2012

Back in January, I think I declared 2012 the Year of Hospitality, hoping that for once, I might dictate the upcoming year's theme myself, rather than learning it on the back end, directly from the Author of all my years.

As if.

Around the mid-year mark, the Lord began to reveal a very different theme for the year, and it had nothing to do with hospitality: the Year of Emptying. I may share more on that later, but it was, in fact, frustrating, puzzling, and painful at times.

Frankly, the end of the Year of Emptying could not come soon enough.

So at this moment, it is 2013 in New York, and my friends and I just rang in the new year, as if we were one time zone further east.

We deserve the hour head start, I think.

And we celebrated the answered prayers, revisited the giggle-worthy moments, and dreamed about what 2013 might look like.

As has become my tradition -- no matter the year's theme -- here are 2012's superlatives:

favorite book 

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

most challenging book
The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy and Kathy Keller

most memorable celebration

Little Man's dedication in Athens

favorite new recipe

Chocolate Cobbler

favorite movies

The Grey
Lincoln
Les Miserables

favorite chill trip

Blue Ridge, Georgia, with Nikol and Kels

most painful moment

The ankle roll (and subsequent ten weeks of healing) on a Jemison Trail run

biggest disappointment

Accepting that the 13.1 I'd planned to run wasn't happening (see above)

proudest (only?) craft moment 

The stray photo album

spent my birthday

With Dad in Birmingham

most hilarious moment

Unable to contain inappropriate giggling with Nikol, during a particularly unfortunate performance at a high school show choir dessert cabaret

most pleasant surprise

Alabama Furniture Market

cherished family trip

Cincinnati, to celebrate Haleigh's high school graduation

biggest purchase

My new little house

most rabid organization project
Rearranging my living room furniture

favorite new iPhone apps

My Fitness Pal
Map My Run

favorite new beverage

Publix Diet Green Tea

best quick trip
Wilmington, Delaware, to see Little Man

biggest stretch
Leading a Disciple Now weekend for youth I'd never met

marked off the bucket list
NCAA Football National Championship Game

favorite new song, and embarrassed to admit it (yes, I watch Nashville)
“No One Will Ever Love You” by Connie Britton and Charles Esten

I do love to reminisce, but a fresh clean slate is always welcome.

Happy New Year, folks. Cheers to 2013!

thankful thursday #110

Today is my last day in the hometown, and I've closed it out with some of my favorite people, including this lovely lady ...

... and her family, who is my second family, and together our families make up one big family. I love them so dearly, and am feeling such an appreciation for them.

We go back to sixth grade homeroom, on Kari's very first day in a new school, and my goodness, how much better I am for it! I simply can't imagine my world without her and her family as a part of it.

Before I head back to the real world, I'm heading to see this little tyke ...

... and so really, is there anything to feel about that, other than thankful?

A brand new year is creeping in, friends (praise you, Jesus). Greet it with a thankful spirit; good things are bound to be around the corner.

Go on, be grateful!

a gift they'll remember

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it

is like wrapping a present and not giving it."

-- William Arthur Ward, American author

There is no card enclosed for you in this blog post, of course, but you can make it just as easy on yourself and drop a quick email to the first person that popped into your mind just now.

I bet they'll remember the gift of your gratitude for much longer than they will remember what they unwrap around the tree today.

Merry Christmas, and happy gifting, friends!

hello monday (the eve of christmas)

Advent is rapidly coming to a close, but glory! The Lord has come! Let earth receive her King!

I'm ready to greet this celebration week with joy and thanksgiving. Are you?

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Hello, cousins.

 

I can't think of a better way to start my vacation, than to reunite with you!

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Hello, cozy home.

I'm happy to see our stockings hung by the chimney with care.

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Hello, Dodger.

Thank you for faithfully jumping on visiting me before dawn every morning.

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Hello, baby brother.

 We are the bookends in our family.

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Hello, family Christmas card.

Sad to be apart this week, but happy you're mine.

Whether your family is under one roof, or just thankful to be under the same moon, I hope you are blessed throughout this Christmas week!

thankful thursday #109

The Bible study gals and I spent some time tonight at an assisted living facility with some of the residents.

