A Little Weekly Re-Cap Of Random Odds and Ins

-Alive After Five got over ruled last night due to inclement weather so we went to Nolan Kitchen and then to Brazwells! Brazwells is a new pub on Montford Ct.. Excellent atmosphere and fun people! A younger crowd. Definitely a place to try on a rainy Thursday night. Nolan kitchen is a great little spot for a glass of wine and fried zucchini chips!

- Set my coffee cup on the trunk of my car Wednesday as I went to get my keys out of my purse. Found my keys and pushed the trunk button to put my computer in the back…sure enough, the coffee went everywhere - and being the person I am (thanks to my father!) I immediately hit up the AutoBell!

- Going to the lake again tomorrow with friends! The sun, water and a beverage in my hand will cure any rough week. (This was the first full week I have worked in three weeks)

- Went Monday night to the cheer gym with Leann to do some of my clinical observation and it took me back to the gymnastics days as a kid. Oh how I wish going to gymnastics was all I had to be concerned with in life!

- Tried a new recipe which turned out to be one of my favorites: Very Easy! Give it a try!

Whole Salmon “Slashed and Stuffed” with Basil Butter

Ingredients
Olive oil, for grill
Compound Butter:
2 bunches fresh basil leaves, divided
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 (4 pound) whole salmon, cleaned and scaled
2 lemons, cut into wedges
Extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt

Directions
Begin by preheating a large outdoor grill. Using a paper-towel folded in 4, wipe down the grill with olive oil to clean it and also create a nonstick surface.
Prepare the compound butter by roughly chopping 1/2 the basil leaves and adding it along with the butter and salt and pepper, to taste, to a food processor. Pulse until fully combined and creamy.
Using a chef's knife, make slits in each side of the fish, place a few slices of lemon and basil in each of the slits. Stuff the remaining herbs and lemon inside of the fish and head. Paint the whole fish with the basil butter and refrigerate the remaining butter to serve with the finished fish. Carefully place the fish on the grill and grill for 10 to 12 minutes until it lifts off easily - use 2 large spatulas. Turn the fish over and grill for 10 minutes more. Serve on a large platter family style and dot with the remaining basil butter. Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh basil leaves. Serve with lemon wedges.

Another Reason To Love Charlotte!

I know what I am doing for lunch tomorrow!

This year marks the 11th Year of the Annual Taste of Charlotte Festival! Taste of Charlotte allows you to go downtown and try all kinds of foods from over 40 different restaurants in the Charlotte area! Not only is there amazing food, but live music on two separate stages, comedy acts, dancing, and ice cold “beverages”!

Admission to the event is free and while inside, you may buy cups of coins to be used at the restaurant tents for food samples and drinks. There is a Market Place with vendor booths as well as Tavern at the Taste. Tavern at the Taste is presented by Blue Moon Brewing Co serving over 12 different brews.

The festival is open rain or shine on Friday, June 5th and will go through Sunday, June 7th! It’s located in uptown Charlotte on Tryon Street and spans 5 blocks from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd to 6th Street.

All restaurants are entered into the Best of the Taste Competition. Judges spend a few hours on Friday afternoon sampling over 100 menu items to determine the winners. (I have to figure out how to become a judge!) The Winner of each category receives the Silver Platter Award. Look for the Silver Platter displayed in the Restaurant’s booth throughout the weekend and in their restaurants throughout the year.

Below are some of the restaurants and items that Taste of Charlotte 2009 will be serving up to its guests – these are the ones I will not miss this year!

BlakFinn American Saloon: Classic Beef Slider, Cookie Slider, Campfire Hog Wings
Boneheads: Skewered Shrimp & Rice, Lemon Herb Piri Chicken & Rice, Fish & Rice
Brixx Wood-Fired Pizza: Spinach Artichoke Dip, Chicken Penne Pasta, BBQ Chicken Pizza
Caffe Siena: Chilean Sea Bass Cake w/ Curry Aioli, Black Bean & Corn Quesadillas, Braised Lemon Chicken w/Couscous
Caribbean Hut: Beef Patty, Jerk Chicken w/ Rice & Peas, Curry Chicken w/ Rice and Peas
Chen’s Bistro: Sesame Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken Sticks, California Roll
Dilworth Neighborhood Grille: Crab Cakes w/ Aioli Dipping Sauce, Chicken Spiedie Sandwich, Pizza Frites
Dixie’s Tavern: Red Beans & Rice, Cajun Pulled Pork Sandwich, Death By Dixie Brownie w/ Ice Cream
FlatRock Grille: BBQ Shrimp, Hickory Glazed Salmon, Key Lime Pie
Matt’s Chicago Dog: Gourmet Vienna Beef Chicago Dog, ¼ Pound Italian Sausage, German Bratwurst
Outlaw BBQ: Beef Brisket Slider, BBQ Slider, Rib Sampler
RiRa The Irish Pub & Restaurant: Guinness BBQ Wings, Potato Cakes, Shepherd’s Pie
Sticky Fingers RibHouse: 3 Bone Rib, Smoked Wings, Pulled Pork Slider
Village Fudge & Candy Shoppe: Fudge, Bloomin’ Apple, Strawberry Chocolate Dipper
Village Tavern: Shrimp Bayou, Chinese Chicken Salad, Crab Cakes with Tartar Sauce

I might just have to go everyday !

