This is overdue...

It is OUR blog after all.  I'm going to add to the blog for my very first time after about a year of its existence.  I'm disappointed I haven't done it before now, but I'm not embarrassed enough to keep from giving an attempt at a blog post.  I'm not too savvy with the pictures to post and I don't have any creative or cute ones to put up anyway like Kristen does so you'll definitely know that this one is straight from me.  She is very talented and creative and I've come to learn over the past year and a few months of marriage that she makes up her mind to start a new project and then becomes very good at it.  Blogging is not one of those projects that I think I'll be quite as talented as she is, but it's about time I earned my name on the url bar up there.  So here's a few things that have been going on through my eyes.

CHS
This year has been a huge learning experience.  When I took the head coach position at Clinton, I really didn't know how much that job description entailed.  Kristen has been incredibly supportive with the time that I've had to devote to planning, scheduling, practices, etc. that coaches have so much time taken up by.  But I can truly say that I'm very blessed to be in the position that I'm in.  I've gotten some very valuable experience and I don't think you're ever really "ready" for great opportunities.  You just have to take them and know that God opens doors and has you there for his plan.  We are doing a lot of learning on the run, but I feel very confident that I'll be a better husband, man, and professional through these lessons. 

Today we had our season opening track meet at University of Louisiana Monroe.  It was not ideal for coaches or athletes.  Pouring rain, wind, and dropping temperatures were what we knew we were walking into with a meet director that was not going to make a weather call for the meet until the last possible second.  I told our athletes before we left that, "we can't control the weather, but you can control your effort and your heart.  Everyone is on the same wet track and we give all we have every time out.  We were made to give God our best, rain or no rain."  
We got rained out after 2 events (Boys & Girls Long Jump and the Girls Shot Put) .  We came in 1st and 2nd in the Boys LJ, 1st in the Girls LJ, and 4th in the Girls SP.....and not once did they mention anything about the rain.  They were soaked and shivering.  In fact, I never heard anyone on my team ask anything except "what time do I get started?"  I was proud.   

Unknown to them, I wasn't letting anyone else run out there, we'd have gotten someone injured and sorry if you're a ULM fan...but they aren't worth getting my kids hurt over.

Here's our dates for meets if anyone wants to come check us out.  We have some talented athletes (some who don't know their potential yet) that I think will be competitive this year if their coach doesn't mess them up too bad.
March 10 - @ Madison Central
March 24- HOME MEET @ Arrow Field
April 2 - Mississippi State University HS Meet
April 9 - Mississippi College Meet
April 15 - @ Pearl HS
April 20 - District Championship @ Arrow Field
Regional Championship - TBA
May 7 - North State Championship @ MSU
May 13-14 - State Championship @ Pearl HS


Kristen has gotten dinner ready for us and it smells pretty good so I'm going to grab a bite.  Hope to do this again before too long.

God Bless

Spring has Sprung!

Lately, I have been doing some spring cleaning and budget improvements on our little apartment! The warm weather has inspired me! Here are a few projects I have been working on:

This is a table I have had for years!  My mom gave this to me because she didn't have a place for it.  I didn't really like the awkward shape, but I kept it.  I have had it in my guest bedroom since we moved into this apartment.  She has been telling me that I needed to paint it!  I finally got the urge to paint it and here are a few before and afters!  I LOVE it!

Before:

 After I unscrewed all of the pieces of the table, I began painting with a creamy white.

 Then I sanded away and distressed until I got to a spot that I liked!

 After:

 

And it's finally in its home!

 We planted geraniums in a little window box off our balcony!

 They are about to bloom!

 I recovered the bench for my dresser!  I wish I would have taken a picture of the ratty before fabric

 Burlap Table Runner!  I was inspired my another blog! I got to really use my sewing machine!  I am so excited about the final product!

 I catered a wedding on Saturday night and they didn't want to take all their flower arrangements, so I got some beautiful hydrangeas out of the deal!

 We were in need of something to go over our TV, so we found a piece of painted tin.  I LOVE it!

Here is a close up of the detail!

 Here is part of a proverb I am memorizing thanks to my wonderful mentor!

 And lastly, I made some homemade tea cookies on Sunday!

It's been a while...

It's been forever since I have posted anything!  Alot has happened!

I turned 25!!

Strawberry Birthday Cake with all 25 candles!

It takes alot of work to light all those candles

Mama Dean and I shared our Birthday party!

Coca Cola Cake with icecream!

Happy Birthday accordion style!

Superbowl Party with my small group!

Go Packers! Chuck's pie!

Valentine's Day came and went!

Strawberry cupcakes with strawberry hearts!