It was a service project organized through my church, and the staff of the facility had invited us to "assist in memory care."

I did not know what that meant (a game of Memory, maybe?), but I was thrilled at the idea of spending time with another generation, and specifically that generation.

Tonight this particular group was crafting. They painted snowflakes made from popsicle sticks, and decorated them with sequins and glitter.

Some were meticulous; others were sloppy. Some of the ladies looked forward to hanging the ornaments on their trees; some of the men thought it was silly and just lingered for the company.

We crafted with them, and asked them about their rooms and their Christmas presents and their families. Mrs. Quinn was probably 85 years old, and she shared that her son had passed away from leukemia when he was five.  That was about ten years ago, she said.

We led them in a few Christmas carols, too. Mr. Bill knew all the words to the songs we sang, and when I complimented his singing, he told me he used to be in a choir. When I asked if he'd like to sing "Away in a Manger," he said no, that the manger was back at the house.

I visited for a long while with Dr. Mac. She was the first female chief resident at UAB, in the department of pathology. I asked her how long she'd been on faculty there, and with confidence she answered, Oh, honey, I'm still on faculty there, and chuckled with pride. She told me her story at least three times.

Obviously we were not there to exercise their minds, or refine their memory skills, and the game of Memory was definitely not on the agenda.

We were there just to be friends to the ones whose memories are fading, but who still need people to engage them, listen to them, and love them.

Tonight I'm thankful I had the opportunity to visit with folks who have lived long and well; whose stories are treasures, waiting to be discovered; and whose hearts are full, waiting to be shared.

What generation can you serve this holiday season?  They'll give you an appreciation you won't soon forget.

Go on, be grateful!

the perfect sugar cookie

When I was growing up, one of my friends used to make the best sugar cookies for school functions and holiday parties.

She and her mom would decorate them beautifully, but icing and cookie bling do not win this girl's heart. The perfect cookie consistency does, and hers was pretty perfect.

It was soft and chewy, with the perfect brownness on the bottom. Not crispy around the edges, and not too thin.

When I was tapped to provide the dough for our sugar cookie decorating party last week, the pressure was on.

Will it puff just enough?

Will they be too crispy?

If these don't go well, I'm going to have 90-some-odd cookies that no one eats. No bueno.

I rolled the dice on this recipe, and I must say, it was pretty close to the perfect tea cake that Erin Dukes used to make back in Oconee County.

the perfect sugar cookie

1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 c. white sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

1. Cream the butter and add the sugar gradually. Beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.


2. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cover and chill dough overnight.


3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.


4. Roll dough out on a floured surface to 1/4- to 1/8-inch thickness and cut into your favorite shapes.


5. Bake 6 - 8 minutes or until cookie is golden around the edges.

*The more flour on the rolling surface, and the colder the dough, the better.  If it gets to a room temperature, your figures will end up, well, disfigured.

*This dough was a breeze to mix, and it took no time, because of the little gem I like to call a stand mixer.  If you have a stand mixer, or a friend with one, use it without hesitation.

*The recipe "serves 3-5 dozen," which I think is a ridiculous statement.  There's a big difference between 36 and 60 cookies, no?  I made two batches, used a variety of cookie cutter sizes, and ended up with probably 75-80 cookies.  Maybe a little more.

Do you have sugar cookie standards?  Happy holiday baking, folks!

sing we now of christmas, the 2012 edition

There is a radio station here in Birmingham that cranks up their Christmas music on November 1st. That really chaps me.

On the other hand, after Thanksgiving when I'm ready to belt out the holiday tunes, the radio stations I endure the most around here (but just barely) don't exactly play my favorites.

They will not steal my joy.

So I make my annual Christmas album purchase; download some other newbies that come recommended from trusted, music-loving people in my life (Deana, I snagged yours from last year); and get about the business of settling into the Christmas spirit.

Without further ado, here is my annual recommended listening list, always intended to supplement, not to replace or stand alone.  There are too many great ones out there to be exclusive!

the only album fully endorsed in 2012:

I bought a particular country artist's holiday album a few years ago on a sale rack, and it was a disaster. I think I threw it away. But, I do love Lady Antebellum's sound, so I gave this one a shot, and I'm glad I did.

If you're hesitant to commit to the entire album, try "All I Want for Christmas is You," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "Silver Bells." Their title track is the only original song, and it's worth hearing, too.

the two Christmas songs i can't stop listening to, even when it's not Christmas:

"You Came Down" - Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn
"Winter Snow" - Chris Tomlin with Audrey Assad

I wonder if I will ever leave these two off my annual list. There aren't words to express my love for these two songs.

the novelty album born out of one of my favorite tv competitions:

Pentatonix is the a cappella ensemble that won the Sing-Off last year. The arrangements are borderline wacky at times, but the vocal quality is undeniable.

a couple of secular picks, because i'm not above it:

"All I Want for Christmas" - Michael Bublé

"Winter Song" - Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson

two "silent night" arrangements i particularly love this year:

Michael Bublé (brings back fond memories from this little jaunt)
Sarah McLachlan

Do you have any new favorites this year?  Let me hear them!  Eight more days ...

silent night

"The darker the night, the brighter the stars,

The deeper the grief, the closer is God!"

-- Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment

In a sleepy New England town tonight, all is not calm, and all is not bright.

Instead, I imagine mamas are stifling sobs, and daddies are raging with wild anger.

Brothers and sisters fight sleep, afraid to give in to the nightmares that threaten their peaceful slumber.

Classmates don't understand, and they are tormented by a chaos they will not soon forget.

Were those children going to school today, excited about their holiday parties?

Was Santa coming to read stories to them?

What is sacred in this world anymore?

Come, Lord Jesus.  Come soon.

thankful thursday #108

Tomorrow afternoon the work gals and I are baking and decorating sugar cookies.  If we're lucky, they might look like this ...

... but they probably won't.

At any rate, I volunteered to provide the dough, and because I like to make things as complicated authentic as possible during the Christmas season ...

It will be made from scratch.

Dough for 6-8 dozen cookies?  Sure thing.

But you know what's tough?  Mixing that dough.  Stirring the perfect sugar cookie dough by hand is nearly impossible, and even my hand mixer is kind of a disaster.

But you know what's great?  Friends with Kitchen Aid stand mixers.

Life is all about relationships, people.  And I make mine count in every way.

Makes me thankful.

'Tis the season for enjoying your best friendships.  Who's on your list to appreciate this week?  Go on, be grateful!

o christmas tree

"I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love."
-- Linus Van Pelt, A Charlie Brown Christmas

I was behind this year, where decking my halls was concerned. Per usual, I had my traditional musings.

Why, oh why, have I not yet purchased a pre-lit tree? (Because I never want to the spend the money after Christmas, when they all go on sale.)

Oh, I do love this nativity!

Is this really worth it, so that I might enjoy pretty lights for two measly weeks?

And since decking in a new house, there were some new considerations.

This front porch is worthy of something special.

How am I going to hang this garland on the brick without drilling my house to pieces?

Where can I borrow a ladder to hang the perfect wreath in that perfect spot?

I need to learn how to tie a magnificent bow for my magnificent mailbox.

My 6-foot tree that I've had since the beginning of time looks puny here. I think I need a taller one.

And the road blocks. I don't even have a lot of decorations, but mercy.

There were the tree lights that tested perfectly, and then promptly failed me, once strung on my tree.

There were the four stores that were out of white Christmas lights at 10:00 p.m. on Friday night.

There were the special "brick clips" that the Lowe's staff insisted would work for my garland, but in fact did not.

There was the burlap wired ribbon that neither my sharpest scissors nor utility knife could cut.

It would be great for one thing to go as planned.

Everyone close to me heard me moan about one thing or another in this decking process.

One friend came to my house to offer his suggestion on hanging the garland on the brick.

Mom consoled me, It doesn't have to be perfect this year. There's always next year.

Nikol asked me, Have you let that garland vision go yet? You need to.

In the end, all is fine and well.

I did regretfully put to death the garland-on-my-brick-archway vision. It's now happily (and securely) perched on my front door instead.

I did buy the last five boxes of white lights in an obscure Walgreen's, the apparent savior of the decorating world. And they did all work, when wrapped around my tree.

I kept my small tree for one more year and vowed again to purchase a taller, pre-lit tree after Christmas (but probably won't).