So Funny I About Wet My Pants !

The sport of shin kicking has been around since the 17th Century. First established by Robert Dover in 1612. Shin kicking unfortunately died out in the early 1900’s, although I can’t imagine why? It was reborn in 1951 at Chipping Camden, England. Although the games are not quite as brutal as the earlier versions, I’m sure players are secretly rejoicing that they now prohibit iron capped boots. Players used to prepare for the games by smashing hammers into their shins.

The London Olympics may be still three years away. But in the rural parts of the west-country a humble community is keeping a local tradition alive. However, these sports most certainly will not appear in the Olympics.

Dover's Hill in the English West country recently played host to the time-honored Costswold Olimpicks.

The games feature a variety of unusual disciplines. Including the tug-of-war and the wheelbarrow race. But, the highlight for most is the bruising sport of shin-kicking. It's been a while since I've seen a good shin-kicking.

This game requires strength, technique...seriously, and of course a good pair of legs. The idea is to kick your opponents shins until you literally leave them without a leg to stand on.
The harder you hit, the more likely you are to win.

Here is a sneak peak of the Championship in 2008

Watch Shin Kicking Championship 2008 and more funny videos on CollegeHumor

Who Share's Your Birthday ?

So yesterday was another day on the “funny farm.” If I could only allow each of you to be a fly on the wall in the office, you would honestly think you were watching an episode of “The Office”. It gets comical in here sometimes because we all sit SO freakin close together. Un-luckily, I have a corner desk that faces the entire floor so I have a grand view at all times. I could tell you what everyone’s kids had for lunch today, whose wife went to get an overpriced manicure, whose dog broke through the shock collar this morning, who hasn’t done laundry in three weeks, whose wife made him watch the Hills etc. etc. I could imitate any of my coworkers because I have to watch their every move for nine hours a day. Scary (and Sad)!
Anyway, it was a normal afternoon yesterday and we got on the discussion of who in history we shared our birthday with. (Don’t ask how we got all the way there; another story for a rainy day!)
We all hit up Wikipedia and immediately the comparisons started flying! I was very impressed with my findings and very proud to have a birthday on February 6th! Blair and I share our birthday with some pretty influential people!!! Check it out below!
I also now know the theme for our 26th birthday based off of a holiday observed in Jamaica! Get excited sister!

BIRTHS
1665 – Queen Anne of Great Britain (d. 1714)
1732 – Charles Lee, General in the American Revolution (d. 1782)
1895 – Babe Ruth, American baseball player (d. 1948)
1911 – Ronald Reagan, 4oth President of the United States (d. 2004)
1940 – Tom Brokaw, American news anchorman
1945 – Bob Marley, Jamaican musician (d. 1981)
1984 – Blair Higgins Howard, Sister (ha)

HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES
Bob Marley Day in Rastafarianism (Jamaica and Ethiopia)
Waitangi Day (National Holiday) in New Zealand main holiday in New Zealand – also called New Zealand Day.

Who shares your birthday?!

The Universe is the stage on which you dance, guided by your heart.

No longer is art limited to painters and musicians. Each of us in an artist, endowed by our Creator with skills and talents that can make our world a more beautiful place. Every good mom is an artist, molding her children as a creation of God. Every teacher makes a mark on the young people in his or her classroom. Every ethical businessperson leaves a legacy of people seeing God through his or her careful and honest work.

The artist’s mandate five essential components of life-artistry:
Get great at something

Do something with that talent

Invest yourself in things that will last and that others will benefit from

Work for an audience of one, because sometimes our best work is seen only by God

Finish what you start


If everyone is an artist then life itself is a grand work of art.

What are you creating?

We all long to be great at something because God who created us is an artist, and we are created in his image. The problem is many of us are trying to get great at the wrong things – and some of us are trying to get great at everything. We battle to become great at so many things that it seems like we focus on things in which we are not proficient to the exclusion of that one thing that is really our gift. We will have the opportunity to be good at many things in our lives, and most of the time “good enough” really is good enough. But in a few areas of our lives, God really does equip and call us to be great.

A little reflection:

Every day we have the opportunity to apply this principle. We have the opportunity to get great at something and to narrow the focus of our effort in every decision that we make.

What are a few things that you do well?

Which of those do you feel has the most influence on others?

Which of those do you have to manufacture energy to accomplish?

How can you narrow the focus of your life to the one with the most influence?

What would it take to be great at that one thing?

