A post Jackie-Eats would be proud of... :)

As many of you know, I love to cook. My friend Jackie has a wonderful blog of her culinary adventures. And she posts some pretty great recipes! Now, I usually don't have much time to cook these days, so anything quick and easy, or just pop in the oven and go is really helpful!

Jackie blogged about how to use up potatoes that you don't know what to do with and I made my own version of these yummy steak fries!

I cut and cooked my steak fries as Jackie recommended. See her version here at Jackie-Eats! But I seasoned mine a little differently. I coated my fries in salt and a tiny bit of black pepper, then I covered them in Cayenne pepper. I love, love, love spicy things! They were so great! And, if you needed to cool them off a little, they were great dipped in some ranch as well! My roommates enjoyed! 

Another quick and easy thing I love to make was inspired by a bunch of friends from Enterprise. Visiting some mission trip friends, their mother made us a dinner I will never forget. This dinner has become a tradition in mine and Sean's circle of friends! It is making homemade calzones and cheese sticks! YUM! However, this is more of a crowd/family fun meal, so in search of a yummy substitute I started making homemade pizza! You can top it however you like, bake it up and what a great meal! Here is a picture of my latest pizza creation:

This time I topped my pizza with cheeses, bell peppers, banana peppers, and of course used pizza sauce! I have been using a crust that you have to mix and roll out yourself, note the imperfect circle... :) So I am thinking of experimenting with different crusts in the near future! 

I love to eat, I love to cook. Stop by sometime and I would love to cook for you! ;)

Back in the Swing...

This weekend I was fortunate enough to help some recent graduates from the college group at my church move into their new apartment in Birmingham. It is amazing to see how God worked so perfectly in their lives. Longing to stay in Tuscaloosa, neither could find a job here or in the Birmingham area upon graduation... So they moved back to her home of Montgomery, where she was able to find a job. However, he was still unable to find a job, and greatly struggled with this fact. It all goes to show you that God's timing is perfect. She applied for and received a wonderful job at UAB and he was able to find a great job in the Birmingham area as well. Praise be to the Lord!

We were able to bring all of their stuff from Montgomery, and with the help of family and a few people from the college group get them completely moved into and set up in their new apartment. I was honestly impressed with us! And it was so nice to leave there knowing that they didn't have weeks of unpacking to deal with.

Afterwards we went to PF Changs to celebrate. I had never been to PF Changs, and if you ask my friend Daniel, everything is amazing. And, it truly was. It was a fun experience with the group and it was a great time of fellowship. I then stayed in Birmingham with Tori and visited a church with her that she was interested in attending... It was a little too big for our taste, but I know God will bless her desire to be in His house.

Newest challenge for this semester: Remember the Couch to 5k last semester? Well this semester the Wellness initiative at UA is called 'Strive for Five,' and I was chosen by my boss to be the coordinator for the entire shop. Here's a small flyer to briefly explain Strive for Five.

My couch to 5K team has now dubbed ourselves the 'High Maintenance' team and we have picked out drink and move to be our two challenges to complete. I am also trying to learn to eat healthier by incorporating more fruit/vegetables into my diet... It is amazing when you actually think about these things.. the stuff that you will notice.

Now, if you know me, you know I hate water. So drinking 40 ounces of water a day has been, well.. tough. But Monday I got out my Nalgene bottle (32 oz) and filled it up... then flavored my water with Crystal Lite. From my first sip at 6am until my last at 2:30pm I literally felt like I was drowning in water... swimming, floating even. Yes, I am ashamed to say, it took me 8 hours to drink five eight ounce glasses of water....

Tuesday was a better story, I worked hard and finished my 40 ounces by 1:30pm. And I think an hour of improvement is pretty great. HAHA. I always have to take joy in the small things. ;) So today is another challenge. I am trying plain water today... and we are going to see how far it goes. This will be my daily tasks to add for this semester....

Other than all of this... life is back in the swing. The semester has started, tests are scheduled, and homework is due. I am once again spending my days working and going to class and my nights studying. It all seems a little calmer this semester, just a little bit.. But that is because now I know what to expect. :)

Secrets

Whenever someone asks me, 'Can I tell you something, that's a secret?' the first thought that pops into my head is, 'Of course, I can, after all, I am an SAI.' HAHA. How silly, but the true importance of trust and secrecy was taught to me in my years as an SAI. Today a wonderful man at work shared a very heartwarming story with me, that I dare not share with you guys... sorry. Just know, wisdom comes in so many forms and ways, and God blesses even in the break room.

I have probably mentioned many times before that my favorite verses of the Bible are contained in Matthew 6 & 7. These first few verses are very special to me. 

Matthew 6:1-8

 ¹"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. ²"So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ³"But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. ⁵"When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ⁶"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. ⁷"And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸"So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

In a world where we are taught to 'toot' our own horn and constantly beg for attention, it is difficult for most just to worry about their own lives and things that should be kept secret. I mean honestly, think of Facebook, people put all kinds of pictures, statuses and information out onto the web that normally wouldn't be, or shouldn't be, broadcast to the world.

