Time to Hit the Gym

So my best friend is getting married in less than a month

and you know what that means...

bridesmaid + dress = NEEDS TAN and GYM!!

So since my husband is back in school, I decided to get the spouse membership at the University gym.  Good idea, right?? WRONG!  I am the out of shape, pale, burnette sweating like I just carried a rhinosauris into the gym with me! 

Ridiculous how out of shape I am.  

I am a runner. 

Running is therapy.

I think, pray, and jam out to my selected picks from itunes. 

But laying on a hard bench with an elastic tube secured to my feet while spreading them as far apart as they could possibly go, then proceeding to "pulse"...is not therapy!  

However, I have kept with it this week and I see RESULTS! 

I admit I have slacked lately with my new job and cold weather,

but it feels good to get back in shape. 

It feels good to feel good.

Sweet Day

How sweet it was to start my day off showering my husband with kisses and heart shaped pancakes.

But then, best of all worshiping our Lord in song this morning!!?? 

It was so good to close my eyes and lift my hands to the one who ememplifies love.

To the one who IS love, 

SHOWS love,

and TEACHES us to love like Him. 

It was so romantic!

Thank you Lord for this day!

I almost forget....

Last night, my husband and I broke our streak.

Are you ready for this??

The streak of never EVER going to the movies together! 

In 3+ years of being together,

we never have been to the movies. 

I know its pretty bizare,

but we both arent crazy with the idea of the movie theatre.

 Not to mention, the prices have definitely gone up since I was a kid.

We love movies and watch them often.

But we are more the type to go have dinner/drinks, rent a movie,

 make homemade popcorn or hot chocolate,

 and sit snuggled up on the couch in the comfort of our home.

BUT, last night was the breaking point!

We broke down and went to the movies.

It was fun, but we were reassured why we like the "comfort of our home"

due to the fact the couple next to us were about 12 

and used the "Mom, drop us off at the movies" card as a make out/groaping session!! 

Not cute!

Did we use to do that when we were young???

I dont think I was in that category! Haha!

Anyways, my point was that us going to the movies was a nice change!

Its always good to switch things up in a marriage...keep it interesting!

It was a Sweet Day!  Hope your was too!

Homecookin' Southern Goodness

Brunswick Stew

I thought this might be good on a cold, rainy winter day like we were having last night.  So I whipped up some Southern Brunswick Stew by none other than the Southern Queen herself...Paula Deen!  I expected to be slaving over the stove for hours but it really was quite quick and simple!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

1 (2 1/2-pound) fryer chicken
Water
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, sweetened with 1/3 cup sugar
1 (16-ounce) can creamed corn
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1 tablespoon liquid smoke, available in grocery store
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper
Celery salt
Cooked rice, as accompaniment

Directions
In a large pot, place the chicken and enough water to cover chicken and bring to a boil. Cook chicken until meat falls off the bone. Drain the chicken and reserve 2 cups of stock. Remove the skin and bones and chop meat.
In a separate pot, mix the chicken and remaining ingredients. Simmer slowly for 30 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking. Add a little bit of the stock if the stew becomes too thick. Serve stew over steamed rice.

and Wha - La!....Southern Goodness!

The One and Only!

I have MY FIRST FOLLOWER!!!

I can't believe it! I have been blogging now for 16 days....16 long days wondering, waiting, wanting someone to follow me.

Just one would be good.

Just one would let me know that Im somewhat interesting,

someone they want to know more about,

someone they might relate to.

And then it happened!!

The One, The Only...How Sweet It Is! 

This is me....

She came to my rescue and saved me from adding to my insecurities in life.

Thank you, Stephanie for daring to be first! 

Women Need Women

So last night my poor husband got an emotional break down from "Im in a quiet mood Im going to cry if you touch me or look at me the wrong way," ME!  I tried so hard to take a strong, bold stance in the conversation but really it boiled down to me just needing to talk about it.  Needing to cry about it. Needing someone who relates to encourage me about it. Thats where women need women. 

I have talked to numerous women who crave to be relational with women.  They are lacking the deep, meaningful friendships in their lives and are part empty because of it.  Im talking the friendships where you never run out of a thing to talk about....but IF you do just sitting and being silent with them is quite fulfilling. The ones that allow you the security to (as stated by Humble Pie) take off your make up and get in your pj's!  The ones that are encouraging and make you better as a person. 

Why are these relationships lacking in our lives?  Are we too inferior of eachother to let down our wall? 

I have a few women who complete this description of meaningful friendships in my life and I am so very thankful for them and blessed to be a part of their lives.  However, they dont live near me, they are busy with life, children, work and we hardly ever get the time to just get in our pj's and talk.  We mine as well get out our planner and schedule phone dates =)...which happens sometimes!  

Women need women.  Our husbands aren't designed to fulfill every part of our lives. That is why God puts different people(women) in each of our lives....to fulfill that need, whatever it may be. 

...Maybe just to laugh!

Book Club

Each month a group of fabulous women get together over lunch and wine and discuss the book that was chosen for that particular month.  January's book was "Bad Girls of the Bible" by Liz Curtis Higgs.  This book was inspiring!  The author really put these bible stories into our perspective.  She took women of the bible and wrote a realistic story of what happened, which really personalized it for me and brought it home!  Then she discussed the real story in the bible and talked about how things like that are happening in our everyday lives and how are we going to learn from these stories. It was great to see these women were raw and hurt and like us. You would never have thought the women of the bible would be conniving, jealous, and BAD! It was very eye opening and good to know they werent perfect like I imagined them to be. I was able to learn from these stories and re-evaluate my life. Great book! I encourage you to read it. 

*Other books written by Liz Curtix Higgs are: