Chick-fil-A

Ben and I ate out tonight at Chick-fil-A. It's been a while since we've spent money on eating out, but we decided to splurge. As it turns out, all the employees at Chick-fil-A had dressed up for Halloween and right when we walked in, they were in the middle of a group picture!

The picture didn't turn out well, but you get the gist. And of course, like a kid at Disney World, I asked to take a picture with Snow White.

I felt the need to explain to her that I have a blog and thought it would be funny to post these pictures. Surprisingly, she asked for my blog address so she could check it out! So this is for you, Snow White. If you do actually check this, please leave me a comment to let me know you came!

Katelyn

Well, I had to look up the technical relationship term, but this is Katelyn, my first cousin once removed (which means my cousin's child):

I went to Springfield, Illinois this weekend with my parents to visit my grandma, my uncle Gary, my cousin Alison, her husband Dan, and their 5 month old little girl, Katelyn. Needless to say, we were all huddled around the baby all weekend! Katelyn is such a doll! She let us all hold her without fussing...

...she tried peas for the first time...

...and she gave me the "a-okay" sign!

She isn't sitting up well on her own yet, but it won't be long now. This was my first time meeting her, but I hope it's not too long before I get to see her again! Katelyn is a little ray of hope and light in a family grieving the loss of a loved one. We are all so thankful for her!

Turkey Burgers

I think I should just change the name of my blog to "Everyday Jenn" since I find myself blogging quite often about stuff she does. But dang it, my sister is just so creative and talented I can't help but blog about her! Last week, her and Scott had us over for turkey burgers.

I have never had a turkey burger, but I have a feeling most people haven't had a turkey burger like this! She puts spinach and roasted red peppers in the meat (and usually kalamata olives, but she didn't put those in this time) and cooks them on the stove.

The toasted bun had fresh basil mayo on it, and it was all topped off with feta cheese. DELICIOUS!

Jenn actually made them that night because someone from the Southeast Outlook came to her house to get the recipe and take a picture of her and the dish, and they will be featuring her in a couple weeks. Apparently they always feature a Southeast member and recipe in the Outlook, but I never even knew.

Before we ate the burgers, we did a wine and cheese tasting. Jenn had little labels for the cheese and everything. We tried 3 different types of wine- a Pinot Noir (which we brought over, a gift from the Spielbergs to my sister and brother-in-law Emma and Shanon, but they were kind enough to give it to us), a Cabernet, and a Zinfandel (all 3 red).

It was neat to taste the 3 side-by-side and really taste the difference in the types of grapes. We also had a wine wheel, which is a chart with all the different flavors and smells to look for in wine. It was fun using the wine wheel to help pick out the flavors. The cheeses were good too, but I don't remember the names. One was soft and along the lines of brie, and the other was a hard cheese.

After the wine tasting, cheese, and delicious turkey burgers, we all got in their hot tub. It was a nice, cool night, but not too freezing out, so the hot tub was just right. What a great night this was...and it was on a Tuesday!

Dad to the Rescue!

We had a leak from the shower in our master bathroom down into the garage. Dad came over and within 30 minutes, he cut a hole in the bathroom wall to reveal the little hole in the copper pipe spraying water...

...cut off the old pipe and welded on a new one...

...and patched the wall back up!

All that is left is for Ben to mud the wall a couple more times, sand it down, then repaint it. What would I do without the men in my life?

Sunday Lunch

Jenn and Scott had us over for lunch on Sunday, along with my parents. Wes and Leslie just bought a house, so they weren't able to make it...oh the joys of moving! As usual, Jenn made everything gourmet and delicious and fabulous! She got that talent from Mom...a talent I aspire to have! The table scape was all fall, and we even had name plates. Jenn made every one and they were all different and so cute!

To start, she made butternut squash soup and crispy sage leaves. SO GOOD!

The main course was a roast with carrots, turnips, and beets. Ben said after dinner that he was a little bit suspicious of eating those veggies, but afterward he loved them! Jenn makes everything wonderful! All the veggies of the season, and she brought it all together into a masterpiece. She also had baked macaroni and cheese (with spelt noodles) and rolls. The perfect, hearty meal to have on a fall afternoon. For dessert, we had the choice of cake with either raspberries or chocolate, along with hot apple cider. We ended up sitting outside with our cider because it was cool, but sunny, and a really beautiful day. Too bad every day isn't a day like that!

Early Halloween Trick?

