comforting.

I started by seasoning my chicken breast with garlic powder, salt, pepper and paprika. Popped it in the oven. Cook until internal temp reaches 165 degrees F.

Saute onions in butter. Do NOT brown. Add rice and cook until the rice turns slightly brown and has sort of a nutty smell. You can add toasted pine nuts. (I normally do, just didn't have any. This is just for texture.) Add however much liquid it says but instead of water, I always use chicken or beef broth. (More flavor.)

Once chicken is done you can let it rest and start on the pan gravy. Make a light brown roux with butter and flour. Add the drippings from the chicken. A little white wine, and a little extra chicken broth. Stir with whisk until thick. Add little more wine and broth. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the flour taste is gone, but to where it's a medium thickness. (Not as thick as white gravy)

I mixed the chicken and rice together, spooned into the bowls/casserole dish (my soup/cereal bowls can be put in the oven) and pour the pan gravy on top. Then add the french fried onions to the top. And bake until brown and bubbly. Everything should be hot, so really all you are doing is toasting off the onions. Enjoy!

Hope you try my rainy day meal. Most of these ingredients you have in your pantry everyday! If you try it, let me know how it turns out!:)

Sausage Balls

3 cups Original Bisquick® mix

1 pound bulk pork sausage

4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (16 ounces)                                           

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, mix all ingredients and shape into balls. Place on baking sheet and put in oven for 20-25 minutes. Serve immediately with BBQ or chili sauce. Or just by themselves.

Favorite Holiday Memory

Around this time, when I was about seven my mom took Anna Taylor and me out to eat and to see the Nutcracker at The Orpheum in Memphis. We dressed up in our prettiest Christmas dresses, curled our hair and went to eat at The Little Tea Shop. If you haven't been to The Little Tea Shop you definitely need to check it out! Or go to their Facebook page here! They have down home classic southern foods. Fried chicken, greens, cornbread, etc.

After we finished our amazing meal. We walked a short trek to The Orpheum. I think it was my first time ever coming to The Orpheum and I was dazzled. Everything was so grand, gorgeous, and old. I loved it from the moment I first stepped into the building. (Who knew Memphis had this much history.?) Yes, I thought these things as a seven year old. (If you know me in real life, you'll know I've always been very mature for my age. Hence being married at nineteen... Not that it's anybodies business anyway. Just had to get that out!)

 

The Nutcracker was absolutely wonderful. I had been taking ballet, tap and jazz dance lessons. And wanted to be just like the dancers on stage. Crazy.. I felt like such a grown up in my fancy party dress and sitting in a this phenomenal building, watching this amazing performance. I fell in love with song, dance and music immediately. Everything was so classy and the ambiance was something out of a dream. I wish I could go back to that day and relive every single moment. After the show it was getting dark. We rode around, looked at Christmas lights and went home to drink apple cider and hot chocolate... Sounds like heaven, right?

What has been your all time favorite holiday memory?

First Christmas Party

Our first Christmas party season, the hubby and I hosted, on Saturday. I think it went pretty well.. Not nearly as many people as I expected showed up, but that happens. We still had a great time! Everyone wore their tacky sweaters, brought ornaments for dirty Santa (but we forgot to trade, OOPS!) and everyone brought their favorite Christmas party food! It was a hit!
Here are some pictures from the night:



Our next holiday party will be this Wednesday for David's work! Can't wait! Hope everyone has a great week!!