B-what? B-woods!

Last summer, I began a quite extensive project.  Turning all of my high school t-shirts into a quilt!  I sewed the face of the quilt together, but I have to give a HUGE thank you to my sweet mother who quilted the front and back together and put on the binding!

This project was definitely a trip down memory lane...I was so involved in so many different activities, my quilt is big enough to fit on a full-sized bed!  It was so fun to reminisce about each shirt, and the history behind it.

Step 1:  Cut each t-shirt into a square or rectangle

Step 2:  Create a map to fit all of the pieces together.  Color-code to make sure that two pieces of the same color are not next to each other

Step 3:  Lay out the pieces according to the map, and sew together!

Step 4:  Add a layer of batting between the t-shirts and the backing, and pin together

Step 5:  Quilt along the seams, and add the binding.  The finished product:

This was such a fun and meaningful project to work on!  I am so excited to start my William & Mary blanket next! :)

Is this real life??

This Lou is spending her summer in the Lou!  (see what I did there?)  Somehow I've already been back for two and a half weeks and it has just flown by!  So big news item #1....

We have a date for our wedding!!!  June 5, 2015.  More details to come soon - hopefully we'll have a website up in the next week or so.  Okay now that that's out of the way, big news item #2...

I'm officially an intern!!!  I'm doing my counseling internship at ALIVE (Alternatives to Living in Violent Environments), a counseling non-profit dedicated to serving and providing resources to victims of intimate-partner violence.  I am also seeing clients at Covenant, which makes for a nice balance of the types of cases I'll be seeing.  Which leads to big news item #3....

I saw my first client this past week!!!  I was absolutely terrified of my meeting with my first client.  What if I didn't know what to say?  What if we found nothing to talk about for the entire 50 minutes that I was in the room with her?  And God was so good, and brought me through that fear - and now I am so excited to sit in the room with clients.  I often compare it to the first time I answered the crisis hotline at ALIVE.  I was so scared that I wouldn't be able to help the person on the other end of the phone, and was legitimately shaking when I picked up the phone to say:
     "Alive; this is Sarah."
     "Hi Sarah, I'd like to reschedule my appointment for next week?"
     Instant sigh of relief.
It is so easy to psych-oneself out of these risky situations.  But in reality, it is just a conversation.  And I know I will need to continually remind myself of that, but for now, I am so excited to explore this field that I feel so called into.

Craftiness

Sometimes I remember that I'm crafty and I go on huge spurts of DIY projects.  You'd think that the massive piles of scrapbooks I have in my parents basement would be enough to remind me more often...but apparently not.  The past few months have been one of those spurts of activity - starting around Christmastime....so here are some pictures of what I have been up to!

DIY Christmas Ornament (from Pinterest)

DIY Christmas Ornament (from Pinterest - it's so easy to make your own glittered ornaments!)

Hot Chocolate cupcakes

Mini Baked-Brie roll-ups (also from Pinterest - sensing a theme here?)

Homemade Tres Leches cake!

Eric's Valentine's Day gift

I tied little notes about why I love him to Lindt truffles

Change is a Slow but Beautiful Process

One year ago, I wrote this as a potential blog post.  At the time, I thought it was too vulnerable to actually post, so I saved it to a word document and have kept it on my desktop.  While it may still be too vulnerable (it's certainly more vulnerable than I usually am on this blog!), I thought I would take the risk and post it today:

Learning to be Vulnerable – 03/12/2013

Somewhere along the way, I learned the safest place to keep my emotions was deep inside, where no one could see them.  Where no one could tell me that they were wrong, bad, or sinful.  Where I could pretend (rather convincingly) that they didn’t exist.  And so I built up tall, thick walls to protect my heart.  I guess it was more fragile than I realized.  I thought I was getting tougher, stronger; really, I was just building up more armor.

