Yooooga it up

In my attempt to getting my body to be healthier, I have been going to a local yoga class offered at my gym.

:done laughing? Good:

People who know me, know how clumsy I am, and balance is not my friend very often. This class is pretty easy going and the calm quiet afterwards is something that I could drink up. I have been beyond busy at work lately, and while I love my home in the winter it is dark and I just want to curl up and not do anything. I have been craving a space where I am sit without any distractions or people needing something or expecting something from me. A quiet space with no expectations. Just typing that out makes me want to take a deep breath. So I spoke to the instructor (as per advice from my girls on the nest health and fitness board) about letting me sit a few extra minutes after class, by myself. She gave me her blessing to "zen out" and I did.

and I cried...

As soon as the last people left the room, I could feel that feeling in the pit of your stomach to let you know that it's coming. The tears just fell and I just sat in the quiet space with no expectations. And it felt good. So fricken good.

Hey! Look at me! Posting again!

1. The last thing I ate was Saltines from my desk in my office. I just needed something salty (okay- fine, I was bored)

2. The last song I listened to was, hmmm there was something on the radio, but I don't really think I was "listening" to it. I think it was that song with Keri Hilson, Kanye, and some other guy. Obvi- it was at the gym during my epic workout last night.

3. Using the letters in my name I can spell (I cheated and used a scrabble helper online!)

1.	racier (8)	2.	carer (7)	3.	racer (7)	4.	ceria (7)	5.	crier (7)
6.	areic (7)	7.	ricer (7)	8.	erica (7)	9.	care (6)	10.	acre (6)
11.	cire (6)	12.	carr (6)	13.	race (6)	14.	rice (6)	15.	ice (5)
16.	arc (5)	17.	car (5)	18.	rec (5)	19.	airer (5)	20.	ace (5)
21.	rear (4)	22.	rare (4)	23.	era (3)	24.	are (3)	25.	ria (3)
26.	ire (3)	27.	air (3)	28.	rei (3)	29.	err (3)	30.	rai (3)
31.	ear (3)	32.	re (2)	33.	ae (2)	34.	ai (2)	35.	er (2)
36.	ar (2)

4. If I had to dress in one color for the rest of my life I would pick black. I have so many black items already...

5. If you were to look in my bag right now you'd find a slew of junk. a straw, a few pens, my wallet and nearly dead phone and chex mix.

6. When I finish filling in the blanks I'm going to go lay down. I have a killer headache- and I love to nap.

7. My all time favorite song to dance to is Dance Epidemic by Electric sixx . (yup- click it for awesomeness)

Oh Snap!

I've tried setting up a new blog, because I thought that this one had sadly passed away, no longer able to be retrieved. Little did I know that it was still alive and well, just insanely neglected!

So changes are coming. I have changed so much since this blog had been created, and I think it needs to follow suit! Changes in colors, content, and...and...dammit, what's another c word?

I am *going* to try to post more often then say, once a year- deal? deal!

poppping in

I saw this only a blog, who saw it from another blog, and so on and so on. I wanted tp keep it somewhere!
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, alterior motives;

be kind anyway.

If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies;

succeed anyway.

If you are honest people may cheat you;

be honest anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the end, it is between you and God;

it was never between you and them anyway.

~ Mother Teresa ~

Fall has arrived!

So a few things have changed- WE'VE BOUGHT A HOUSE! We have been beyond blessed and beyond busy- I think I say that every post! So far we have had only one major room redo, which is only major in the fact that we have painted over dark brown paneling to make it white. Pictures will follow when we * finally* finish it!

For now, head over to Mel's Blog and sign up to win a super cute and ultra useful plarn bag! Or..ya know...don't, because I want to win it! haha. But check out her etsy shop for real!

Six Months Later...

I am alive..barely. I can't believe that nearly six months have passed since I have written in here. I am nearly positive that no one still reads this, but I am inspired to share a few of my stories, and excuses as to why I have neglected this.