Ben and I went downstairs to play ping pong tonight to find this on the wall:

Eeeeeeeeeeee! It was about an inch and a half long...ughhh. We have also been having bees in our house everywhere and can't figure out how they are getting in. I hate bugs!!! Is this some cruel, early Halloween trick? I hope I can sleep tonight...

Pumpkin Cake

The title just about says it all. I made a pumpkin cake from scratch (and some chili, but who cares to see a picture of that?) and took it to work Friday for our Halloween party (yes, it is 2 weeks early, but the scheduling didn't work out to have it closer to the end of the month).

It may not look that pretty, but I must say that it was frightfully delicious!

Fall is Here!

Last weekend was full of fun festivities and it finally feels like fall is here! (Wow, did I seriously just use that many words starting with "f"?) Saturday started with sleeping in, one of my favorite things. Saturday night my sister and brother-in-law, Jenn and Scott, had a fall party. It was awesome! First of all, her house was decorated so cute...for those of you who think I decorate a lot for the holidays, it's nothing compared to what Jenn does! She collects these Halloween houses, and she covered a whole table with styrofoam that she painted and covered with moss and made all different levels, where she set up the little village. My picture doesn't do it justice, but trust me, when all these houses were turned on and lighting up, it looked amazing!

On her front door is this witch that cackles and moves when you walk up...

...and then right in the entry hall are a couple of Harry Potter pumpkins! Love it!

She made jambalaya and I helped grill all sorts of hotdogs (beef, turkey, aged provolone chicken dogs, spinach chicken dogs, and someone else brought some brats). I was so proud of myself since I've never used a grill in my life. I also helped ice some sugar cookies, and Jenn made some delicious apple cider. We made a bonfire way back in the woods in their back yard and Ben said he could have just sat there forever...he loves the smell of a fire.

Sunday we went to the annual chili cook-off held at Phoenix Hill every year. My parents went with us, and we met up with my brother and sister-in-law Wes and Leslie, Jenn and Scott, and several of Jenn's friends. We must have tried 50 different chilis...but I guess I'm just a chili snob or something, because I didn't like any of them as much as I like my own! It was still a fun day though, and nice pleasant weather.

So I have to throw this in here. Ben and I went to Costco Saturday afternoon to pick up some groceries (ahh, buying in bulk...something I missed so much while we were in Germany!). On our way back, we noticed this in our neighbor's driveway and had to stop for a picture.

We hadn't met our neighbors before (they live across the street and over one), so we figured this was a good chance to do so. They had taken their grandson to Shelby County to hunt since it was 15 and under day or something, and he shot his first deer. We made the mistake of asking if they had cleaned the deer out yet, and he lifted up one of the legs to reveal that they had indeed cleaned it out and gotten the "best meat, the tenderloin right up against the backbone"...but what was left looked disgusting!

Bonfire, chili cook-off, and Bambi's mother in my neighbor's driveway. Yep, it is officially fall!

The Teapot

While I was at my parents' house on Sunday, my mom gave me back a teapot that I had given my grandmother. I had to bite my lip to fight back the tears as I held it in my hands. I had just bought the teapot in Germany when I went in November for a workshop there, and I had given it to Nana for Christmas. It's hard to believe that's the last present I would ever give my grandma. And holding it there in my hands brought on a wave of emotions in my heart. How I wish I could talk to her again, tell her about my trip to Europe...she always listened to my stories and was so involved in my life. How I wish I could play the piano for her again...she loved that more than anything. How I wish I could go back and treasure that last hug goodbye I gave her before heading to Germany...she cried because she knew it would be the last. Grandmothers hold a special place in our hearts, and when they are gone, it hurts.

But I am thankful that Nana is in heaven and I will see her again someday. I am thankful that even Jesus wept when His friend died, that He knows the sadness of death and can comfort us in our pain. And I am thankful that Jesus conquered death, rose from the dead, and is creating a place in heaven for each one of us that asks Him into our hearts.

"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

-1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Another Birthday Party

So as if the party I had in Destin with my in-laws and the fabulous night out with my sister and brother-in-law wasn't enough, my parents had a party for me on Sunday! Actually, it wasn't just for me - it was for Ben and Jenn, too, since we didn't get a chance to celebrate their birthdays with the family. It was complete with gifts, a dinner to die for, and the cutest little dessert you've ever seen!

First, we feasted - turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, asparagus, salad, a little dish of olives, tomatoes, and peppers, tea or lemonade...and did I mention that Mom is a fantastic cook?? My stomach is starting to growl...And for dessert? Individual pumpkin cake for each person!

