So much to be thankful for.

So my family came to visit for Thanksgiving and in the four days they were here I took one picture. ONE PICTURE! And it was of Kyle and Gigi. I was too busy enjoying every moment with my family that I barely touched my phone or camera. I even left my phone in the bed for a whole day. I just didn't care about social media, I cared about spending time with my amazing family. So I will catch you up on some highlights:
1. We deep fried our turkey! My dad has done it before and Kyle was so excited! It took 42 minutes and completely freed up the oven for all the other cooking.
2. Since we don't have cable I was a little bummed about missing the Thanksgiving day parade. But my amazing SIL found it streaming for free and we hooked up the computer to the TV and enjoyed!
3. My mom and SIL did all the cooking, thank god. Everything was so delicious.
4. On Friday my dad, brother and Kyle went and picked up all the baby furniture. My mom, SIL and I went to Target and picked out all the nursery decorations. This included curtains, lamp and lamp shade, crib sheets, art work for the walls. We then went to Lowes, got a beautiful paint and got to work. Nursery reveal to come. But it would not have been possible without the help of my family. I am so happy with how it turned out! Now I just need a baby to put in the room.
5. Saturday we went to Atlanta for a showing of 'A Christmas Carol' at Alliance Theater. So much fun! Beforehand we ate at Tap, a gastropub on Peachtree St, right by the theater. Highly recommend. Watching 'A Christmas Carol' was the perfect start to the holiday season!



So there are the highlights. Such a wonderful long weekend. And I have so much to be thankful for! can't wait to see them all again at Christmas in Pensacola!

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

After I made these cookies I had some leftover pumpkin. I decided to make baked pumpkin oatmeal. I used this recipe.

• 3 cups quick cooking oats
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¾ cup canned pumpkin
• ¼ cup brown sugar (for the top)

In a large bowl mix together all ingredients except the ¼ cup brown sugar for the top.
Spread into a greased 9×13 pan.
Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup brown sugar on top.
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes

It turned out DELICIOUS. I actually cut the recipe in half, and then what we didn't eat Sunday morning went in the fridge and I reheated it for breakfast Monday. I highly recommend this for a delicious fall breakfast treat; quick, easy and tasty!

Glory, glory to tailgating season!

College football officially kicked off last weekend, but this Saturday is the first Georgia home game!! Now that we live off campus tailgating has become a little more complicated, BUT that won't stop us! We are gearing up for our game against South Carolina and making some yummy dishes to share with our best tailgating friends.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

 

Ham and cheese sliders

 

Does anyone have any fun non-alcoholic tailgating drink ideas??? I am getting desperate.

 

And since it is still SUPER HOT outside, I will be wearing one of my favorite dresses. I will admit there are some great new gameday patterns at Tracy Negoshian.

 

I'm just sad I won't have my favorite tailgating buddy with me.

 

We decided to board Gigi overnight at her vet's office. We are also going to do that for the home game against LSU. It just seems better for her because we will be gone all day.

 

Have a great weekend everyone!!!!



Saw it. Pinned it. Did it.- Simmering pot!

Steph and Katie's Link Up: "Saw it. Pinned it. Did it." is quickly becoming my new fav link up! For everyone needing a reason to actually do what you have Pinned on Pinterest this will help motivate you!!!

I have wonderful memories of my Dad putting orange peels in a pot of water and leaving it on our wood burning stove/fireplace every fall/winter. It always made the house smell so good, so when I saw this Pin I just had to make my own simmering pot. 

Oringial Pin via

Directions:

Fill a saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add the ingredients from your favorite recipe, boil for a few minutes, then turn the heat down to simmer all day. Top up water as needed.

Caution: Set your timer for 30 minutes so you remember to top up with water. You don’t want the pot burning dry. Do not leave the house with this left heating on the stove.

Recipe #1

Cinnamon sticks
Apple peels
Orange rinds
Whole cloves

I modified recipe one, because I didn't have apples. 

Boil then simmer! 

I actually use the same pot for awhile. I turn it on for awhile every night, then put a lid on it when I'm not using it. It usually lasts a couple of days.

SMELLS LIKE FALL FOR DAYS!

28th Birthday!