I need to go to Salads Anonymous

I have a problem. I have become addicted to “Blain’s Special Salad.” Recently, I got so tired of always making a single vegetable to go on the side of a meat for dinner. I could not possibly force another turkey sandwich or bowl of soup down my throat for lunch and it was not an option to spend $10 to walk up the street to Quizno’s to get a sandwich that would be soggy before I could get back to work. One day after work I pulled a stupid move – I went to the grocery store hungry. At least while I was there, I controlled myself enough to stay on the outside isles as much as possible (otherwise I would have come back with a cart full of Sun Chips, Goldfish, Cereal and Oreos!). Being as hungry as I was, I loaded my cart with one of everything from the produce and cheese isle. I then had a coupon for Ken’s salad dressing and one for any Ocean Spray brand product. While on the dressing isle I came across two of the most amazing concoctions! Ken’s Lite Accents Asian Vinaigrette Dressing and Ken’s Lite Accents Honey Mustard Dressing. They both are unique, light and to die for!
Using my Ocean Spray coupon I purchased a bag of Craisins. (Honestly at the time I thought I was buying a bag of raisons!)

I then proceeded to the isle to buy almonds when I ran across a bag of pumpkin seeds. I remembered as a kid how much I liked these so I JUST HAD to buy them! (My stomach was definitely talking over my head at this time because these little suckers were not cheap!)

I checked out and headed home. As soon as I walked in the door, I had to have a bite of everything! You know how it is when you buy something new from the grocery; you want just a taste of it all before putting it up! I made two small salads (one for each dressing! Ha) with just about everything I bought. Immediately I was addicted. This was not like any other salad I had ever had. They had unique taste thanks to several special ingredients! Since this day I have had a salad of this sort at least once a day – always with a new twist or kick. This salad has repeatedly taken over that turkey sandwich or bowl of soup for lunch. Some days I will load a scoop of tuna on top while others I will cut up a piece of chicken breast! The sky’s the limit!

What makes this salad so great? Several special ingredients marked with an **

Baby spinach leafs
Baby Portobello mushrooms
Chopped Carrots
A small cucumber sliced
Yellow onion
Baby roma tomato
Sprouts
Athena Feta Cheese crumbled **
Craisins OR pumpkin seeds **
Ken’s Lite Asian Vinaigrette OR Ken’s Lite Honey Mustard Dressing (both are sprays) **

Try these three/four ingredients on your next salad and you won’t go back to that bag salad ever again!!!

"Diamonds Are Forever" (ha, love you lady!)

Too-Tall and Smashley
Their getting hitched! 191 Days to go!

Two of the most precious people in the world are getting married on December 5th, 2009 and I am headed to Raleigh, NC on Saturday to celebrate their engagement!

Ashley is one of my sorority sisters from NC State and Paul is a friend from high school (who also went to State)! Together they are amazing!

On their wedding website Ashley gives me credit for “How They Met” but I will have to say that I just introduced them to each other and they did all the dirty work from there!

I love it when two of my friends get together which makes the wedding day even more special! (Which side of the church do I sit on?! – ok don’t be crazy, girls always stick together!)
A little info about them and the big day….

About Ashley:
Ashley was born on September 2nd, 1985 in Raleigh, North Carolina and Garner, NC. Ashley attended NC State University and graduated in 2007 with a B.S in Biochemistry and Chemistry. She works now as a manufacturing associate at Biogen Idec.

About Paul:
Paul was born on February 23rd, 1983 in Raleigh, North Carolina and grew up in Pfafftown, NC. Paul graduated from NC State with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2005 and a Masters Degree in Structural Engineering in 2007. Paul works for The Steel Network as a Structural Engineer in Raleigh.

When They Got Engaged and How It Happened:
December 20, 2008 – Paul and Ashley decided to take a trip to Myrtle Beach for the weekend. Paul woke Ashley up early Saturday morning to watch the sunrise on the beach. After complaining for 15 minutes, Ashley reluctantly got up. They went out on the beach and sat down and before Ashley could fully open her eyes Paul had dropped down to one knee and proposed!

About the Big Day:
Paul and Ashley will be celebrating their wedding in Garner, NC at Aversboro Baptist Church. The reception will follow at the Grand Marquies Ballroom.

ASHLEY'S ATTENDANTS

Lauren Vincent , Maid Of Honor

Tammy Boyette , Bridesmaid

Leslie Resnick , Bridesmaid

Ashley Leadon , Bridesmaid

Jackie Pate , Bridesmaid

PAUL'S ATTENDANTS

William Lackey , Best Man

Matt Lackey , Groomsman

Lance Bullard , Groomsman

Tim Bell , Groomsman

Justin Partin , Groomsman

Jeff Vaughn , Groomsman

A Must Read!

I finally finished a book! Better Single Than Sorry: A No-Regrets Guild to Loving Yourself and Never Settling. Ok, so it might sound cheesy but honestly one of the best books I have ever stumbled across. I was in Barnes & Noble back sometime in early 2007 and this book had just come out. At the time I was in a very “weird”, on and off relationship, but something drove me to buy it. I brought it home, read through the first couple chapters, (maybe going over the words more then I was taking in the information), put a bookmark in it and set it on top of my night stand. From the top shelf of my night stand it slowly made its way to the floor and under my bed. (Must have just grown legs and walked away J) The book made two other house moves with me in the time being and ended up once again on the bottom shelf of my nightstand at Eastover. As I was doing some cleaning several weeks ago, it caught my attention. That night I snuggled down in my bed, pulled out the old bookmark and started the book all over from the beginning. I couldn’t put it down. EVERYTHING made perfect sense. It was like I was sitting there talking to my smartest best friend and she was telling me exactly what I needed to hear. “She’s so right,” I kept saying to myself. “That’s so true.” “Why didn’t I see it?” These phrases were coming up over and over again within me.

