Summer Vacay

As of 6:21 yesterday, I am officially on my Summer vacation.... until summer classes start that is.  It is so weird that this is going to be the first summer of my LIFE that I am not going to be going home.  Being that classes dont start until early June, it is looking like I am going to be needing a job because Lord knows these student loans are not paying themselves anytime soon (how amazing it would be if they did!).  I am so excited about this summer, school aside, I really want to try to get a little bit of traveling in so that I can see all of my girlfriends!

What's Cookin?

What's Cookin' Tonight, Good Lookin'?

Wednesday is my designated night to cook, it only seems fair since Ryan indulges me every other day of the week.  I was left baffled as to what I was going to make for dinner tonight, and then I ran across The Pioneer Woman's webpage.  She has so many yummy recipes on here that I found myself overwhelmed.... and drooling.  After mulling through all of her recipes I found one for pasta with home-made red pepper sauce JACKPOT! Ryan and I are both huge fans of red peppers, but can't do a meal without some form of protein, so I'm going to grill up some chicken and toss that in there too. If this turns out half as delicious as it looks both Ryan and I will be in for a treat! 

UPDATE: Ryan wont be back until 7 and the pasta was done at 530, heck if I'm going to wait!  I took my first bite and BAM! ZING!POW! it is delicious!

My sauce and the final product!

VOILA!

Looking Back...

Looking Back...

I am 2 finals away from being done with my first year of grad school and I cannot help but to think to myself "where has the time gone!" 5 years ago to this day, I was running through the halls of St. Joe, flailing, screaming "Seniors!Seniors!Seniors!" at the top of my lungs, before whooshing out the double doors and towards the future.  Little did I know at that time how my life would pan out, good and bad, happy and sad. I thought that high school was going to be the highlight of my life, but little did I know what a wonderful experience college would be.  Ole Miss gave me friends that are more amazing than anything I could have ever hoped for, as well as the opportunity to take part in some amazing experiences.  Looking back on how much college changed me, I cant help but to wonder what effect grad school will have. Will I meet friends 1/2 as amazing as all of my sisters? Will I make it out in one piece, diploma and licensure in hand? Will I FINALLY get to go to Orlando and see the Harry Potter theme park? I don't know the answer to any of these questions, but I'm painfully optimistic that they will all turn out to be true.  

Derby Days 2010

Roomie Love

Derby Days 2009

  

Nerd Swap

 There is only one word i can think of to describe my life: Blessed. Blessed to have amazing friends. Blessed to have an amazing boyfriend. Blessed to have a sweet little monster dog. Blessed to be kicking butt in grad school. Blessed to have so many things to be thankful for.

Summer Dreamin'

Summer vacation (all 31 days of it) is right around the corner and I find myself spending more time staring out of the window than writing papers or studying for my fast-approaching finals.  Ever since the weather began to stabilize and it stopped snowing every other day, I find myself day-dreaming about all of the fun I am going to attempt to squeeze into my meager excuse of a summer vacation. Ryan and I are going to Ft. Meyers, FL for a few days for a friend's wedding and I cannot wait.  Last time I had a half-way decent tan was when I went to the beach was with whats-his-face and I am in dire need of a bit-o-color!  I'm currently trying to convince Ryan that we should make a side trip to Orlando to visit the Harry Potter theme park, but that is a work in progress.  

Snowmageddon 2011

It feels like all it has done the past few weeks is snow. Snow, snow, snow, and yes.... snow.  Being in Oxford for the past few years I had experienced snow withdrawal, I think it snowed 2 times in my entire undergrad experience.  

Oxford's "BIG" snow 2007

However, given the recent blizzard I find myself pining for Oxford and all weather conditions that fall south of the Mason-Dixon. In the past month it has snowed about 19 inches, enough that even my tallest Wellies could not survive taking Gus out.  Let me tell you something on a side note, potty training a puppy in blizzard-esque conditions is one of THE most frustrating things I have ever experienced. Gus expressed his disdain for the weather by peeing in my room in addition to every room in my house.  

Moping aside, there were a few perks to the weather:

#1: Class was cancelled Tuesday and Wednesday, giving me a 2 day school week. Yes.

#2: Ryan got off of work for 2 days and got to stay home and entertain me and play with Gus

Ryan, Gus and I

#3: Snow ang- i mean Devils, and lots of them!

Ryan's Snow "Angel"

#4: Venturing into the haze to get beer, only to be blind-sided, and not to mention body checked, right into the snow. 

Kirsten and I, assaulted roadside by Ryan and Diddy

#5: Waking up at noon and making hot coco with peppermint schnapps/watching The Bachelor (boo crazy Michelle) with Kirsten

#6: Mind your gag reflex, but Eskimo kisses!

So all in all, I guess I don't have much to complain about. Yes, driving in the snow sucked and I was perpetually frostbitten, but I got to spend extra time with my friends and had a lot of fun!

Gus-sicle!

Today marks the 2 week mark of me being a momma, and let me tell you that it has gotten immeasurably better! Gus is sleeping through the night now and is starting to actually ring the bells to let me know when he needs to go out!  However quickly he is learning I think the snow is slowing down the process because he is not a big fan of the cold!  Good thing that he has his lovely Burberry-esque poncho to make it through these cold months!

The Love of My Life

Ever since I was a little girl I grew up thinking that the love of my life would be tall, dark and handsome.  However, I have come to find that the love of my life is quite the opposite, short, freckly and wrinkly as all get out!  Meet Gus, my 8 week old Boston Terrier/French Bulldog lover boy!  After years of wanting a little monster of my own I finally got one this past Wednesday (1/5/2011).   Gus is the sweetest little man I have ever met, and so well-mannered!  He is an old soul whose hobbies include sleeping, playing with Ryan and snuggling next to anyone who is willing to love on him.  He is incredibly smart, he already figured out how to open his crate, knows to go to the bathroom outside and he can already write his own name! That last part wasn't true, but it could be!  Being a momma to this little man is a lot of work but so rewarding, I cannot even begin to imagine not having him around!