And now I’m at a place in my life where I want to tear down those walls.  But I’m finding that it’s not as easy as I had anticipated.  It was so easy and natural to build them up, but to knock them down…it’s like peeling off a really stubborn scab – you bleed in the process.  I want to change, I just don’t know how.  I don’t want to carry around these defenses anymore.  I want to know how I feel in the moment, instead of waiting for the jumble of emotions to hit me weeks later, like it usually does.  I’m scared of going through life alone behind my walls.  I want to let people in.  I just don’t know how.

I am in such a different place now.  Looking back over the past year, I am amazed at the growth I see...part of it is from going through seminary, part of it is from being in counseling, and a huge part of it is divine transformation.  I feel much more vividly than I did, and I as a result, I am much more of a mess.  I cry more, am sad more, but my smiles are also so much brighter, and I feel real.  No, I do not have it all together, but I am experiencing life at a much deeper level.  Granted, those walls aren't completely destroyed - everyone needs some level of protection around their hearts - but I am slowly learning how to be real with people.  I am not always okay, and not only is that okay, but it is one of the most beautiful things to have someone meet me in the midst of that not-okayness.  I feel like I still have so much to learn about myself, but I also love the slow but beautiful change I see.

bid my anxious fears goodbye

Let it Go

I am kind of obsessed with this song.  Recently, just about every movie I have seen has spoken to me on a deeper level - I blame being in a counseling program - but that is a discussion for a different day.  For now, just enjoy Idina Menzel getting to be a Disney princess! :)

Goodbye 2013

It is so hard for me to believe that we are yet again at the end of another year.  If you ask me, 2013 went by way too fast - it is so hard for me to remember everything that happened!  As we look forward into the new year, it is common to make resolutions - lose weight, go gluten-free, exercise more, get that bigger bonus, etc.  I think for me my resolution is less about how I want my life to change, and more about how I want to see myself grow.  Before I left for the semester, my counselor asked me to keep dreaming over the break about the person that I want to become.  And so, I've thought a lot about the woman that I want to be.  I know I say this all the time, but I want to be who I was made to be - not afraid of what the future holds.  As Elrond says to Aragorn in Return of the King, "Put aside the ranger, become who you were born to be."

So as I look back on 2013, I see some incredible growth.  Going through counseling has strengthened my sense of self and taught me that it's okay to feel how I feel - to be who I am.  I feel like I know myself so much better than I did six months ago (and I thought I knew myself well then!).  But I also see areas in which I want to grow and develop more.  I want to continue to develop my patience, though I think that I've learned a lot in that area, especially in the past year.  I want to both embrace and release my anxiety.  Anxiety is not something that I frequently feel, but when I do, it is a very intense and physical experience.  I want to learn to be okay with this - and not feel anxious about the anxiety - but also learn to r e l e a s e.  "Okay, so I feel anxious, now what can I do to let it go and approach this situation with a peaceful heart?"  I find that I work myself up a lot to protect against disappointment and hurt (especially in relationships), and it is so e x h a u s t i n g.  How do I learn to take appropriate and necessary risks in my life without going into emotional overdrive?

So, instead of starting on some sudden, life-changing path in 2014, I want to continue to grow into who God made me to be.  I want to continue to pursue patience, trust in the Lord, and a peaceful heart.  This may not be the traditional new year's resolution, but 2014 brings a sense of new beginnings and fresh starts as I continue to become who I was born to be.

Happy 2014!

Merry Christmas!

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I promise a longer post about the end of the semester is coming!  For now, here is some Christmas cheer!

#WorldSeries

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a World Series game.  SAY WHAT?!  I'm tellin' ya, perks of living in a baseball-obsessed city.  Now, I am hardly a baseball fan, but this was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up!  So here are some pictures from the big night!! :)

The Cup (the BEST cupcake place in St. Louis) makes
Cardinals-themed cupcakes! Mmmm :)

CARDS WIN!!

sometimes it's really nice that I work in a library...