The information I was reading wasn’t some new found discovery that Jenn found cave searching in the desert. Honestly, it was all very basic but it just takes reading it over and over again for the concepts to sink in. These concepts that were being stated through this book were things that women in every stage of life need to have repeated to themselves daily.

Let's be honest. No woman really wants to be alone for the rest of her life. But does being alone mean you're doomed to be miserable forever? Definitely not! And does being single have to equal lonely? No way! You can have the best time of your life when you're single, but you wouldn't know that from our relationship obsessed society, where celebrity magazines devote the majority of their content to who's dating whom and the wedding industry is a $100-billion business. Yet more than a third of marriages end in divorce, and countless other couples languish in unions that shouldn't have happened in the first place.

Don't become a statistic—love yourself and never settle!

Jen Schefft knows that better than almost anyone. In 2003, she got engaged in front of millions of people on television's The Bachelor, only to see it end nine months later when the relationship just wasn't right anymore. A year later, she turned down an engagement on The Bachelorette, and the backlash was relentless. She was labeled a "spinster" by a celebrity magazine, and a noted national talk-show host remarked that she would be "a bachelorette for the rest of her life."

This is a terrible message to send to the millions of sensational single women out there, and in Better Single Than Sorry Schefft makes it her mission to let women know that it's better to be single than to be in a relationship that doesn't make you happy. With testimonials from women of all ages—single, married, in committed relationships, with children (even single moms) and without—this book tells you how to let go of your fear of being alone and how to love yourself and never settle for a relationship that is anything less than you deserve. (You will find one you deserve!)

Written in a conversational style, as if talking with your best friend, Schefft helps you navigate the pressures of a culture that places an unhealthy importance on being in a relationship and shows you how to find happiness in work, home, and the simple pleasures of everyday life. Above all, she shows you how it's far, far better to be single than sorry. Being single is a time to have fun, learn new things, grow, and blossom—not a time to feel desperate or depressed, so cherish it!

This book isn’t here to tell you that you should be single forever – It just gives you some insight on what to focus on when choosing your relationships and how to make the right choices!

Suggestion: READ THE BOOK NO MATTER IF YOU ARE SINGLE, MARRIED, DIVORCED…! And read it at least once every couple of months to make sure you still know what you want!

Strung together like a floating trailer park, anchored out, and getting load all summer long…

Sunday’s trip to the lake made me realize why I love living here in Charlotte!
I was out on the lake with four of my favorite diva’s in Miss. Laura’s boat. We chased away the rain to find a fabulous sunny spot at the Sandbar. There were several other boats already there so we threw out the anchor and joined them. We floated as a single boat for awhile, and as I was sitting on the front I hear “Blain, Blain!” I turned around and it was Downer, Tommy, Lauren, Christina, Brant, Ryan, and several of my favorite friends from college. A couple minutes later, another boat came with more friends from NC State and slowly our line of Wolfpack graduates was increasing! Even though Charlotte is a bigger city, and Lake Norman is a pretty large lake, there is still comfort in knowing that’s it’s possible to have friends everywhere! I don’t need to move back to Kernersville to have the small town feel! Somehow this happens even on an open lake! It’s a small world!
Overall, it was a wonderful afternoon with some of my favorite people! We all had a great time – especially Miss Resnick!! :)

Congratulations Griff!

Congratulations Griffin!

Tomorrow night Griffin graduates from Milton High School! I am very proud of him and his dreams are coming true – he will be a bulldog this fall! GO UGA! It’s scary to think that Griffin will be in college next year. Honestly, it doesn’t seem right! He is still little – he will always be little! I guess it shows me how old I am getting :(

CONGRATULATIONS GRIFFIN – I hope you can look back and completely enjoy all 4 years of high school! You have such an exciting time ahead of you in college at UGA but NEVER forget the friendships and what you learned in high school! You will be pulled in thousands of different directions in college to be someone that you are not – stay true to yourself and don’t let others influence the amazing guy that you have become! Congrats Griff! I am proud of you! You truly deserve everything in life that is ahead of you! Love you dude, Blain

And on a SIDE NOTE:
LAKE ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH THE GIRLS! Can’t wait to see all of your faces!!! I love memorial weekend!!!

Guard Your Heart

So today's post comes from an older blog post made by the pastor at my church. It can speak volumes if you really take in what he is saying. Today it just felt appropriate for many many reasons....

" I love Proverbs 4:23:
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

I always use this verse to teach about purity. Specifically sexual purity.
Ok, sure, the verse works for that.
But it applies in so many other ways.

