How to...

In honor of the 4th of July (tomorrow) I am posting a how to make the perfect BLT. As someone who loves to cook I realize making a sandwich isn't exactly cooking, which is why it is the perfect summertime meal. When it is 100+ degrees outside the last thing you want to do is turn on your oven! So here goes...

Start with the freshest tomatoes you can get. These came straight out of our garden (some of the few those darned birds didn't get!).

Next, get nice, crisp lettuce. I prefer Romaine because it seems to stay crispier and fresher longer.  This is crucial!

 Now, toast some bread. Please don't judge me on my crumby toaster, this is real life, people! Toasted bread is super important, otherwise you'll have a mushy texture, which maybe you like. In that case, save a step and don't toast your bread!

 I probably should have mentioned this before, but while doing all of this, you should probably be cooking bacon. Otherwise, it won't be a BLT! You want to cook your bacon to crispy but not burned. Once the bacon grease has cooled it makes a nice treat for your dog and helps keep his (er, their) coat shiny. Toby loves it! We pour it over his food.

 Now, it's time to assemble. This is actually a really important step, believe it or not. First, apply a thin layer of mayo to both slices of bread. For the perfect BLT I love the spicy mayo (not really THAT spicy, since I'm a wimp!) from Kraft (no, they don't sponsor our blog or anything!).  Then on one side of the bread place the bacon. On the other, the lettuce. The tomato slices should always be between these so they don't slip out. Otherwise you lose the tomatoes and it just becomes a big mess. Add a little salt and pepper to the tomatoes. Easy on the salt, since the bacon is fairly salty. Okay, really salty. Put the sandwich together and enjoy! Sorry I have no pictures of the completed project. Jason and I gobbled them down because we were so hungry!

Now, one last thing. The perfect summer BLT is made oh so perfect by its follow up, the all important dessert. Might I recommend a delicious south Alabama watermelon...

Or maybe some homemade peach ice cream using Chilton County peaches? I have the best recipe for homemade peach ice cream. Maybe I'll share that next...

                                                  ENJOY! Happy 4th! 

Summer fun!

Sorry to have been so quiet blog world, but we've been busy! :-) We packed about as much fun as you could have into the last two months! Up until last weekend from the weekend of my race until the third weekend of June we had not been home but one weekend! Oh, the life of a traveler! ;-) We are so thankful to have so much to celebrate and see! Here is a recap in photos of our summer (I really call anything May-August summer, though technically 'summer' has only been around for two weeks!)

Beach trip! Happy Birthday to me!

Atlanta for Rachel and Ryan's wedding! Such a beautiful example of God's faithfulness

The amazing Georgia Aquarium

And one more just because she's cute! We've been doing lots of playing inside because it has been so hot!

5/5 Complete with 3 days to spare!

I did it! I have completed the 5th and final '30 Bucket List' Challenge. Since I will be turning 31 (!?!?!?) in a few days I am happy to have this completed just in the nick of time. We found the falls at Chewacla. It was a beautiful day and the weather was actually not TOO hot. Harper loved watching the tadpoles ("baby fogs") in the puddles! Happy Memorial Day!

Enough

If you do nothing else tonight read this blog post. Awesome. Made me laugh out loud. And want to cry a little at our society. And made me feel grateful for a God who is enough.