I have also heard the term so many times, talk the talk, but doesn't walk the walk. It is my prayer and hope that I continually walk my walk with Christ. I, being a math major, continually acknowledge that I may not have the most eloquent speech or writing skills. Being a daughter of the King, this is perfectly ok! Praise be to Him! 

We as Christians don't need to call attention to ourselves and try to be 'holier than thou'. Growing up being known as 'the Jesus girl' it was hard for people to not try to see me as trying to be better than them with my religion. And therefore, I strive for this fact, that I am in this world, but not of it, that I am a person just like everyone else.. However, I do believe differently, behave differently, and act differently in awe and wonder of my Savior who blesses me and gives me joy everlasting. 

So my challenge for you is to find your 'secret place' in which to worship and talk with the Lord. I am so fortunate to have had this challenge a few years ago and what a wonderful blessing it has been. Take time with the Lord, just for you and God... not anyone else. Because to God, no one else matters! :)

A 'greener' UA

I am so fortunate to work, live, and play at UA. What a great place. I have honestly come to believe that this is God's country. :)

However, I was surprised when I got here how easy it was to recycle. Recycling bins are literally ALL OVER campus, with multiple bins in all locations. Alabama even boasts a recycling project for tailgaters on the quad during game days. UA makes recycling EASY!

Recently while cleaning out my office, I was able to recycle years of paperwork, rather than throwing it all away. It is helpful that we do have a strong recycling department, and they were able to come over and pick up everything I had. Also, a manager and myself also have specified places at our desks for recycling. Our jobs involve a lot of paperwork, and any time I can put a piece of paper into my recycling pile it gives me a sense of satisfaction. Even all our shredded material gets picked up by the recyclers! :)

This is my recycling stack on my back desk!

Yes, I have two desks at work. It provides all the space and storage I need, and a perfect out of the way place to recycle! I usually take my stack out once to twice a week. As far as me and recycling goes... EVERY little bit helps.

Alabama is working hard to promote recycling, even through graduation. Read this article about how UA saved over 23,000 plastic bottles from landfills, just by hosting the December graduation.  Check out UA's 'green' commencement regalia!

ROLL TIDE!

Goals meeting

Today was my first 'Goals Meeting' at work. Each of the managers and office staff met with out boss on an individual basis to discuss our goals for the job. Since I am a fairly new employee, I do not have a file or any paperwork yet. So my meeting started off with, 'Your meeting is a little different because you are new... and I don't have a file for you.." and ended with, "Will you make yourself a file for me?" HAHA! I love my job! 


I thought it was amazing how much my boss values our opinions and wanted to hear our goals and discuss our jobs and our job satisfaction. I was nice to be able to tell him what I wanted to accomplish and to see what he had in mind for me. I am so lucky to have my job, and to be so highly appreciated. I am continually encouraged and commended for my work. And I know that doesn't happen everywhere. Now, with that being said, my job has had its bad moments... and all jobs will. I just know that I am lucky to have it as good as I have got it! Today my boss told me that I was 'a fantastic hire' and that I should consider becoming a 'CFO'. I am so proud to be a part of an organization that will listen to my goals and what I want to do in life, and that the management encourages me to reach for the stars! 




Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

OH! What a beautiful morning!

This morning I awakened at 4:12am and the first thing that popped into my head was 'Praise be to God for a restful night's sleep! And I get to sleep for 45 more minutes!' Seriously, that was my thought process. Have you taken time to acknowledge God in your life? Sometimes, we all forget to. And sometimes I seem to acknowledge him in the weirdest ways, and people always laugh.

I am so happy with how my semester is going right now. I have done homework, went to class, and of course pulled my usual 40 hours. AND I was even able to go to girls night with the college group at church this week! Last night I was able to cook dinner for Gabby and myself, and even watch a little American Idol.

This weekend is going to be full of fun, especially since it is my first weekend in Tuscaloosa since the new year. My Mom and Dad are coming up for the gymnastics meet on Friday, and I am really excited to see the Tide in action. We have such a great team, I know the meet will be amazing. Watching Crimson Tide gymnastics is something I grew up on. I can remember driving up some days and then sitting in the dark coliseum as they introduced the team... what a great experience. I am excited to be able to share that with my family once again.

Classes are going well, and Jordan is doing well. Prayers are still appreciated and needed, as we hope to catch her assailant and for her to regain her confidence and sense of security, as well as healing.

It is a beautiful morning, and it is going to be a beautiful day. I can't wait to have a wonderful weekend with my family, and I hope each of you have a great weekend as well!

Quiche

Last week I was able to cook a lot more than usual, and that makes me happy. I explained to a few of my friends back home that the thing I miss the most is cooking for 12 people every week. Funny story, they said they missed it too! :) So glad my cooking is appreciated.

