• Life

    Best of Summer 2017

    August 31, 2017 - By 

    I can’t believe tomorrow is SEPTEMBER!! Can you? Summer always flies by, so I’m not sure why I’m always surprised. In this best of summer post, I’m sharing the highlights of the last 3 months. As I gathered up pictures, I realized this summer has been so busy. We’ve covered a lot of ground among the 4 of us. So here goes… June I started the summer by finding a penpal. You can read about that here. Our friend Julia invited us to the lake for some food and relaxation and the celebration of her birthday. Always such fun with…

  • Travel

    Historic Fourth Ward Park

    August 23, 2017 - By 

    If you’re ever in Midtown Atlanta, the Historic Fourth Ward Park is a great place to checkout. This 17 acre park which is divided into 2 sections was built on the land where Ponce de Leon amusement park used to be. There are plans for this park to eventually total 30 acres. I found this park while looking for places to check out when I was in Atlanta with Rob and I needed something to do while he was in a conference all day. I was quite impressed with the beauty and design of the park. Watching the ducks and…

  • Grilled Asian Wings
    Chicken - Dinner - Recipes

    Asian Chicken Wings

    August 17, 2017 - By 

    My family always enjoys the boneless wings that I make, but this summer I decided to try something a little different. I checked out a great grill book from the library and found lots of great recipes in in it. These Asian Chicken Wings are so delicious. They are good served with your favorite rice and snap peas or even baked beans depending on your mood. Servings: 4 Prep Time: 10 minutes plus time to marinade Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 10 chicken wings (about 2 ½ lbs) – I used the full chicken wings because I couldn’t find regular…

  • Auburn Alabama Bucket List - Here's a list of THE things to do while visiting this great college town!
    Travel

    Auburn Alabama Bucket List

    August 14, 2017 - By 

    If you’re planning to come to Auburn, Alabama, there are some really cool things to do without even leaving the area. Here’s my Auburn Alabama Bucket List of a few of the best things to do while you’re on the Plains. Roll Toomer’s Corner after an Auburn University win. Yes, we toilet paper 2 trees on the corner of campus after out Tigers win a sporting event. Now if you’re here during football season that of course is when you’ll see the biggest rollings, but folks often head to downtown for other sports when our Tigers put a W on…

  • Life

    August To Do List

    August 9, 2017 - By 

    July To Do Recap –Get more comfortable with my Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 8 Instant Camera. – I didn’t do as much as I would have liked. One day after work, I pulled it out and walked around outside and in the house trying different things. Honestly, I’m super frustrated with it. –Start exercising 3 times a week before the end of the month. Nothing like waiting till the last minute, but the last week in July we worked out at AU Rec & Wellness 4 times that week. This past week we made it twice, but that averages out to…

  • Lunch - Pork - Recipes

    Spicy Barbeque Sliders

    August 7, 2017 - By 

    This Spicy BBQ recipe is so amazing and easy. I love throwing a pork shoulder in the oven with just a few other ingredients. This time I made the BBQ and made them into Spicy Barbeque Sliders to switch it up a little. My guys love to put down some sliders and how can they help it when they are so good! Give them a try and see if you don’t agree. Servings: 18+ depending on size Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 6 hours depending on size Ingredients: 1 large onion 1 7-10 lbs. pork shoulder 1 can (11…

  • Travel

    Reasons to Love Downtown Boulder, CO

    August 4, 2017 - By 

    When Rob and I were in Colorado earlier this year we had planned to meet up with my brother and his girlfriend for dinner. We decided to meet up in Boulder, because Rob and I wanted to check it out and the place he recommended there was a brewery. We wanted to make sure we got beer from a brewery in Colorado. I mean, come on! So after enjoying a chili, windy afternoon at Coors field watching the Rockies lose to the Dodgers, we headed up to Boulder. We made a stop at the University of Colorado. Stopping at local…

  • Life

    Penpal Survey for Adults

    July 24, 2017 - By 

    Since I recently started penpalling (is that a word?), I had been on the lookout for a fun survey to send out. I couldn’t really find one that didn’t have silly stuff that kids would ask, so I decided to make an Adult Penpal Survey. I’ve enjoyed including this in my 1st or 2nd correspondence. I print 2 copies, one for me to fill out and send and another one that’s blank for my penpal to fill out and send back. Download it here: PDF Word (docx) If you would like to use the airmail border that I made click…

  • 4th of July in Gulf Shores
    Travel

    4th of July in Gulf Shores

    July 20, 2017 - By 

    This year the weekend before 4th of July we were in Baton Rouge for Rob’s cousin’s wedding reception. When we were planning it, we were trying to figure out how we could combine that trip with a short getaway for the 4th. We decided the most logical thing to do would be to stop in Gulf Shores for a few days. Rob and I aren’t really beach people so a couple days at the beach is plenty. We enjoyed just relaxing at the condo that was just a short walk to the beach. We stayed at Gulf Shores Plantation. We…

  • Visit to the New Braves Stadium SunTrust Park
    Travel

    Visit to the New Braves Stadium SunTrust Park

    July 15, 2017 - By 

    Father’s Day weekend, Rob decided that he wanted to go the new SunTrust Park for Father’s Day, so he ordered tickets online and we headed to Atlanta after church. Never having been there, we weren’t sure what to expect, so that’s why we went ahead and paid for a parking space online on our way up there. After we got off the interstate we were kind of wishing we wouldn’t have paid for parking since we found places where you can just pay cash and all of these places seemed closer than where I had paid to park online for…