Don't just guard your heart against lust.
Guard it against discouragement. Guard it against pride. Guard it against doubt. Insecurity. Jealousy. Distraction.

Be selective about who gets backstage access in your life.

You can't let just anyone into your world to speak into your soul.
Be careful who you share your dreams with.
Their negativity can contaminate the possibility before it ever has a chance to become a reality.

Be careful who you take advice from.
Their immaturity or ignorance might confuse the issue and create needless chaos.

Everything flows from the heart.
Put it on lock down....like Fort Knox.
You've got valuable stuff in there."

One Thumbs Up, One Thumbs Down

Last night Mr. PS came over and we tried a new recipe for dinner and watched a new movie. One of these got a thumb up in my opinion, and one got a thumb down.
Let me begin by saying how much I LOVE seafood, I LOVE to cook, and I LOVE Paula Deen…but I was a little disappointed last night after trying her Seafood Pot Pie.

Recipe: (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/seafood-pot-pie-recipe/index.html)

Maybe I was spoiled from the amazing seafood we had at the beach last weekend, but this pot pie tasted extra fishy! Mr. PS said he liked it, but I think he was just trying not to hurt my feelings! What was more disappointing was that it was expensive! All of that seafood wasn’t cheap and there were tons of ingredients! I still have so much of the mix and veggies so I am thinking about trying it again tonight but with chicken – I will let you know how it goes!

But, the thumbs up goes to the movie…’Taken.’ Excellent Movie! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/
It is at the Red Box now so if you need a cheap activity for your Memorial Day weekend, check this one out! I will have to admit though…I will second guess traveling somewhere by myself! This movie is a little reality check! You really can’t trust anyone! Kind of scary.

Moist, Mango, Commode

Three girls, Three boys, one bedroom, one bathroom, one fabulous time! I love you friends !
I’m back :( This weekend went by WAY to fast but I honestly had the time of my life. I don’t think I could have asked for a better weekend and I don’t think I have had that much fun in the longest time! I have never laughed that much in my entire life. I think we were all in such need of a vacation that no one really cared what happened! The weather was gorgeous, the seafood was fabulous, and the “beverages” were tasty! This little trip was exactly what I needed :)
Several thoughts from the weekend that Cameron, Alan, Jamie, Ryan and Dustin will all appreciate!
People watching at Revolution with Ryan
Fried seafood and crab legs
My 32 year old baseball player trying to tell me he was 23.

Haunted ghost houses on tv
Jamie’s text: “wanna do lunch or something” “ok guess not” “great answer”
Dustin and I losing our flippy floppys (honestly a mystery)
The words moist, mango, commode
Alan’s graceful pool entry for the lazy river!
My white bathing suit top and yellow bottoms! The pieces I never wear but thought it would be a great idea for the lazy river!
Dustin’s $25 bud light and his favorite waitress
The Hall’s love banana pudding
Cameron insisting Jamie sing to the neighboring hotel
Watching the sun come up Saturday morning with Dustin
Sleeve tattoos, dirty, backwards hats, hoodies, pink button ups
Someone uses the restroom sitting down!
50 feet walks on the beach with the “children”
Cameron’s tramp stamp
“Go tie a bloody steak around your neck and jump in the water”

Bright Sunshiny Day!

Yesterday was Mr. Alan Parker's birthday and it is time to celebrate! In less than two hours I am in the Honda and headed to the beach! Cameron, Alan's girlfriend, has invited a bunch of us down there to celebrate the passing of another year for this old man!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER! Get ready because here I come! This vacation is long overdue - I might need a vacation from this vacation when I come back!

Dustin and I are already celebrating!

Going To See My Muse!

The ticket is bought and my bags will be packed! I am going to see my Homey G Funk in August. This trip is loooong over due! Thanks to a little vacation day and a Friday summer day off we will have an extra long weekend to live it up! Last week in August - Muse here I come!!!! Prepare yourself for a repeat of last year!

I love you my lady!!!

A Little Obsession

So I have a slight obsession - no it’s not a pretty pair of shoes or a gold bangle bracelet. It is National Geographic! My 7th grade social studies teacher had EVERY copy of the National Geographic magazine that ever came out and instantly I was hooked. The articles and photography was absolutely amazing! I then started watching the National Geographic specials they aired on TV. The one that really got me was an episode on truck drivers in the Arctic that traveled thousands of miles on nothing but sheets of ice! That’s right, no concrete pavement! These were 18 wheeler trucks running at a normal speed but not on a road; they were over big frozen bodies of water! Obviously a very risky job! I fell in love with the photography from this show which had pictures taken from below the surface of the ice looking up on a passing truck! Ask me how the photographer did it – I don’t know, but it blew my mind! (This show is now on the History Channel!) The things that can be captured on camera are true talent! I then got addicted to other shows like ‘Man-Made’ where on each episode they show/describe/discuss different engineering marvels. Some include the Bering Strait Bridge, Channel Tunnel, Autobahn, San Alfonso Del mar, Dubai Islands, Project Genesis, and Olympic Stadiums! (Honestly, GOOGLE some of these!) Maybe this is why I did Industrial Engineering and loved working at GE Aircraft because I could watch this stuff or hours! Ask any of my past roomies…these shows and “How’s It Made” were on the top of my list! At least on those nights I knew I had the living room to myself :)
Link: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
Link: http://www.history.com/minisites/iceroadtruckers

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Yesterday was Mothers Day and God could not have blessed me with the most amazing mother in the world. Without exaggeration she is more then just my mother; she is my best friend. She has given me more then anyone else could possibly think of. She has made me the woman that I am today and with constant support and encouragement, she has and will always be a driving force behind me. I love you momma!

