Fall Ya'll

My apologies for the post title. I know that phrase is like nails on the chalkboard for some.

A few sure signs fall is in the air.

Fall rugs,

 fall centerpieces,

autumn mix,

 and last, but certainly not least, football. We were back here, just like last year, and the year before that.

The hair's a little longer, but not too much else has changed. Except for instagram filters. Didn't have that in 2010.

 Me with Zack Morris.

 Thank Goodness MS showed up.

 At a billion o'clock, or 8, we headed to the stadium.

 Cute date.

 While not much has changed at the tailgate, sorority houses on campus now each have their own zip codes. It was not like this while I was there. Nor was our football record.

 Come to think of it, my high school dress code lightened up immensely when I left. I sense a theme...

  Another W. RTR:)

Wordless Wednesday

Friday Favorites

Do you like clean hair? Do you like a refreshing beverage? This edition of Friday Favorites might just be up your ally.

 Kirkland Signature Shampoo
I saw this and was tempted to try it, but was nervous to buy a liter of shampoo that I had never tried. God forbid I try anything without reading 34 reviews online. So I did. And I was pleased with what I found. As a summary, people were all, "RUN RIGHT NOW AND GO BUY THIS SHAMPOO AND IF THEY EVER STOP MAKING IT I WILL DIE." People aren't dramatic at all.

I really like it. It lathers really well, it has a good smell, but not too strong, and it makes my hair behave. Not to mention I don't have to buy shampoo until St. Patrick's Day.

Bonus: It's sulfate free. Read: Really good for your color treated hair.
Double bonus: The liter is $9.99. Read: Really good to pay for said color treated hair.

Word on the street is this is made by Pureology. I cannot confirm or deny this rumor.

Kirkland Signature House Blend
MS is a little bit of a coffee snob. A drop of Folgers has never entered our house. There's a lot of mocking when the "Best Part of Waking Up" commercials come on. All that to say, I was surprised when he wanted to try the store brand.

It is good. Very good. And, if you feel like going through the extra effort and grinding the whole beans, it's very, very good.

Now that is the best part of waking up.

Bud Light Lime A Rita

I grabbed this last weekend wanting something different to sip on during the game. Don't be alarmed if you google it and it says its a "lime flavored malt beverage." Though disheartening in description, it really tastes like a beergarita to me. And you know how much we like those at our house.

Maybe these are the best part of waking up? At least on game day.

Have a drink, wash your hair and be glad it's Friday!

Today

I heard this a few weeks ago, never mind where, and it has popped into my head time and time again.*

This is the beginning of a new day.

God has given me this day to use as I will.

I can waste it or I can use it for good.

What I do today is very important because I’m exchanging a day of my life for it.

When tomorrow comes this day will be gone, forever,

Leaving something in its place I have traded for it.

I want it to be gain, not loss, good, not evil,

Success, not failure, in order that I shall not

forget the price I paid for it.

I am a sucker for a good quote. I used to have a quote board in my office.(It was an excellent gauge of my mood that day. May be why I got rid of it....) I especially love one that makes you think, and this one was timely for me.

 

In the midst of work, working out, cleaning, church, friends - what am I truly exchanging today for? In other words - what am I investing in today? Is what's left in the place of today something of value? After all, its the actions, comments (even the ones under my breath) and attitudes I choose on a stressful Monday or a boring Wednesday that make up the months, and the years. 

Makes you think, huh? 

 "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

*This is not a Bear Bryant quote. I promise, you can google it. So don't let it deter you if you cheer for that other team.

Spicy...

 It's cold and rainy here in Birmingham. Fortunately, I had the foresight to take pictures of a hot and spicy tailgate recipe to share.

This recipe is super easy, super fast and super good. It was gone by the time Alabama scored the 3rd or 4th touchdown.

Jalapeno Cheese Squares

1 lb. mild ground pork sausage

1 12 oz. jar jalapeno slices, drained and patted dry

8 oz. Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

6 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 c. milk

1 t. garlic powder

¼ t. pepper

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until sausage crumbles and is no longer pink.  Drain.

  Spread jalapeno slices in a lightly greased 13x 9-inch baking dish.  Top with sausage; sprinkle with cheese. 

  Whisk together eggs and next 3 ingredients.  Pour over cheese.

  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until set.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Cut into bite-size squares. Serve warm.

Note:  To make this recipe ahead, bake as directed; let cool, cover, and chill up to one day.  Reheat at 350 degrees for 15 minutes; let stand briefly and then cut into squares just before serving.

 

I was too hungry to remember to take a picture of the finished product, but trust me, it was good. You can rinse the jalapenos if you don't want them to be quite as hot, and use hot sausage instead. Express yourself.

I Go Back

We all have songs that always take us back to one event or period of time. One of those popped up on the satellite radio the other night and I thought, 'I should write a post about this', and in a nutshell, this post was born.

 Let's go way back with numero uno.

1.  Dixieland Delight
Takes me back....to the days of band parties and swaps. To this day, when I hear it, I text one of these girls, "Spend my dollar...."

2. Say

Takes me back....one of our first "I love yous". Sweet memories...it's OK if you roll your eyes.

Sometime in that time period roughly a million years ago....

3. Everlasting God

Takes me back....to a rough time. Ironic, because it's so upbeat, and so I love that I can still listen to this, enjoy it and reflect back on a time where I learned the hard way strength will rise as you wait upon the Lord.

4. All the Right Moves

What? This one (OK, two are three) hit wonder isn't on your playlist? It was on mine at the end of this run.

Which leads us to this day, and this song.

5. You are the Best Thing

Love every line of this song. It makes me so happy!

6. Tonight is the Night

Also on my running mix, and started playing on the last homestretch of Mercedes this year, running down 20th street. Was one of my best half times, and always makes me run just a smidge faster when it comes through my headphones.

And there you have it. A few favorites from my 20s...which are slowly slipping away. Wishing you a weekend of good music and good memories!

It's Monday

It's Monday. All. Day. Long.

But life could be worse. Exhibit A.

After a successful ACL repair in July, we ran into some complications after the move. Mainly, swelling that left Namath's normally svelte leg, looking a little more like this.

So the vet, whom we are now on a first name basis with, put a drain in. When I went to pick him up, the conversation went something like this:

"Are you sure you want to take him home? There's no bag on the end of the drain."

"Huh? Where does it...drain?"

"The floor."

Despite the warning, I loaded him up and took his formerly swollen and now leaky self back to my new floors. Which should answer Van Halen's age old question, "How Do I Know When It's Love?"

Putting this cone around his dome has really amplified the snakes living inside. He's been a JOY to deal with.

 But, we love him still the same.

 Only time will tell if the feeling is mutual....