While I love my job, there are severe set-backs to working in a climate-controlled, basement room of the library...namely that it is freezing at all times.  I've layered coats, brought blankets, etc. and to no avail - I always walk out of this room hoping that outside it's much warmer (yes, that is a thought I have on a regular basis, even when it's January and blizzarding).  Today, though, I'm quite thankful that I work in a library, particularly a seminary library.  I've been reflecting a lot on Ephesians 5:22-33 recently, and our library does have a nice selection of commentaries to help me wrap my brain around it all (thank you, people smarter than me!!).  In case you're interested, the NIV Application Commentary and the Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament both have very helpful articles on this passage.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.  "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."  This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.  However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (ESV)

Trust Your Instincts

Frodo:  "Who then do I trust?"

Gandalf:  "You must trust yourself.  Trust your instincts."

Turns out that's not really what Gandalf says in the first Lord of the Rings movie, but that's what I've thought he's said for the past 10 years so I'm going to go with it.  Every week for Group Dynamics, we have to write a journal entry about some aspect of the class that week - it could be reading, class discussion, or something that happened in group.  This past week, I was co-facilitating my group, and I wanted to share some of my thoughts from this week.

At some point in our group discussion, I asked the group, "What if we trust the instincts we are all having?"  A number of people had voiced that their gut was telling them to delve into a comment that one of the group members made.  But they were all afraid that this was not the "right" thing to do.  Maybe it's just me, but I feel like a lot of the counseling process (group or otherwise) is about feeling it out and trusting your instincts.  I also believe that may of our instincts (though definitely not all!) are God-given, and can therefore be trusted.  I think if we had gotten out of our heads a little bit (which is so unlike me to suggest!  I'm such a rational person), and trusted our gut then we would have been less apprehensive to enter in to the hurt and mess that multiple group members were hinting at.  Our professor always talks about "taking the risk" in counseling, and I think that is what this is.  I am such a risk-averse person, and it is so hard from me to understand why my gut is telling me to take a risk.  While risks are definitely scary, I think they aren't something to be afraid of.

Anyways, it was so comforting me to end group feeling like I could trust my instincts as a counselor.  While I definitely have a lot to learn, it was nice to leave feeling like God has got my back in the counseling room.  As Dr. Zink (one of our professors) would say, "Trust God, and trust the process."  I think a big part of that is learning to trust yourself as a result of knowing that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). 

just something I've been meditating on...

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)

Back in the Swing of Things

It is so hard to believe that I've been back in St. Louis for over a month now.  In some ways, it feels like the past few weeks have FLOWN by.  But at the same time it kind of feels like I never left.  This semester, I am actually only a part-time student at Covenant, taking three classes:  1. Spirit, Church, & Last Things  2. Group Dynamics  3.  Educational & Psychological Measurements.  In addition to these courses, I'm starting to get a jump-start on the additional courses I'll need to be an LPC in Virginia, so I'm taking an online course through Regent University.  Needless to say, my school workload has been relatively light so far, which has made for a nice transition back to St. Louis.

This year, I am living in an on-campus house with an all-new set of roommates!  I honestly could not be more blessed with how my living situation this year has turned out.  My roommates are all very sweet, loving girls, and I already feel like we click well with one another.  We're starting to tackle decorating our house, so we had a mini-photoshoot done at the beginning of the semester:

From Left to Right:  Me, Bekah, Emily, Amy, Erin, & Britt

I am so excited to get to know these ladies better over the course of the next couple of years!

Some more highlights of the past few weeks:  Labor Day weekend I went out to Table Rock Lake (unfortunately, I don't have any pictures) with some of Eric's friends.  By far one of the most relaxing weekends I've had in a long time!  It was so nice to get to know these new friends, and also to enjoy the water and lots of REALLY good ice cream (Blue Bell - I'd never had it before!).  The next weekend, I went to visit Jessica in Lexington (I was quite the traveler those weeks!), and as always it was so nice and grounding to talk and hang out with her.  Since I've gotten back from traveling, I've started work, gone to a Cardinals game, visited a Missouri winery with Eric's cousins, and gone to the annual St. Louis Balloon Glow in Forest Park!  Who knew that I would be such a (social!) busy bee in my first month back?!  I must say it makes SUCH a difference having roommates that I connect with so well.  For the first time in a lonnggg time, I want to be upstairs (my room is in the basement) as much as possible just to hang out with them, and my default answer for social events is not "no," like it was for the majority of last year.  It is so s w e e t to feel so comfortable here.