"Thank you mom for providing me with the stability to keep me confident, the knowledge to help me accomplish things...

Thank you, Mom for providing me with the strength to conquer difficulties, the dedication to help me grow and the enormous amount of time you spend to keep us close. Thank you for always being there to help, for always being there to understand, and for always being there to care. You are a very rare person because you put your family's needs far ahead of your own. I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you do. I want to thank you for being such an important and beautiful person in our family and I want you to know that you can depend on me for anything that you might need. I love you more than anything in the world."

Nothing Beats Family !

Good News! Granddaddy came through his surgery well and is doing fabulous!

He is at Forsyth Hospital and will be recovering there until Monday.

He's a trooper!!! Love you Granddaddy!

Oven Fries

I made this recepie last night for a cook-out we were having with some girlfriends for Anna's birthday. It was super easy and really good! It was ten times better then opening a bag of frozen french fries!

Cook Time: 35 min Level: Easy Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients
2 russet potatoes, cut in 1/2 lengthwise, halves cut lengthwise into fourths to make 16 big, fat wedges

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt

2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Preheat a baking sheet in the hot oven for at least 5 minutes.

While the baking sheet is heating, toss the potatoes with the olive oil and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Then dump the potatoes out onto a baking sheet, spreading to a single layer. Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, shaking the pan every now and then, until the potatoes are cooked through, brown and crispy. Toss the fries in a big bowl with the parsley and cheese. Serve with ketchup for dipping!

Like A Kid Again...

I have lived in Charlotte for almost two years now. I have several wonderful groups of friends who I do everything with but...you can never have enough friends! So several weeks ago I decided now that the weather is pretty I want to do more activities outside. Therefore I went online and found a group that gets together at least two or three times a week to do outdoor activities, dinner and drinks, movies and even weekend trips. This is a pretty large group so it might not be the same people for every activity. Well last night we met at 5:30 at Freedom Park to play kickball! If you live in this area you know the weather was “iffy” all day long, but at 4:00 we received a text that said “Kickball is on!” So, about 20 of us met in the drizzle by the train at the park and played Kickball for about two hours! Honestly, it was like taking it back to fifth grade again. I have never laughed so hard in my life and had the best time with 19 total strangers who I now hope to stay in contact with. I also learned something about myself last night. On my way to kickball I was on the phone with my mother. The first question she asked was, “Who are you going with?” and my response was “by myself.” My mom seemed kind of shocked. She then asked, “Do you know anyone there?” and I answered with a “Nope.” Last night I realized that I don’t need someone to hold my hand everywhere I go. I am a “big” girl. I can go someone where on my own and meet new people on my own. If I sit back and wait until I had a friend to try something new, I might never branch out. Coming from a small town, going to college where I already knew several people, and moving to Charlotte where I already had friends – I never had to seek out people to do anything. I always just called up someone I knew if I wanted to do something. Well….. Sure for someone like me it might be intimidating to walk up to a group of 20 people and not know anyone, but to be able to do that allows you to walk away with ten times more confidence. Try it! Go out and do something that you want to do on your own. You will be surprised!

Never Underestimate The Importance Of A Birthday !

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROOMIE!

This past Saturday was my roomie Anna's birthday! She was out of town this weekend but we are officially celebrating Wednesday at our apartment as we grill out with some girlfriends!

LOVE YOU LaANNA!

Pray For The Lamberths

As I was reading a blog I check frequently, I glanced at the sidebar and noticed another blog that this person follows. I clicked on it and I came across the following blog. I later found myself reading EVERY post: http://prayforthelamberths.wordpress.com/

I am almost speechless right now because never in a million years could I imagine putting myself in Angie's shoes. My heart truly goes out to her and her son Nolan.

Even though neither you or I personally know the Lamberths, every prayer counts.

In Angie's most recent post she says something that I do not think could have been stated better any other way:

"it's been said

it's hard to read my blog

because I am living many people's worst fear -

losing their husband

it was definitely

one of my worst fears too

but, honestly

not the worst of all

because I know where Mark is now

I think my worst fear of all is

losing a friend or a family member

who is uncertain

or undecided

or just who doesn't want to

give up their life for Christ

beause that's what

this life

is all about

giving up your claim to this life

and gaining it back and then some"

I'm All Shook Up !

You know when you want something so bad you can taste it?! That's me right now! More details to come later...hopefully positive, but we shall see.
Cross your fingers and just pray! I need this right now!