How adorable! Almost too cute to eat...but just almost :) And did I mention that my mom made them from scratch?! They tasted as great as they looked!

On to the presents! My parents got me and Ben some assorted black, red, and tan dishes to decorate with in our kitchen, as well as gas logs for our fireplace so we can finally use it this winter! (That comes with free installation, right Dad?) My brother and sister-in-law, Wes and Leslie, gave us these cute oil bottles to decorate the kitchen with, too! Love them!

And as if Jenn and Scott hadn't already done enough, they got us a bottle of wine, and Jenn hand-painted a wine glass with my name on it! She is so creative and talented!!

She made one for Leslie, too! And if you notice in the pictures, they both have little feather skirts on them that are so cute!

One of the best parts about the day was that it was the first time we've all been together as a family since Wes and Leslie got married in August. It was great being with everyone. Wonderful food and family - you did good, Mom and Dad, you did good. :)

I'm 23!

Wednesday was my 23rd birthday...woohoo! It's funny how I felt like I would never turn 20 (the age that I thought sounded a little more reasonable at which to answer "yes" to the question "are you married?" since I would be out of my teens), and now I can't believe I'm 23! Time has flown (and people still freak out when I say I'm married, especially when they find out it has been 4 years). My parents are throwing a joint birthday party for me, Ben (his was in July, but we were out of the country and didn't celebrate it with them), and my sister Jenn (hers was 2 weeks before mine) on Sunday, so I'm looking forward to that still. My in-laws had a celebration for me at the family vacation in Florida, along with a different birthday each night of the week since the whole family was together to celebrate them all one by one. It was awesome, and I racked up some wine glasses, a bottle of wine, running attire, and fabulous shoes!!

So my sister Jenn and her husband Scott took me and Ben out on my actual birthday to celebrate. We started off with a wine tasting being offered at a wine shop in Westport Village. They had a little room in the back set up with tables, and each spot had 3 wine glasses, cheese, crackers, water, and a sheet of information about the wines we were tasting and to take notes on.

We tasted 6 different chardonnays from California, 4 white and 2 red, all of them delicious! We had fun trying to pick out the smells and flavors, but Jenn and Scott were a lot better than we were. The wine makers who were leading the class were pretty technical, but it was still interesting, and you could tell they really appreciated the wine and every little detail that went into making it. Jenn bought a bottle of some of the white wine we tasted.

Afterward, we went to Hiko A Mon, a sushi restaurant right next door to the wine shop. Ben and I could count on one hand the number of times combined the two of us have eaten sushi, so we let Jenn and Scott pick out the full meal for us based on their experience. We sat right up at the bar where you watch the chef make the sushi.

They ordered us California rolls (crab and avocado), which we ate all of since Jenn and Scott don't eat crab. The orange stuff on top is fish eggs, which basically have no taste. On several of these plates you'll notice some light pink shavings (like in the top right of the plate in the picture below), which is ginger (to be eaten as a palate cleanser), and the green sauce, which is wasabi - watch out, that stuff is HOT! On the same plate with the California rolls was raw sea bass for Scott. And if you notice in the bottom right corner of the plate is a quail egg shooter (also for Scott, of course).

To make it, the chef cut the egg open, separated the yolk, and mixed in some sort of hot sauce and spices.

I wasn't brave enough to try that! We all split some beef with a spicy sauce and a pile of noodles on top...

...raw yellowtail, which tasted pretty good...

...Scott ordered cow tongue, which looks and sounds gross, but Ben tried it and thought it tasted okay...

...so I tried a piece about the size of a dime, just to taste it...tasted like steak, good flavor, but then I had to choke that one bite down with water because I felt like I was making out with a cow and was about to be sick over it. Moving on.

We split rolls with salmon and cream cheese, with a mayo sauce to dip it in, and wasabi and soy sauce of course...yummy!! I couldn't believe how much I liked it. It had a nice smoky flavor. We had edamame, which are really salty and delicious soy beans...

...we split the special of the night, which was spicy tuna and avocado, and the whole thing was rolled in panko bread crumbs. Of course, me and Ben loved it because it was basically fried sushi...

...and a little sip of sake, which was a little strong for my taste, but not terrible...and some white wine to pair nicely with all the fish. This is making me hungry writing all this...mmm. So needless to say, this was a ton of food and a ton of fun! I've never felt so cultured in my life!!

To sum up? Jenn and Scott are awesome! Thanks for giving me such a memorable 23rd birthday!!