This is a CAKE my patient's daughter made for us at work! The top of the "box of chocolates" is made of rice krispy treats.. and the bottom of the box is made of red velvet cake!

We drove to New Orleans for a Rugby game and to cheer on our friends running the Mardi Gras marathon!

Nola Rugby Game! Check out the uniform!

 

Warming Up

Short shorts!

(We live in Vieux Carre Apartments!)

Jackson Square

It was a beautiful day!

So.. on to the race!

Here comes JP!

Random super hero... he ran 26.2 miles in this!

Alyse at mile 24!

Ben finishing the marathon!

Blake finishing the half marathon

Transformer

Transformer!



Joseph and I have decided to go on a mission trip to East Africa May 28- June 9, so that's exciting!

I am in my 8th week of field work!

I am interviewing for Occupational Therapy jobs!

Life is good!

Thank You Punxsutawney Phil!

     This has been one of the coldest and strangest winters I can remember!  It was 78 degrees in Jackson this past Saturday, and today's (Thursday's) high is 32!  It is supposed to ice over tonight!  As I am typing this, sleet is falling heavily outside!  I am so ready for Spring time, and luckily the groundhog did not see his shadow!  Thank you Lord for giving us the beautiful weather this past weekend!  Since this weather does call for snuggling up on the couch and eating warm comfort foods, I have been on a baking kick!  Here are some recipes I can't wait to try. 


If you have seen the movie "It's Complicated", you might remember her Lavender Icecream!  Jennifer made this for us to try at work and it is FINE!!

Honey Lavender Icecream from elsascookiecrumbs.blogpsot.com

1/2 cup good-flavored honey

1/4 cup dried or fresh lavender flowers

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1/4 cup sugar

Pinch of salt

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

5 large egg yolks

Heat the honey and 2 tbsp of the lavender in a small saucepan. Once warm, remove from the heat and set aside to steep at room temperature for 1 hour.

Warm the milk, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan. Pour the cream into a large bowl and set a mesh strainer on top. Pour the lavender-infused honey into the cream through the strainer, pressing on the lavender flowers to extract as much flavor as possible, then discard the lavender and set the strainer back over the cream.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.

Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula. Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the cream. Add the remaining 2 tbsp lavender flowers and stir until cool over an ice bath.
Chill the mixture overnight in the refrigerator. The next day, before churning, strain the mixture, again pressing on the lavender flowers to extract their flavor. Discard the flowers, then freeze the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Seven Layer Bars

by Brown Eyed Baker

Yield: 18 bars
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

9 graham crackers (5 ounces), crushed

1 cup finely chopped walnuts

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

½ cup white chocolate chips

½ cup butterscotch chips

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1. Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and preheat to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray. Line the pan with two overlapping pieces of foil or parchment paper, leaving overhang to act as handles for lifting the bars out of the pan. Spray with non-stick spray.

2. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet and bake until the outer flakes just begin to brown, about 4 minutes. (Keep a close eye on it – coconut can go from slightly browned to burnt in a matter of seconds.) Set aside.

3. Melt the butter and combine with graham cracker crumbs in a small bowl. Toss with your fingers until the butter is evenly distributed. Press the crumbs evenly onto the bottom of the prepared pan.

4. In order, sprinkle the walnuts, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and coconut over the graham crumbs. Pour the condensed milk evenly over the entire dish.

5. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours.

6. Remove the bars from the pan using the foil or parchment handles and transfer to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife or bench cutter, cut into 2 by 3-inch bars.



This weekend I have big plans of sprucing up my home deco!  I will post pictures after!  Have a great rest of the week and stay warm!

Nesting

So, if you have talked to me at all in the past month, you know that I have gotten this itch to buy a house and DECORATE!! Here are some of the pictures that are my inspiration!!

Pot rack made from an old ladder

Kick plates for under your bar where people tend to kick their feet! This is made from old ceiling tiles

I stole this idea from a lady who is going to do this to her bathroom counter!

I just got a sewing machine for Christmas so I want to sew this burlap pillow soon

I love farmhouse sinks!

I have wanted a mantle headboard for FOREVER.  Here is one completely done DIY, including the appliques added to the top and sides

I want to make a mirror like this for my dining room!  It makes the room look so much bigger

Check out the awesome "window sill"

This is my dream kitchen that is completely DIY!  The island is from JC Penney and the cabinets and sink are from IKEA.. She refaced this refrigerater herself, with no prior experience in kitchen demo

I want an old cabinet to display my china that looks like this!

I love the upholstery and the pillow

beautiful headboard made of old doors

I love this farmhouse sink

Another dream kitchen

Another farmhouse sink!

Oh, I can't wait to have a HOUSE!!  But I am focusing on being content where God has me right now!