  • Pine Hill Cemetery Auburn, AL
    Travel

    Pine Hill Cemetery

    July 9, 2017 - By 

    Oh how proud my Grandmother would be! My Grandmother (Wells) who raised me along with my Granddad was a genealogy junkie. She’s supposedly traced our family back to Adam and Eve. Researching our family was her main hobby and anytime we traveled she usually had to stop at a library or a cemetery to do some research. Several years ago, I decided to check out a local cemetery here in Auburn that is the resting place for many important Auburn folks. Among those include: George Petrie – Author of “Auburn Creed” as well as the father of Auburn Football who…

  • July To Do List
    Life

    July To Do List

    July 8, 2017 - By 

    June Goal Recap –Learn more about air plants and possibly get some I did some research online about air plants, but decided to wait on purchasing some for now. –Visit, photograph, and blog a local cemetery I didn’t visit a cemetery, because I remembered I have photos from several years ago when I visited Pine Hill Cemetery. I’m working on a blog post and should have that up soon, so this goal wasn’t totally all for not. –Go to the thrift store I did, but they were about to close. I didn’t realized they closed so early. Hoping to get…

  • Grilled corn with Jalapeno Lime Butter
    Recipes - Sides

    Grilled Corn with Jalapeno-Lime Butter

    July 3, 2017 - By 

    Corn is always a go to side dish for my family. So I’m always in search of ways to make it differently. This Grilled Corn with Jalapeno-Lime Butter is now one of my favorites! Servings: 6 Prep Time: 5 minutes + chill time for butter Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: ½ cup butter, softened 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced 1 tsp. fresh lime juice 6 ears fresh corn, husks removed 1 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil 2 tsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper Directions: 1. Combine softened butter, jalapeno peppers, lime juice and lime zest and shape…

  • How to Find a Penpal
    Life

    How to Find a Penpal

    June 26, 2017 - By 

    One of the things I used to do growing up was writing to a penpal from far, far away. I got to thinking earlier this year that over the summer, I wanted to try to do some penpalling again. So I began researching it. I came across several sites where those that are interested can find others interested in penpalling. Here’s a list of places you can find penpals. Penpal World – this is the one I found to be the best and easiest to use. Swap-bot Interpals Penpal Snow Global Pen Friends You can also go to instagram and…

  • West Coast Road Trip Itinerary & Travel Booklet
    Travel

    West Coast Road Trip Itinerary & Travel Booklet

    June 24, 2017 - By 

    Road tripping on West Coast is some of the most beautiful countrysides to travel. So much to see and do. From the Redwoods of California to the Cascade of Oregon, there’s tons of landscaping eye candy. Here’s our 13 day itinerary where we started in San Fransisco, CA and ended in Portland, OR. Here’s a map of our trip with many of our stops and points of interest. Click on the stars or letters on map for details. Click on each picture below to go to the post to read all about that day. Click above picture to enlarge.  Editable Excel…

  • Memorial Day Weekend at Lake Martin 2017
    Travel

    Memorial Day Weekend at Lake Martin 2017

    June 21, 2017 - By 

    This Memorial Day weekend was fun. We always appreciate the invitation from our good friends to camp out at their lake house and enjoy the sun. This year felt a little different for a couple reasons. We cooked most meals up at the house because we didn’t have all the normal gear that we borrow from the Cubscout Pack. It was also different because Drew’s friend Joe wasn’t able to get back from school, which we expected. Boys on the tube Gabe skiing Fun on the kneeboard These girls are always fun to watch while their tubing Got some great…

  • Life

    West Coast Trip:Day 13

    June 17, 2017 - By 

    Day 13 of our West Coast trip was the day we were headed home. Our flight didn’t leave till later in the afternoon, which gave us time to do something. When Rob lived out in Portland, his favorite place to shop was Fred Meyer. Fred Meyer is similar to a Walmart, but way better. It is truly a one stop shop. From furniture to groceries to name brand clothing it has it all. After having breakfast and checking out of the hotel, we headed over to Fred Meyer so the kids could see what an awesome store it was and…

  • Travel

    West Coast Trip:Day 12

    June 10, 2017 - By 

    As I mentioned before since our days were so long (in a good way) but since we covered so much ground and so many amazingly beautiful places my daily travel posts aren’t including as much detail and as many pictures as I’d like. I want to write individual posts on many of the spots on this trip in more detail with more pictures. One day when I’m caught up, I’ll go back and share more. Today’s post covers our last full day of our west coast trip. We slept later that day than any other day on trip, which was…

  • Life

    June To Do List

    June 9, 2017 - By 

    So lately, well really for a long long time, it seems I’ve been all about travel here on the blog. I love sharing our travels with you but those posts take so long. I take way too many pictures, which have to be edited. Then, I have to gather info and write. Ugh, I get exhausted just thinking about it. However, I really want to share more of me and more of what’s going on in my life and in my head. There’s been a few really inspiring posts lately of folks that shared their June Goals or To Do…

  • Day Exploring Mount St. Helens
    Travel

    West Coast Trip:Day Trip to Mount St. Helens

    June 3, 2017 - By 

    On July 4th we rose early to make our way to Windy Ridge Viewpoint at Mount St. Helens. I can’t tell you how hopeful I was that we’d be able to see this mysterious mountain that I’ve visited twice, but only seen for short spurts from a far and saw for literally 30 seconds last time we were at Johnston observatory. The other times we’ve been to Mount St. Helens we weren’t able to get to Windy Ridge because the road was always still closed. (Map) The day started off quite overcast in Portland as it usually always does, but…