Lauren, Melissa & I at Noboleis Winery

STL Balloon Glow in Forest Park!  Such a beautiful night!

xoxo

So I had this realization this morning - 10 years ago today, I was sitting in my 8th grade English class, interviewing this girl named Tasha Abi-Najm.  And now, 10 years later, I am still blessed to call her one of my very best friends! :)  We've gone through so much together: fun times and sorrowful times, celebrations and times of mourning.  So here's to you, Tash - may our next 10 years of friendship be as memorable as the last! :)

xoxo, S

Homes

Timeless.

One of the highlights of my weekend was getting to spend a day down in my second home, Williamsburg.  Even after a year of living somewhere else, this place still has a special draw for me.  Some things have changed (like the amazing new frat houses that they've built!), some things are only slightly different, and some things are timeless.  What I love about being an alumna of the College of William & Mary is that my experience is not unique.  The majority of the the College's alumni, I would argue, have the same deep-seated connection to this place.  When I was an undergraduate, in many ways I felt like the campus and the Williamsburg community were the perfect home for me.  I felt like the place was meant for me.  Going back as an alumna is different - I no longer feel like I belong in the same way.  I'm not a

student anymore, and I don't feel like I could ever be a student there again - it would feel weird.  But as I walk the campus, I get the sense that in some ways I will always belong at William & Mary.  Those four years were a defining aspect of my life, and in personality & mind, I will always be a William & Mary student.  Walking along the Sunken Gardens feels different than it did before (though I can still very distinctly feel what it felt like), but it is still such a peaceful feeling for me.  I walk the campus differently than I did a couple of years ago, but it will never lose it's magic for me.

So all of this has gotten me thinking about the concept of home.  As a child, "home" is where you and your family live.  To the government, you are considered "homeless" if you do not have your own permanent residence (i.e., if you are crashing in a friend's apartment for a month, but they could technically kick you out at any time, you are considered "homeless").  For me, I think I have many homes.  Some are based on the place itself, and some are based on the people there, but all of them have a sense of belonging.  Of course, I have a home in Ashburn where my family lives.  Not only is this concept of home tied to the people that I love that live there, but also to the house that I grew up in.  But Williamsburg also feels like home to me.  I feel like I belong there in a different way than I belong at home in Ashburn.  St. Louis is also beginning to feel like a home.  This one is not tied to the place at all - the city itself has no draw to me.  But it's the people (I have one particularly in mind) that I feel connected to.  Granted, because I've only lived there for a year, my relationships are not as strong as they are with friends from Ashburn or Williamsburg, but over the next 2 years, I can see them becoming so.

It's kind of a weird feeling to have 3 homes.  I mean, I would rather have 3 than have none at all, but it does kind of make one feel pulled in a few different directions.  It also makes it so that I adjust super quickly to being in each place.  Within a day or two, I am back into my mode of operation for that specific environment.  One thing I would like to learn is to meld these M.O.s into one.  Of course I will always react uniquely to each environment, but I would like to see as much overlap of self in each one as possible.

Just some of my thoughts today. :)

I Know It's Today

I'm not a huge fan of Shrek: the Musical...personally I take issue with random movies that become musicals just to further the franchise...but that is an entirely different topic for another day.  Anyways, a friend of mine gave me the soundtrack a while back, and this song came up on my iPhone the other day in the car:

(if you want to read the lyrics go here:
http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/shrekthemusical/iknowitstoday.htm)

It struck me just how culturally relevant this song actually is.  How many girls of my generation are waiting and waiting and waiting for their knight in shining armor or Prince Charming to appear?  For those of you that know the story of Shrek, Fiona's rescuer is not anything like what she imagined - not even close to the stereotypical Prince Charming.  But that doesn't mean he isn't her perfect match.  I think there is a lesson to be learned here.