Imperfect

So, sometimes by the comments I get (in person or via mass media) I get the feeling that some people think my life is perfect. Well, I thought I would share a little realism just so our blog doesn't sound like we live in a fairy tale. Now, I do think that God has blessed my life beyond belief, but just in case you got the idea that I was Martha Stewart married to Mr. Clean with an angel for a baby, here is the scenario this afternoon: I have a doctor's appointment at 4:15. Takes approximately 15-20 minutes to get to the office. At 25 minutes until the appointment I was changing Harper's diaper and preparing to put her shoes on. This is, by the way, not an ideal situation. Taking your 19 month old to YOUR doctors appointment. Thus is my life when I have her in daycare in another state, though. I hear a horrible retching sound from the living room. Toby was throwing up. I run out to see that "whew", only on the wood floors. I scream at Toby "OUTSIDE". Then I realize that I have left my VERY ACTIVE child on the changing table. So I run back in HG's room. Oops, I realize, I have failed to put Toby outside. I realize this because I hear him puking again. I know, I just know, this time it is NOT on the wood floors. "NOT ON THE CARPET" I scream. I realize that it is too late as I run back into the living room. This time I scream some not so nice words to Toby and put him outside. Then I run back into Harper's room and try to explain to her why I am putting her into her crib (she is a very helpful child. As in, she would "help" clean up by putting her hands in the dog puke). So, I have cursed at Toby, left Harper crying in her crib, and have two piles of puke that I can not just leave before we go to the doctor. So I commence to cleaning. And muttering things under my breath about poor sick Toby. Then I wash my hands, rummage through the house yelling about why we don't have Toby's collar in a designated place, open the door, put his collar on, literally grab Harper and run out the door. I tried some deep breathing on the way to the doctor so that my blood pressure wouldn't read sky high. Doctor's appointment uneventful. Dinner still not cooked. Life happens. This morning I hit Harper's jogging stroller as I backed out the driveway and knocked my bumper loose. Jason popped it back in place. Our purpose in life is bigger than dog puke or bumpers. I try to remember that. I fail. A lot. Happy? I am, actually!

4 out of 5 with 17 days to go!

So...Jason and I had the pleasure of a just grownups vacation this past weekend thanks to my mom and some careful saving on our part. Harper, of course, had a blast with her Grandmother (whom she started calling Grandaddy???) and didn't even notice we were gone! BUT, this trip also provided me with a new state- Wyoming! So check that one off the 30 Bucket List (see here if you are confused by that). It was a blast but we were both thrilled to arrive home (on Mother's Day) to our sweet girl! I also ate Rocky Mountain Oysters while I was there (Jason has a pic, not sure if he will want to share it) so I added yet another 'weird' food to my list as well. Don't be grossed out. They don't taste like anything but fried-ness. Now the texture... Jason did not eat any, he would want me to point that out. Here is proof of my time in Wyoming!

PS- Notice which item I haven't completed. THE ONE IN AUBURN! We will, this weekend. It will NOT be what causes me to not complete this list!

Success!

Thank you so much to everyone for all the kind words and encouragement! I successfully ran the entire 1/2 marathon without stopping (minus at the drink stations, it was HOT!). I have now completed 3 out of 5 items on my 30 Bucket List and more importantly proved to myself that I could do it! Below are some pictures and some highlights of the day.

Harper helping me stretch pre-race. My favorite picture from the day!

Me happy to be still for a moment after running for 13.1 miles!

Me with my support crew/coaches/training partners

Highlights of the day: 1.finishing! 2.food: no one told me they FED you during races, if I had known I would have run a 1/2 much sooner! 3.the crowd: the people of Nashville were out in force and I got more high fives from kids and cheers from people that kept me motivated than I ever imagined! Plus all the cute kids and dogs along the route were super entertaining! 4.the signage: there was no lack of motivational signs along the way...some that were HIlarious but I can't repeat on the blog because I'd like to keep this G rated (if you really want to know ask me in person!). 5.seeing Harper's face blowing me kisses after I crossed the finish line :-) 6.the two military guys walking to raise money for St. Jude...in full cammo, boots, and a packed ruck sack. It was SO hot in my high tech running gear, I can't even imagine wearing boots. THANK YOU for your service and THANK YOU for your support of St. Jude.

Oops, I forgot to add one more highlight: Getting to run past my freshman dorm (and wave to my old window) that is slated to be torn down next month. In that room is where I first got the illness that started this whole running craze. Good times in that dorm but good riddance! It needed to go a long time ago!