Bathtub II from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Using tilt-shift lenses Keith Loutit created some really neat videos that make it look like we are viewing Lilliputians enjoying a day at the harbor and zooming about on their boats…their tiny tiny model boats! Enjoy! Could have had me fooled!
Check out more of his stuff here! http://vimeo.com/keithloutit

The Things They Should Tell Us But Don't

I sit in an office that has two large flat screen TV’s on ALL DAY. I watch the News (CNBC, FOX, and Local); you name it and I see the headline all day long. I feel like I am personal friends with Captain Sully who landed the plane in the Hudson, best friends with Michelle Obama, diagnosed myself twice with Swine Flu and the talking heads on Squawk Box – they better be glad I am not in Chicago or NYC because those people are straight up rude and annoying.

Anyway, again this morning was a headline about fast food. Several months ago there was similar coverage about all the fillers being placed in fast food. To be able to hold onto the 99 cent menus with rising food prices, fast food restaurants have started incorporating even more fillers to keep the price of these “mystery” meats down. As I was discussing this with several friends, the topic of the Burger King Veggie Burger came about and surprisingly it was pointed out again today on the news. For those of you that opt for the “Veggie” burger because it seems to be healthier then beef or chicken, you might want to think twice when ordering it at a fast food restaurant. At Burger King, the Veggie Burger with cheese has more calories and more fat then:

Chicken Tenders (8pc)
Original Chicken Sandwich w/o mayo
Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich w/o mayo
Flame Broiled Hamburger AND cheeseburger
Whopper Jr. with or without cheese

Now if you eat the Veggie burger because you are 100% totally vegetarian – you still might want to think again. Found at the very bottom of Burger King’s nutritional menu in very fine prints it states:

“Burger King Corporation makes no claim that the BK VEGGIE Burger or any other of its products meets the requirements of a vegan or vegetarian diet. The patty is cooked in the microwave.”

I think I just caught something in my throat! UGH! Not only does it contain some sort of filler but it is cooked in the microwave! Enough said.

If you want to eat safe and healthy, always opt for the salad (but watch the dressing and croutons on top!)

One Of Those Songs

Many of you have asked why I named my blog "The Sweetest Thing."

I don't want to disappoint any of you when I say this because there is pretty much no creativity behind it.

The morning I started the blog, I had just returned back to my apartment on a gorgeous Sunday morning after church and the entire way home I had the sunroof open and windows down and U2 blaring "Sweetest thing." That's it. The song got caught in my head for the rest of the day and it came out through my fingers as my blog title. That's how it appeared! Its one of those addicting songs but great for warm weather riding!

"Blue-eyed boy meets a brown-eyed girl

Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing." - U2

Put Your Party Panties On!

Happy Birthday to two of my most precious friends in the entire world!
19 years of friendship - what would we have done if we never went to preschool?! (besides go to kindergarten not knowing how to use scissors! Lou knows about this one!)

Happy 25th Birthday to my little love Sarah and my Home G Lauren!

I love you girls more then you will ever know!

Party like two of the hottest rock-stars! I miss you both!

“Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not forever friends.”

Ruffles And Polka Dots To The Rescue

It's that time of year again here in Charlotte! One of my favorite activities offered here in the Queen City - Alive After 5 is back for 2009!

(Don't know what AA5 is, check it here: http://www.aliveafterfiveatepicentre.com/)

Anyways, I always seem to have a struggle with what to wear to AA5. Some girls leave straight from work and head to the Epicenter wearing their office attire. Some girls run home and throw on their "Go Out - Bar clothes." Since I get off work at 2:30 I have the time to do what I want before the festivities begin. I refuse to put back on my dress pants and blouse from that days work, but I am also not ready to put on something a "fancy" because it is only 5:30pm. Therefore, last Wednesday I made the purchase above. It turned out to be the PERFECT AA5 and dinner/drinks after work attire. I usually do not even consider pulling off items with ruffles and polka dots but I figured I need to start thinking a little more outside the box. It turns out, I could not walk 50 feet without someone stopping me and asking me where I got my dress and giving me a compliment. I was excited - SCORE!

If you want to get in on this purchase you can find it here: http://www.express.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=18670&parentCategoryId=2&categoryId=22&subCategoryId=243

Lists

Yesterday was just one of those days. Only one word I feel can explain it: Overwhelming.

I don't know what came over me but as soon as I got home after work I was mentally, emotionally and physically drained. Not sure why, but I some how felt lost.
Over the past year I had let myself fall back into such a routine that for the first time it caught me off guard and I did not know what to do with myself. The things I used to think about, plan for, expect in a day have shifted. The attention is now all on me. My time is MY time. I do what I want, when I want and I am the only one I have to worry about. I am not used to this and for some reason it is very difficult for me.
So I grabbed the mail (which, since Anna is out of town has not been picked up in two days!) and headed up to the apartment. As I sorted through the various coupons, flyer's, and bills I found two letters addressed to me! One from Raleigh and one from Galax, VA. (ps - i love "real" mail if you don't know by now. Sometimes emails, facebook messages and texts are just impersonal!)
As I opened each envelope, one from family and one from a wonderful friend....my day was renewed. Each card had a specific list in it. These specific lists brought smiles as I read through them. Each made me think deeply and appreciate this time that I do have for myself. It also made me soooo appreciate the family and friends I have been blessed with.
Thanks to those two special people for thinking of me and sending me just what I needed on this day!
Below are the two lists; each unique in their own way!

