ACU Homecoming 2011

So I have been anticipating this weekend for a long time now. I love homecoming and all the festivities that are in store and I love seeing all my friends, so this weekend was bound to be a good one. 

Now first let me tell you a funny story, so Friday night Shane went out with some guy friends that were in town for homecoming. So this left me home by myself. Which was totally fine, until this loud banging noise started going off. My dogs started going crazy and I started to panic trying to figure out what it was. I promise you it sounded EXACTLY like someone was trying to get into the garage. I immediately called Shane, but he didn't answer. So I thought to call one of his family members. But I thought to myself, If someone is trying to break in, I don't have time for that, I need to call the police. So I dialed 911, something I have NEVER done before. I told them that there was banging and that I thought someone was trying to break in. They took my name, address and then preceded to ask me if there were any cars outside besides mine. So I headed over to the window to check outside for mysterious cars, something I hadn't thought to do. And that's when I saw it..... A glimpse of a firework going off in the distance. I about died. All the banging I was hearing was fireworks going off at ACU. I felt so silly and apologized to the 911 operator. He said it happens all the time :) So I am officially that girl. Ah, but it made for a good story right? 

Saturday morning I woke up at 5 am, yep you read that right, 5:00 stinkin early a.m. to go to Kojie Breakfast. Now, that is what I call dedication! 

Then following breakfast was the always enjoyable Parade...

 Of course I spilled my much needed coffee over Rachel and myself....awesome.

Then came the Football game vs. West Texas A&M. Which we won of course!

 Pretty Kojies on homecoming court...

It was a wonderful weekend but went by way too fast. Seems like every weekend is like that! And now I am one worn out lady. Today is definitely a day of rest for me!

Yall it's Fall!

Fall time means cooler weather, which means I can officially make some homemade soup since it's not 100 degrees out! Ah, I have been waiting for this for so long! So Monday I tried out a new recipe for Corn Chowder! It was very tasty and Shane liked it too. Which is always important :)


Here is what you need:


1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil
2 large onions, chopped (I ended up only using about 1 1/2 onions. 2 is alot!)
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
3 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried
1 bay leaf
2 cups frozen corn kernels
1 potato, peeled and diced
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 12-ounce can nonfat evaporated milk
Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste
Pinch cayenne pepper

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large heavy saucepan over low heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add celery, bell pepper, garlic and cumin; cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add broth, thyme and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
2. Add corn and potatoes, return to a simmer and cook until all the vegetables are tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Place cornstarch in a small bowl, slowly add evaporated milk, stirring until smooth. Stir into the soup and return to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Season with salt, pepper and cayenne.

Makes 6 Servings

And for my favorite part, the Nutritional Info Per Serving: 
200 calories; 2 g fat; 5 mg cholesterol; 38 g carbs; 10 g protein; 4 g fiber; 208 mg sodium

Pug Rescue

Okay, it is no surpise that I love pugs. Like ALOT. So it shouldn't be surprising that I love to look up pugs on the internet. Yesterday I came across a Pug Rescue Website.  Once I starting searching through some of the pictures of little pugs that need to be adopted and read some of their bios, I literally could not stop. I really wish I could just adopt them all. Here is one pug that was put on the website today...

Meet Shakespeare the pug... (These pictures break my heart)

And here is the bio that went with it.. "Hi, I'm Shakespeare, the newest member of the awesome special needs pug team for DFW Pug Rescue. I'm feeling so much better today, but I don't like to think much about what happened before that. When rescue picked me up a few days ago from animal control, they rushed me to their vet clinic for emergency treatment. I had to have both eyes removed, and several teeth, because they said a very bad person had beat and kicked me. I was malnourished, with tapeworm, whipworm, coccidia and heartworm, so I will be in sick bay for a while before I am ready for my forever home."

Okay so this is how many of the sweet little pugs are that need to be adopted. Not all though. Some don't have any special needs like this one. But after reading this sad story can you see why I could not stop searching through the website? So if you are a pug lover or even just a dog lover and are interested in adopting a pug go check out these websites. DFW Pugs, Austin Pug Rescue, Houston Pug Rescue. Or if you are just a sentimental person that loves dogs go search through the pugs bios that need to be adopted. Your heart will break...But you might also get a little chuckle in once you see some of their adorable pictures.

So after searching through these websites all day, I could not wait to show Shane when he got home. He loves pugs almost as much as I do ;) I tried to persuade him to let me adopt one, but I don't think it's going to happen. He said two is enough for us. Aww shucks.

But don't you think our little family needs:

Felix the black pug..

 or Forest the beautiful apricot colored pug..

 or my personal favorite...Mr. Mugsy

Yeah, I think so too!! I told Shane we could either get adopt another pug or....have a baby. HAHA He said we are not ready for either! Which I agree......to the baby part at least. But come on Shane, we how can you say no to these sweet little faces? Ah, I can only dream...



Feeling Old

So this past weekend was Bid Night at ACU. Even though I am graduated and not actually in Club anymore, I had been so excited for the night to come. Why? Because all my friends got to come and town! But I am not going to lie, seeing everyone at Bid Night made me feel pretty stinkin old. I can't believe it has been three years since me and my friends were pledging. And that now we have graduated and become big time adults...sorta ;) All I know is I am thankful for the things that bring us back together. Thank you Ko Jo Kai.

 Old and New NuNu Moms :)

My little in Club

And just a little blast from the past. A picture back from when my friends and I got our Kojie Bids.

Saturday night was the ACU football game. I havn't really watched an ACU game in awhile and here was another chance to spend some time with the girls. So off Shane and I went. And did I mention that Shane got picked to kick a fieldgoal at halftime for $10,000. Did I mention that it was a 40 yard fieldgoal as well? Haha. Well, Shane tried his hardest but came up a little short. Okay maybe really short. BUT we all got a good laugh and honestly I think it was the highlight of the game :)

Monday came the day I have been waiting for since I had my surgery on my wrist. I got my stitches out! WOOOOO. They were really starting to get annoying. It might look a little ugly now but I will be rubbing vitamin E oil on it multiple times a day so I don't have a ugly scar! Or maybe I want a scar? It might make me look kind of tough? ...Nah.



Lately

You know when life gets a little bit crazy? Well, that is currently how my life is. I feel like the last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind and I am just trying to keep up and keep my sanity! Here is what has kept me so busy the last three weeks and has kept me from blogging..

School started. Yes, I know I am not currently in school, but my job is at a school. The last few weeks I have been trying to get adjusted to my job and get everything under control. I started working in June, but at the time I was just preparing for what I would be doing. Now the students are here, so I am actually doing what I prepared so long for. And although I love what I am doing, it has been wearing me out! But I know I will get use to it and it will all become second nature.

Shane started fire fighter school. As posted before, I am SO excited for Shane's decision to become a firefighter. But with that, comes fire fighter schooling. Which means lots of studying and classes and mean less time he gets to spend with me. It has been an adjustment to say the least. But I keep telling myself it's just a year..it's just a year! 

 Doesn't he look cute in his uniform?? I sure think so :)

 This month we celebrated our 6 month anniversary. Wow, I still can't believe it has already been 6 months! The time is literally flying by! Shane surprised me and took me to Copper Creek, a restaurant we both have never been to. To say it was very tasty is an understatement. It was wonderful!

Did I mention that we have a fish for all of 6 days? Yep those fair fish die fast. So I've heard. Now I know.

Then this past Friday I had a minor surgery to remove a ganglion cyst that was on my wrist. I have had this pesty little cyst for about 3 years now. Right before we got married I had it checked out and they drained it, but it came back within a WEEK. I was a little frustrated. So a week ago I went back to the doctor and  they said lets take it out! YES! That was what I wanted to hear! Not that I wanted to have surgery, but I was more than ready for it to be gone! And hopefully forever. My sweet parents came down for the weekend to help out. Thank goodness for them! The surgery went fine. I was a little nervous because I have never gone under before, but it wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be. The worst part was not being able to use my arm much for the last couple of days. But it is definitely getting better each day. I have a little more bruising than I thought I would have and the incision is not pretty looking, but I am very thankful the cyst is gone!  

I couldn't get a good picture, but see that little bump on my wrist, that's the cyst! Such a small thing to cause so much pain!

Day after surgery. My fingers were SO swollen! Kind of funny looking!

Lucy kept me company while I laid in bed all weekend :)

A couple of days after surgery. Crazy bruising

And there it is, the ugly incision. Yuck

So that is what I've been up to. It's been one busy month. Hopefully October will be a little less hectic,  be filled with cool weather and lots of pumpkins :)

22

This past Thursday was my 22nd birthday. Wowzers. I am getting old! My sweet husband got me Mcdonald's for breakfast, took me to Genghis Grill for dinner, got my Skinnygirl Margarita's (I've been dying to try them) and got me ...... a beautiful new MacBook. That I am currently writing this post on. I love it already. And him. Lots. Friday we went to the country club and got to celebrate my bday again, this time with Shane's family. We had steaks, yummy birthday cake and got to watch Rio outside while lounging by the pool. It was a perfect night!

Free Birthday Dessert is always nice

Pretty little macbook makes me one very happy girl!

Because my parents couldn't be with me on my actual birthday I got to celebrate with them two weekends ago in San Antonio. My mom made some to-die-for Cherry Limeade cupcakes and we had wonderful mexican food with my sister Clarissa and her family.

Of course the Pugs came too :)

Thanks to everyone for the sweet birthday wishes! They really have made my day so so special!



Foodie Time

This past week I have ventured out and tried two new recipes that are WONDERFUL. I just love when that happens. I had to share with you all. By the way, did I mention that both of these were found because of the amazingly addicting Pinterest? Yep, that just means all that time I spend on it is worth it.

First Recipe:

Chicken and Black Bean Quesadillas

Chicken Marinade:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tablespoons lime juice, about 1 lime

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1⁄4 cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 (15-ounce) can (245 gr) black beans, drained
Juice of 1 lime
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt

8 ounces Cheddar cheese, grated, about 1 cup
8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, grated, about 1 cup
Juice of 1 lime
1⁄4 cup (60 ml) cilantro, chopped

8 whole wheat or gluten free tortillas

Place chicken in a large bowl. Add the lime juice, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper then toss until the chicken is well coated. Marinate at room temperature for 1 hour. Grill or broil chicken for 4 minutes on each side, or until a thermometer reads 160°F (70°C) when inserted into thickest part of the breast. Tent with foil.

 Shred the chicken when cool enough to handle. (Shredded chicken can be prepared a day or two in advance and kept in the refrigerator, or store the cooked and shredded breasts in a covered container in the freezer for up to 3 months.)

 Pour beans, lime juice, garlic powder and salt into the food processor then process until smooth. Toss cheeses, lime juice and cilantro in large bowl.

 Place 4 of the tortillas on a flat work surface. Spread a thin layer of beans on each tortilla, sprinkle with cheese and top with shredded chicken. Make sure not to put the cheese too close to the outside of the tortillas to prevent it from oozing out. Complete the assembly by placing a tortilla on top of each quesadilla.

 Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Place 1 quesadilla in the skillet and cook until golden brown, about 1 minute. Flip quesadilla and cook until bottom is golden brown and cheese is melted. Serve alone or with some salsa or a generous dollop of guacamole.

So tasty! And Shane loved them :)

Second Recipe:

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

2-oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp red food coloring

2/3 cup all purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

8-oz cream cheese, room temperature (I used fat-free Cream Cheese to try to cut a few calories/fat)

1/3 cup sugar

1 large egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 8 inch metal baking pan. Put a long piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan, letting the parchment extend up two sides of the pan and overhang slightly on both ends. (This will make it easy to remove the bars from the pan after they have baked.) Butter the parchment.

In a small, heatproof bowl, melt butter and chocolate together. Stir until combined and very smooth. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.

In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and red food coloring. Add chocolate mixture and stir until smooth. Add flour and salt and stir until just combined and no streaks of dry ingredients remain.

Pour into prepared pan and spread into an even layer.

To prepare cheesecake mixture, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until smooth. Distribute the cheesecake mixture in 8 dollops over batter in the pan. Swirl in with a knife or spatula.

Bake for 35-40 minutes, until brownies and cheesecake are set. A knife inserted into the cheesecake mixture should come out clean and the edges will be lightly browned.

Let cool completely in pan on a cooling rack before lifting out the parchment paper to remove the brownies.

They are as good as they are pretty! This is a must-try!

Double Date = Double the Laughs

Last night Shane and I went on a lovely little double date with our friends Ginna and Eric. We love getting to spend time with them. Our dinner's always are consumed with lots of laughs and picking on each other. The guys typically goof off the whole time and Ginna and I talk about pretty much everything from food, cooking, jobs to her sweet little babe she has in her tummy! Did I mention that they found out yesterday they are having a little girl? Yes a sweet little girl! Sometimes when I am around Ginna I start getting baby fever, but it quickly goes. BUT I am so excited for them! Can't wait to get her cute little girl clothes!

Just some photo fun :)

As we got home from our Date night I couldn't wait to start watching the So You Think You Can Dance finale. I had the DVR set and ready to go while we were gone. As I quickly tried to press the play button on the DVR to get it started I didn't realize that I was really pressing the Delete button. So yeah, just like that I deleted the Finale. Awesome. Luckily I am headed to good ole San Antonio this weekend to see my family. And my family is equally obsessed with SYTYCD as me so they have it saved for me to watch there. Thank you Mom and Dad. You save the day!

NEWS OF THE DAY: It is one my besties birthday! Happy Birthday Amy!! Hope you are having an amazing day! Love you lots xoxo

Hope you all have amazing weekends! I sure am excited for mine to start. Can't wait to see my family!