I find these lines to be particularly insightful:  "There's a princess / Any princess / Take your pick, they're all like me / Not exactly, I'm still waiting / They're all living happily / Ever after better get here / I want love in seconds flat..."

To me, this says so much about our culture.  1) We hate waiting.  2) We think that our lives don't start until we hit a certain mile-marker.  Maybe it's falling in love.  Or getting married.  Or having children.  Or obtaining a higher educational degree.  Or getting the perfect job.  But we think that we can't really live, or live happily for that matter, without first achieving that one thing.  For Fiona, and many women/girls of my generation, it's finding her Prince Charming/Knight in Shining Armor.  But our lives are happening right now.  We can't keep waiting for life to "start" otherwise we'll miss out on the life that we currently have!

I love when the Arts speak out about culture in insightful and relevant ways.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on this - what you notice in this song, and any response you have to my brief and very disjointed thoughts!  Please comment! :)

Experimenting with Cupcakes

Wow, it's been awhile since I've posted anything...just another sign of my rather extreme laziness in the summer.  I've been home for almost 2 months and no pictures have been scrapbooked, I'm only halfway through my reading list, and most days I could not tell you what I actually did in the preceding 12 hours (unless I've been at work that day).  Such is the life of the graduate student on break I suppose.

I've been meaning to write this specific post for a while, but kept putting it off in the event that I baked more and wanted to add more stuff to it.  Seeing as I only have 4 weeks left of my summer, and still have only 2 cupcake recipes to share with you, I feel like I should go ahead and write this post!

So, I gave my sister a cupcake book for her (our) birthday, and so far we've tried 2 of the recipes:  Margarita Cupcakes and Bittersweet Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes.  I liked both, but the Bittersweet Chocolate Raspberry was by far the superior cupcake - SO DELICIOUS.  In defense of the Margarita Cupcakes, there is definitely an added benefit of making margaritas out of the extra ingredients. . . just putting that one out there. ;)  This cupcake book has SO many interesting recipes to try, and I love that some of them are variations on a cake mix while others have you make your own cake!  I personally want to get to the Salted Caramel Cupcakes before the end of the summer, but other good options include Cafe Mocha, Cosmopolitan, Polka Dot Pumpkin Cheesecake, Chocolate Tiramisu, Pink Lemonade, Boston Creme, and Surprise Prize Cupcakes (the last one has a cookie dough center!!).  Man, I should have bought one of these books for myself!  Looks like I'll be heading back to Barnes & Noble when I get back to STL. . .

Margarita Cupcakes
1 pkg. white cake mix
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons margarita mix, divided
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
3 tsps grated lime peel, divided
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons tequila (or you can substitute in lime juice. . . but who really wants to do that?)
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp. white decorating sugar
1 tbsp. salt
Green and yellow food coloring
Lime peel strips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.  Put paper cupcake cups in 2 standard muffin tins (makes 24 cupcakes).  Stir cake mix, 3/4 cup margarita mix, eggs, oil, water, 1 tsp lime peel and lime juice in large bowl until well blended.  Spoon evenly into cupcake cups and bake for 20 minutes (or until done).  Cool in pans for 10 mins, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.  (How easy was that?!)

Margarita Cupcakes with glaze

Combine tequila, remaining 2 tbsp margarita mix,and 2 tsp lime peel in medium bowl.  Gradually whisk in powdered sugar.  Combine decorating sugar and salt in small bowl.  Add food coloring one drop at a time until desired shade is reached.  Spread glaze over cupcakes; dip edges in sugar mixture (like the salt around the edge of a margarita glass).  Garnish with lime peel strips.
Note:  We didn't do the sugar/salt and lime peel garnish, and it still tasted great!