10 Simple Things to Remember
1. Love is why we are here
2. The most important day is today
3. If you always do your best, you will not have regrets.
4. In spite of your best efforts, some things are out of your control.
5. Things always look better tomorrow.
6. Sometimes a wrong turn will bring you to exactly the right place.
7. Sometimes when you think the answer is "no", it's "not yet."
8. True friends share your joys, see the best in you, and support you through challenges.
9. God and your parents will always love you.
10. For all your accomplishments, nothing will bring your more happiness than the love you find.

10 things I just wanted to let you know
1. You're the bomb
2. Thinking 'bout you
3. End of March/beginning of April was tough...but you triumphed!!
4. Warm weather is here, holler.
5. I'm still working on moving to CLT. one day....one day....
6. Matthew McConaughey has a new movie coming out!
7. It's one day closer to the weekend.
8. I love you!
9. Lots
10. And Lots!!!!

(little things mean the most!)

Highly Recomended !

Last year I purchased this bible while I was in the FAMILY Christian Store in Matthews, NC getting several Christmas presents. I received a bible when I was younger after confirmation at my hometown church, and there it still sits, back in Kernersville on a bookshelf in my room. The bible for me was something impossible to pick up and just read.
Well after attending Elevation church for over a year now, I have become eager to find out more about how the stories in the bible can relate to my everyday life. Pastor Furtick does an amazing job every Sunday with pulling out small pieces of scripture and relating them to things that are happening in the lives of younger adults. Whether it is about finances, relationships or tough times, he ALWAYS seems to hit the nail on the head with what I am experiencing at that very moment in my life. (Sometimes I wonder if he has a camera somewhere in my apartment giving him ideas about what I need to hear that upcoming Sunday!) I always walk away from Church with a new found sense of who I am and what God's purpose for me really is. It is a feeling that is indescribable. So......
I wanted more of this; more scripture, more teaching, more understanding, more of the amazing messages I am receiving on Sunday, but.... I wanted them everyday.
So there I sat, on the floor facing the 'Bible' shelf at FAMILY Christian Store thumbing through every devotional bible that claimed to be "The Best". There were bibles for Women of Faith, Women of Family, Single Women, Catholic Women, Divorced Women...you name the type of woman you are and it's out there. But as I read several devotionals out of 'Women's Devotional Bible by Zondervan they really hit home. It was not directed to a specific type of woman but really to a woman's mind and how we think. IT IS AN AMAZING BOOK! Every night it brings me the same feeling that I receive from Pastor Furtick on Sunday but I can now enjoy the lesson everyday of the week! Mission accomplished!
TRUST ME AND TRY IT!
(if you want several samples from the book to see if you want to purchase it, let me know and I can make some copies and email them to you!)

Craigslist Funnies

So the following is a post found on Craigslist in California under the 'Wanted' ads. It had me rolling on the floor! Take a look:

Wanted: Military Tank (Culver City)
Reply to: sale-jd7x2-1130740607@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Wanted: One fully functional military tank. Ideally an M1A2 Abrams model, with or without the 120mm canon upgrade—preferably with.

It is absolutely necessary that the tank feature the following: An embedded version of the US Army's Force XXI command and control architecture, new Raytheon commander's independent thermal viewer with second-generation thermal imager, commander's display for digital color terrain maps, DRS Technologies second-generation GEN II TIS thermal imaging gunner's sight with increased range, a mini-fridge, and a bathroom.

I am willing to trade my ’90 Toyota Corolla—straight across. There is a dent in the front right bumper from when I accidentally jumped the curb and hit a bike rack. That also messed up the alignment a little, so it pulls to the right now. Other than that, it’s fine. (pictured below)

I live in Culver City (right next to Beverly Hills) in Los Angeles, so I’m looking for a seller fairly close to me, as I don’t want to have to take the tank on the 405 or the 10 since its top speed is probably only 45mph.

Please respond with answers to the following questions:

•How many 120mm canon rounds come with the tank? (And do you know where I can get more?)

•I’ll be using the tank as my daily commuter. Is it registered in CA?

•Has the tank seen previous combat? (I don’t want one that’s been previously shot at or blown up.)

•How many miles per gallon does the tank get? Both city and hwy?

•Does the tank come with the optional flame thrower turret (pictured)?

•And finally, does the tank come with crewmembers? Considering I will be the commander, I will need to fill the driver, gunner, and loader positions. If the tank you’re selling comes with a crew, all the better. Though I’ll likely evaluate them myself.

Serious offers only. Thank you.
Location: Culver City
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests