Monday Shmunday

Happy to be home after a long weekend of hard climbing and hiking. Looking forward to a nice, long break from school and work starting tomorrow afternoon! Couldn't be happier. Have a good Monday!

Family and friends

 We were lucky enough to have both my family and Rex's parents visit last weekend and we just had the best time. My parents and his parents got to meet, we got to take them to our favorite restaurants, and we got to catch up over Mom's famous margaritas. It was so great! 

Also, have y'all heard Victory Bells by Josh Abbott Band? He wrote it about Tech and it just gives me goosebumps when I hear it! So proud to be a Red Raider!

Thanks (pt 2)!

Gi^vIng^ Thanks^:

- I really like my house. I know that a lot of college students can't exactly say the same. I have roommates that I get along with, our house is conveniently located close to campus and only two blocks away from the bus stop, we have a big back yard for the dogs to run around in, and so far, the heat/AC/dishwasher/water hasn't gone out yet...which is really nice. Of course, it is still a rent house, so it's not perfect. But it is a home.


- Speaking of, I like my roommates. We kinda clashed a lot at first...three girls living together = problems. Pretty much anywhere you go. But we've worked everything out now that we've been there for a couple months, and things are going well. Whoever gets up first makes a big pot of coffee in the morning, we all really like white wine, and we have a chore chart on the fridge. 


- Netflix. We don't have cable at said house, so Netflix (and watching TV at Rex's house!) is how we get by. It's really nice to be able to watch at least some stuff at home! 

Thanks-Giving!

Today I am starting a November-long thankfulness quest! I know I'm a week late. But better late than never! I just have so many things to be thankful for and I know that I don't always think about it. Or, I do think about it, but not long enough! And documenting things is the best way (for me, at least) to remember them. So, here we go! 

Gi^vIng^ Thanks^:

- I have the most wonderful family anyone could ask for. A couple weeks ago, I was having a really rough time, so my mom drove to Lubbock to spend the weekend with me. Little Taylor worked so hard this season to get moved up to starter on Varsity volleyball! She's so sweet and funny and smart and a great sister. My dad is the best. He's funny and supportive and encouraging. And my extended family on Mom and Dad's sides are wonderful. I love spending time with them, and I'm so excited that the holidays are coming up because that's when we get to see each other! 

- I have Rexie for a best friend. At the risk of getting mushy and silly, he really is the best friend I could ask for. He keeps me positive, is always so encouraging, and he gets really excited for me when I have a good workout. And he raves about my cooking. What else could you ask for? 

- My family and I have the resources for me to be able to get a degree from Tech. I know there are a lot of people who don't get the same opportunity. And I know I take it for granted, but I really am blessed by that.

- The rec at Tech has cross-training machines. Y'all, I know it's silly, but with my knees/hips/back, high impact exercise like running really sucks. Ellipticals and cross-trainers are like heaven. It's the little things in life sometimes. 

What are you thankful for?

A Quick Break

...from the Smart, Pretty, & Awkward posts to give you guys a recipe that my sweet roommate and I tried a couple weekends ago. Of course we found it on Pinterest, and then adapted a little bit to fit our personal qualifications.

Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

(I know, I know...a recipe for a milkshake? Milk + ice cream + shake, right? But you know, if you're going to add some liquor...that calls for a recipe. Am I right or am I right?)

2 cups vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cream
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2/3 cup pureed pumpkin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/3 ground graham cracker crumbs
2-3 ounces of bourbon

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend together well. Makes about 4 servings (depending on serving size!).


Complicated, right? But for real. They are de-lish. Except they are pretty sweet, so it can be a little heavy! Just a fair warning! ...oh, and there's a couple shots of bourbon in there too. Be wary of that.

Happy fall! 

Y'all. (Pt. 2)

I know I already told y'all about the dust storm yesterday...but this is just too crazy not to watch! Skip ahead to about 1:15. That's where it gets good! Maybe it's just me, being from East Texas and all, but this is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen! 

Y'all.

It is the downright Apocalypse here in LBK. Who woulda thunk God wanted to started the End of Days in the armpit of the world? I guess it makes sense though, when he rebuilds His Kingdom here on Earth, who the heck is gonna want to live in Lubbock? Seriously y'all, gusts up to 75 MPH, and with all this here plowed land surrounding Lubbock, that top soil was whisked right away into the air and into our lungs in no time flat!


(Am I doin' a good enough job of soundin' like a legit Lubbockian? I'm goin' for the West Texas thing here, folks. Darn tootin'!)

Happy Monday to everyone who's not breathin' in manure and dust! And an even happier Monday to everyone who is!

Pumpkin Spice & Cinnamon

Last night at 9:00 PM, I thought it'd be a good idea to make cupcakes. This should come as a surprise to no one. I made a huge mess of the kitchen and ended up spending almost as much time cleaning as I spent on cooking. But guys...they were DE-LISH-US. Like, really. Not to toot my own horn or anything...but TOOT. The cupcake-y part was a really nice, almost bread-like texture, and the icing was just sweet enough to be icing, but cream cheese-y too. Here's the recipe (I think...I'm so bad at just throwing stuff into a bowl without measuring...oops!)

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing

2 cups flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup Crisco
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
(a little less than) 1 cup pumpkin puree

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together Crisco, white sugar, and brown sugar until fully incorporated. Add in eggs, one at a time, mixing throughly. Stir in milk and pumpkin. Once fully mixed, add in flour mixture a little at a time, until just mixed. Fill each cupcake tin 2/3 of the way full. Cook until light golden brown, about 20 minutes in my oven. Let cool before icing.


Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing

1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese
1/4 cup of Crisco
(about) 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Mix together cream cheese and Crisco until smooth. Add in powdered sugar a little at a time, mixing until incorporated. You may need a little less or a little more powdered sugar, it just depends! Then add cinnamon and vanilla and mix until throughly blended. Ice cupcakes and enjoy!!


Hope you're all enjoying fall! Clearly I am! Next, I will have a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Bourbon Milkshakes...get ready for that folks.

Have a good weekend all! We'll be in Dallas, spending the weekend with an assortment of my best friends, my family, Rex's family, and The Avett Brothers!! Cannot wait!