Bittersweet Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup hot coffee
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
8 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped, divided
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 pints fresh raspberries, divided
1/2 cup whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350. Line muffin tins with 20 paper cups.  Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in small bowl; mix well.  Whisk coffee, cocoa and 2 oz chopped chocolate in large bowl until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.  Stir in sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla until well blended.  Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating well after each addition.  Spoon evenly into prepared muffin cups.  Place 3 raspberries in each cup (no worries, they sink down into the cupcake as it bakes!).  Bake for 20 minutes or until done.  Cool in pan 5 minutes, remove to wire rack until completely cool.
Bring cream to a simmer in small saucepan over medium heat.  Place remaining 6 oz chopped chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl.  Pour hot cream over chocolate; let stand 2 minutes (without stirring!  the chocolate is melting!).  Whisk mixture until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.  Dip tops of cupcakes in chocolate mixture (we actually found it easier to frost them with a frosting knife); return to wire racks.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Dip/frost again if desired (umm, yes? of course you want another layer of chocolate ganache!).  Top with a single raspberry, and let stand until set.

(Recipes from Cupcakes: Sensational Sweet Treats for Any Occasion, Publications International, Ltd. 2012)

Some things never change

This has been a whirlwind week!  A week ago today, my sister arrived in St. Louis to help me pack up my stuff and move home to DC for the summer.  5 days ago we started our cross-country road trip, and 4 days ago I slept in my own bed.  With one day of downtime, we then hosted the first (annual?) reunion of Cabell 104 + Sarah (aka Snuggles).

I have been so blessed to have these four girls (Jessica, Cathy, Steph, and Margaret Ann) for the past five years.  They have been a constant source of love, encouragement, advice, accountability, and community.  After spending four years at W&M together, we went our separate ways last fall.  Cathy moved to Philly to be a TFA teacher, Margaret Ann moved to Nashville to study Education at Vandy, Jess moved to Lexington to study International Relations at UK, Steph moved home to the DC area to pursue a career in government, and I moved out to St. Louis.  So this is the first time that I have seen any of these ladies in person (except Jessica, of course) in a year.  That's a very long time.

Things that Never Change:
Jessica's Facial Expressions.

Seeing them all again got me thinking about time and life, and this is probably about to make no sense and be very introspective.  But just a few things I've been thinking about...

Things that Never Change:
Snuggling.

It doesn't feel like it's been a year since I've graduated from W&M and seen these dear friends of mine.  It feels like we were all there completing the triathlon just yesterday.  But at the same time, it feels like I've made deep connections in St. Louis, and that part of my life feels very "normal" - like I've been there for awhile.  It is not uncommon for me to say that college feels like it was in another life.  It's kind of confusing experiencing time in both of these ways at the same time.  In a similar train of thought, do you ever feel like you live multiple different lives?  I'm not talking about the phenomenon where someone is a completely different person depending on the social situation, and does not have an integrated sense of self.  I feel like I am pretty much the same (with of course some minor adjustments depending on how comfortable I am) in each of my environments/"homes" (Ashburn, Williamsburg, St. Louis).  But each of these lives sometimes feels so disconnected from the others, so it's weird when they intersect.  For example, while I loved having Jessica come visit me in St. Louis, it was kind of an out of body experience, seeing her in an environment that I do not usually associate with her.  Does that make sense?  It was like worlds colliding.  This weekend was similar for me.  In the course of a week, I've transitioned in and out of 3 "homes:" St. Louis --> Ashburn --> Williamsburg (represented by the Cabell 104 girls) --> Ashburn.  And while this didn't necessarily feel unusual, it did dawn on me that I should be aware of when I make these transitions between "homes."  Anyways, just what I've been thinking about of late...

Lunch with Meghan Moore!

Back to this weekend.  It was so good to just sit and talk with these ladies for hours on end.  We could catch up on our lives, but also just experience each other in a way that you can't do over Skype.  I loved that we all could just pick up where we left off.  We still relate to each other in the same ways, and even though we are all grown up now living separate lives in separate states, we still have a strong connection grounded in love.

Some things never change.

So I've been on this baking kick...

Over the past few months, I've been compiling a list of recipes that I need to try.  I actually really enjoy baking, but the problem comes when I have a ton of food and no one to help me eat it.  Baking is a yummy hobby, but definitely not good for the waistline...