First and foremost, school. I completed my internship and I had the best and most gratifying experience that I could have. God placed me, through several strange and awkward paths, to exactly where I need to be. I began the year interning for 32 hours a week, with two classes on top. I ended my internship working 50 hours a week, with two classes on top (enter my excuse for the lack of updates) the 4 months felt like 4 years some days, yet I didn't want to leave my internship- so I didn't! My amazing supervisor asked me to work in the toddler room. So I did! I changed around my plans of finishing college next semester into working full time and finishing in 3 semesters (that kills me to write that!) I prayed (and prayed, and prayed) and decided that it was what is best for the family. I love where I work, I love what I do, and that is a hard thing to find. Thanks to my internship, I found where I was suppose to be. Irony= I told my professor that this was a back up plan and that I didn't want to work after I graduated, but rather pop out babies. Now my plan has changed. Apparently my plan=/= God's plan all along!

I have had some fun experiences so far! I am still cooking like a maniac! I bought an ice cream machine, and my favorite so far is the sorbet! who knew? I've made strawberry,
peach, blackberry, watermelon and all were yummy, here are just a few of the pictures!

I lost a very important man in my family very unexpectedly. My uncle passed away just a few weeks ago, and it still doesn't feel real. He was my dad's best friend and a genuinely great guy, his death made me realize how much I treasure my parents, and has driven my anxiety just a little further.


In other less life-changing news, I have pick my camera back up, dusted it off, and took some pictures... here's hoping it doesn't taken me another 6 months to update again!

Merry Christmas!

Goodness so many things have been going on in my life that I have, once again, not had time to focus on my blog! I have finished a very grueling semester and came out the other side. Despite the moans and groans and certainty that I was NOT going to have great grades or make the Dean's list- I did. I also secured an internship at the local YWCA (which I am anxious about! please pray for a positive experience!) My Father in Law completed his semester in grand style- BY GRADUATING with his master's degree. Joe and I are both extremely proud of him! This is Joe's father (obviously in the gown) and stepmother Karen. The rest are siblings/foster siblings etc.

So, since I am officially finished with this semester, and I have several days (ahem: weeks) to resume what I was made for, becoming the lovely wife who keeps the house clean and makes delicious food. What? Don't laugh- I can keep a house...clean, well, cleanish. Have you been talking to Joe? Moving on...
This Christmas, I decided to make my loved one their christmas present. Hopefully, none of them will read this blog! HA! I am making (highlight to read)::: Ranch Pretzels, Peanut Butter Choco Truffle, Pine Bark, Orangettes and Biscottis! :::Whew, that is a lot when I type that out! Hopefully everything turns out well! I am going to share a recipe that I really questioned, but decided to try since my loving mother gave me permission to steal as many grapefruit and oranges from her house as I would like! It was trial and error at first, but they came out so lovely!

The recipe!
Orangettes/Grapefruitettes

2-3 Oranges (or 1-2 grapefruit)
2.5 cups of sugar
2.5 cups of water

Score the rind of the fruit in eight equal (ok, it doesn't have to be equal!) sections. Peel off teh rind, and with a small sharp knife (think paring knife) remove as much of the pith as you are able to. This is no joke! The first 2 oranges I used, I didn't remove enough of the pith, and I had to throw it away. I liken it to skinning a fish. You will want to skin the rind so that you can see the small circles on the rind.
The 1st batch(which I didn't do properly) The 2nd Batch (see the little circles!)


Toss the rinds into a pot with enough water to completely cover, then heat until just boiling. Strain the rinds, rinse with cold water, and repeat the boiling process. I did this twice with the oranges, and four times with the grapefruit because I read that grapefruit tends to be a bit more bitter than oranges. Once they have been properly cooked, set aside.

Combine the water and sugar in a pot and bring it to a boil. The sugar should be dissolved. Carefully toss in the rinds, and simmer for about 25 minutes. When the rinds are transulcent, carefully remove the rinds and place them on a cooling rack.


I would suggest placing something underneath in case the sugar mixture drips off. From this point, you should dredge it in sugar, or let cool, then cover with chocolate! ENJOY! These taste almost...gummy like? It was a very surprising treat! enjoy!