So this post is late, but I was too busy recovering from the weekend to finish it up. My birthday was last Friday. And my parents came in to celebrate. Aren't they too cute?!

Friday night we went to dinner at Porterhouse Grill and then hung out downtown. Had to show them Pauley's!

Saturday was Homecoming, the Ole Miss game and tailgating! The wonderful friends we tailgate with got me a birthday cake WITH CANDLES! I can't remember the last time I blew out candles. Very special!

Gigi was out in full force.

And loves my dad!

There was lots of corn hole.

Me and my mom.

Family picture before heading to the game!

My dad and I sat in some friends seats which are six rows back. We passed where the past Uga's are buried.

And since it was homecoming all the alumni come back and participate, here are some alumni cheerleaders. Precious.

After the game we headed back to the apartment to watch the LSU v. Bama game. 

Gigi looks HUGE in my mom's arms.

I fell asleep watching the game. Thanks for taking the picture mom.

It was a great birthday weekend with my family. 28 is going to be great, I can feel it.

Halloween in Columbus

Friday was fall break in Athens, and Kyle and I took an opportunity to go to Columbus, GA before some of our friends moved to Colorado. For some reason when I told people we were going to Columbus they thought Ohio, hello people we live in Georgia.

This was Gigi's first REAL road trip. I will post how it went tomorrow for tail wagging Tuesday. But this picture is so cute I had to share.

I got to see on of my favorite puppies, Miss. Penny. She is a mini Australian Shepard/ Poodle mix and is so sweet.

We were glued to the TV for the GA/FL game. This is how Gigi spent the game... sleeping. So happy the Dawgs won!

Our friends hosted a Halloween party Saturday night. Kyle and I are not the most creative when it comes to Halloween costumes. One of his students told him he should be a hipster pirate, so I became his parrot.

Gourds as candle holders, so cute. Someone has been on Pinterest.

Pumpkin cupcakes with pumpkin cream cheese frosting, so delicious! I think the recipe is from Skinny Taste.

Fire pit, so necessary! When we get a backyard I want a fire pit. My parents have one too and I am so jealous.

It was a great trip and we had a great time visiting friends. Sometimes it is nice to just get out of town for awhile. Thinking about it I can't remember the last time we left town, probably July. This morning was so much more tolerable. Happy Monday!!

Weekend Recap

What a wonderful weekend! We started off Friday night by cleaning out the kitchen (I know, super exciting). We needed to distract Gigi for like an hour, enter the famous 2 liter bottle toy! I honestly don't know why we spend any money on toys when she LOVE chewing up empty 2 liter bottles.

Saturday morning we woke up and Gigi and I had a mini photo shoot. Check out those armpit rolls! Ha!

Kyle made me pumpkin pancakes! I LOVE this mix from Trader Joe's! So good!

Then I decided to bake. Tis' the season for all things pumpkin.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

Saturday night, Kyle's friend Rich came to Athens to visit! We of course took him to Pauleys.

Then to All Good.

I was smart and put a Pumpkin French Toast Bake in the fridge the night before, so all I had to do Sunday morning when we woke up was throw it in the oven. It came out GREAT!

Delicious!

Gigi loved spending time with Rich.

Gigi had her first obedience class Sunday. She is the second youngest and the second smallest. I really like the class. I think she has sit down, but we are working on laying down now. She did pretty good in the play group before class, but in the play group after class she was much more outgoing.

Making new friends!

Man puppy class will ware you out!

Spontaneous Weekend

What happens when your best friend calls on Wednesday night and says she has Friday off and she is coming to visit? You have a spontaneous weekend!!!!! And let me say this was a much needed girls weekend. My friend Briana drove down from VA to spend the weekend with me!

We went shopping downtown... in some of the more eclectic Athens boutiques!

She rand the Chapel Bell...

We went to Terrapin....

And listened to an "interesting" band...

Then we had brunch at my favorite place in town....

I got the Crab Benedict...

She got stuffed French Toast...

Then the rest of Sunday was spent with Gigi watching TV. (Kyle and I caught up on our TiVo after Briana left, I was so excited about the season premiere of The League. Does anyone else watch this show on FX? It is HILARIOUS!)

Thank GOD for such a relaxing, laid back, easy weekend.