So, my mom always cooks quiche for Christmas holidays... and quiche is something I love. It is just about the only way that I will eat eggs. I just cannot stand the texture of eggs... so, yeah, I don't eat them.

So... quiche is something that you can throw a bunch of ingredients in... just whatever you like! I chose to put ham, cheese, and fresh bell pepper in mine. This picture is before baking, just so you can see all of the ingredients. I layered mine and then poured the wet ingredients over the top... However, I do feel that it would work if you mixed all ingredients together and poured into the pan.

It is easy and I was actually able to just put together what I had and it turned out to be a great meal. I love easy comfort food. I love trying new recipes, and I love to call on my ultimate cookbook, my mom. She can just throw stuff in a pot and it turns out to be great... This was my first time making quiche and I was so happy with how it turned out. Now, quiche may seem like girlie food, and maybe it is. But I believe that this is great as any meal, from breakfast to dinner. Just choose hearty ingredients or light ones depending on your mood and time of day. 

Cooking truly one of my favorite things to do!

First day of Spring 2011

Yesterday was my first day of classes for Spring 2011. After much anxiety and heartache about starting it was finally time. I was deeply worried that this semester will turn out as horrible as last semester truly was; that I would be stressed beyond belief, too tired to stay awak in class, and just overall weary and unhappy.

Matthew chapters 6 and 7 are some of my favorite Bible passages.

25"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

Praise be to the Lord! I went back to these familiar verses and passages and was able to calm my heart and soul. Also, as my theme verse for this time in my life is Jeremiah 29:11, I have been reminded of a verse I treasured throughout my earlier teen years...

9"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

What powerful verses God has given to me through this time in my life. Isn't His LIVING word amazing??

So yesterday I started my routine all over again. I got up at 5am, got ready, packed my lunch and left for work. (This hasn't changed the past month, and I am so blessed to have such a great job!) 6am greats me with so many wonderful men who I am so lucky to work with and for. It was our first 'normal' day back from the weather and the office and shop was buzing. I then left at 10:30am to go to my 11 o'clock class. It was great! The professor is so much more organized than my professor from last semster in the first half of this course; and he seems to have a great since of humor. After class I then returned to work for another two and a half hours before leaving at 2:30pm to go to my next class. This class seems to be a relatively simple class, and we shall see how it goes. My interpretation of Chinese accents has been greatly strengthened through my time here in Tuscaloosa.. something I never thought I would end up saying. And this will be my Monday's and Wednesday's.

My schedule seems to be a bit calmer this semester.. even though I start every day at six I am done with school and work by 4:15pm! Hooray!! So my nights again will be filled with homework, and I am making the most of this time without it. But God has truly calmed my heart about this semester, and I know that I am working toward His plan. I am so thankful for all He has richly blessed me with!



Prayers Needed

Please pray for one of my dear friends. She is a senior at Troy this year, and has been in the band with me and we became close my senior year. Last night, after she got off work she was abducted from outside her home and stabbed 15 times. She was then dropped off at a house in Bullock County. Praise be to the Lord on high that she was able to find someone and get help. She is now in a Montgomery hospital in stable condition. Please pray for her, her family and her friends. I know crazy people act stupid and have bad things happen to them, but she is a great girl, who doesn't drink, and was just getting home after a long night of work. All prayers and thoughts are greatly appreciated.

2011 College Retreat

I am so fortunate to be considered a part of the amazing college group at Ridgecrest Baptist. This past weekend we had a college retreat in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN. We had a wonderful time in our cabin, named Renewed Spirit. This was the theme of our weekend. Renewal, before school starts and life gets even crazier. This is the beautiful view of the mountains behind our cabin on our mountain. Now that was scary! Traveling up the icy roads in the church bus! When parked in downtown Gatlinburg there was so much ice the bus was sliding out of it's parking spot!! But the majesty of the Lord was all around us... what a beautiful place to workship!

We were able to go to Ober Gatlinburg on Friday and were actually snowed in and couldn't leave the mountain on Thursday! We had a great time running around the mountain and sledding down the icy roads. It snowed the entire time we were up there, and we thought we might not be able to make it home yesterday. Well, we changed our plans and left earlier in order to beat the weather to Tuscaloosa.

We made it back to Tuscaloosa just in time to see the roads piling up with ice and many cars in ditches. My car was a popsicle!! All the rain that was falling was freezing and piling up on the roads, so of course our cars were covered in the ice. I was able to use my ice scraper to clean everyones' windshields. What a sight!! It was neat to see... but I am glad it doesn't happen that often!

So, now I am sitting and waiting to go in to work. Everyone is freaking out in the south and even Troy has cancelled classes. HAH! You can tell we don't have weather like this much in the south.

The University of Alabama employees are expecting a delayed start, but we will know for sure around 10am. That is when we are all going in. :) So, have a safe and wonderful Monday! If you must get out, drive slowly and be careful! Especially on bridges!