Anyways, here are a few things that I've tried recently:

1.  Pink Lemonade Cake

This is a Pillsbury cake mix that is out for the summer (usually available at Walmart, or some Targets).  I was a little skeptical, but ended up being very pleased with the results!  You can buy matching frosting (ew.), but I used Lemon Poke Cake frosting instead (lemon pudding mix, 1 cup of milk, and cool whip...mmmm!), which was a MUCH better decision.  Overall, I thought the taste of the cake was good - it's very light and not too lemony.  I'm pretty sure the oven in my apartment was acting up though, since the cake rose more on one side than the other....weird.

2.  Key Lime Cookies

Also a summer Pillsbury mix.  I sadly did not take a picture of them, but if you can get past the bright green color of these cookies, they are actually quite delicious!  Very limey, and they have crunchies on the inside!  I'm always partial to cookies with crunchies, since they remind me of the lemon crisp cookies I make at Christmas.

3.  French Toast Casserole

My sister and I have long been on a hunt for this recipe.  I ended up using this one:  http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/puffy-french-toast-casserole-90607.aspx.  My best friend's mom always made french toast casserole when we had sleepovers, and I have wanted to learn how to make it ever since!  The recipe I used wasn't quite as good as hers, so I'm still on the look out for the right one, but this was definitely a good start!

4.  Milky Way Salted Caramel Cookies

I just made these this past weekend with my dear friends from college (see next post about our reunion!).  You can find the recipe here:  http://www.instructables.com/id/Milky-Way-Salted-Caramel-Cookies/.  A few things about this recipe: (a) it takes longer to cook than you think - it's easy to take them out when the bottom isn't done cooking (b) the batter is DELICIOUS (c) eat when completely cooled.  It's a little too goupy if you eat them fresh out of the oven.  Plus, you don't really get to taste the sea salt until it's cooled.

I could have done with just using a caramel in the middle instead of a milky way...the chocolate of the milky way kinda got in the way.  But still, these were definitely a yummy choice!

Birthday Week 2013

Back in March, my roommate Peggy & I instituted "birthday week" in honor of our other roommate, Janelle. The plan was to love Janelle in some small way every day during the week of her birthday.  This tradition has continued, and so this past week was my "birthday week."  SO FUN.  I cannot thank my friends here at Covenant enough for making me feel so loved and special during this past week! :)  Here are some of the highlights:

On Monday (the official start of birthday week), I got back from my normal early-morning gym workout to find a balloon and mini-latte made by Peggy.  Later that day, I was surprised with BEAUTIFUL roses from Eric.
Thursday (my actual birthday), started off with breakfast made by Peggy, and an early-morning skype session with my co-birthday-girl, Jessica.  It was so fun getting to see her on our birthday and open presents together.  I really missed celebrating with her this year, and I've resolved that twins should never spend their birthdays alone.  Having her with me is a fundamental part of how I think my birthday should be celebrated, and it was really sad for her not to be here with me.  After class, I went to lunch with my dear friend Taylore, and Eric took me out for dinner later that night.
Friday was the official party day.  My friends threw me an AWESOME dinner party.  You all need to let Janelle cook for you - oh my goodness, was it amazing!  Homemade bruschetta, shrimp scampi, and chicken alfredo (yes, she made her own sauce); I couldn't ask for a more delicious meal.  I felt so loved by all who planned and came to celebrate with me!  We ended the evening at a pub called McGurk's in Soulard (downtown-ish St. Louis) with a huge crowd of Covenant students.  Peggy got everyone in the bar to sing to me, which was such a special way to end the night!
Sunday was the official close to birthday week.  Eric treated me to lunch and then a cupcake at Jilly's cupcake bar.  SO YUMMY.  This place is a must if you come to St. Louis.  Jilly's was on Food Network's Cupcake Wars and WON!  They are going to be on the show again in a couple of weeks, I believe.

Thank you, everyone for all of the birthday love this week.  It has been so fun for me to celebrate with all of you, and I appreciate the love and affirmation you have showered me with this past week! :)  I couldn't ask for a better way to start my last week of classes and finals.