I threw out the burlap wired ribbon that gave me anxiety and safely put down the utility knife.

And my lighted garland and sweet Christmas tree stay lit around the clock, because even when I'm not there, burning the electricity in the name of the operational Christmas lights that I scoured my entire city for, makes me feel better about it all.

So there.  I win.

I'm decked!

thankful thursday #107

This weekend will mark the first off-weekend of my off-season, and for that, I am very thankful.

Praise you, Jesus.

I will finish decking my halls ...

... and let's be honest, since my mailbox is about the only thing with any Christmas flare right now, I'll be more like starting to deck my halls.

I plan to do a little scouting of living room chairs.

Chairs are so expensive.  Why is this so?

And I might just curl up at some point with a good book.

Because I can.

Cheers to the weekend folks!  As the seasonal chaos approaches its peak, be intentional about finding those times, those people, those circumstances to appreciate.  Go on, be grateful!

spinach dip pasta

Spinach Artichoke Dip is old news, I know.  But good ones -- homemade ones -- are still tasty.

And so if you take a tasty indulgence like that, and make it into a dinner?

Why yes, yes I will.

Spinach Artichoke Pasta

1 13-oz. box shell pasta
1 tsp. butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 8-oz. package reduced fat cream cheese (don't go totally fat-free)
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. reduced fat sour cream
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 14-oz. can artichoke hearts (packed in water), drained and chopped
10 oz. chopped, frozen spinach, thawed, drained
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
1 c. chopped cooked chicken (optional)
Additional Parmesan for serving

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.  *I used only about half the box of pasta, because I used more chicken and wanted to avoid the dried pasta conundrum.


2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and add garlic. *Burned garlic is the worst, so cook it just about 30 seconds, or even less.  Mine was popping, so next time, I might even start at more medium-low.


3. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Slowly stir in milk; then add sour cream, lemon juice, salt and red pepper flakes. Stir in artichoke hearts, spinach, and Parmesan cheese. *Remember that squeezing the mess out of the artichokes and spinach in a towel is the only way to drain these items.  Otherwise, you're asking for a watery disaster.


4. If you're using chicken, add that last. *I took a package of chicken tenders, chopped them up into bite-size pieces, salted and peppered, and sautéed ahead of time.  Nothing fancy.


5. Drain pasta and add to artichoke mix. Toss and season to taste with salt and additional lemon juice as needed. Serve with additional shredded Parmesan.

If you're like me, and love a good spin dip, but aren't interested in pounding down an entire bag of pita chips (and I would do it, too), this is worth a try.

Happy indulging!

hello monday (welcome home)

What is the deal with 75 degrees in December? I have a hard time pulling Christmas cheer out of that. Am I alone on that?

And if the temps aren't enough to kill the holiday spirit, a couple of snags while decking my halls sure will.

I gave up the fight for tonight and opted instead to greet this week with some hellos. Shall we?

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Hello, welcome home blessing from a dear friend.

At this rate, you might be serving as my Christmas tree.

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Hello, catching up on life. Good grief, my to-do list is so long!

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Hello, home cooking. Eating out for a solid week sounded luxurious when I was seven.  Not so much these days.

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Hello, stamped and sealed Christmas cards.

I'm happy to send y'all on your merry way tomorrow!

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Hello, upcoming haircut, and maybe color? I need some inspiration.

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Hello, Christmas music! I need to decide on the tunes I will purchase this year. Any recommendations?

It's good to be home, and settling into a season of preparation.  Are you happy to greet this week?  I hope so!

thankful thursday #106, the post-indy edition

It doesn’t matter how hard I try, or how much want-to I muster, blogging just doesn’t happen during the week-long work trip to Indianapolis (or anywhere else, for that matter).

Frankly, since I’m using every ounce of my energy to endure a population segment that falls somewhere between Annoying and Very Annoying on the humanity scale (that would be the general population, not my dear colleagues), the Thankful Thursday bit is probably better left postponed, anyway.

But today, I am rejoicing that this fall travel schedule right here?  The one that has stared me in the face every day for the past fourteen weeks?

Dunzo.

That awful spreadsheet will promptly make its way into the trash can upon my arrival in the office tomorrow afternoon, and I will happily reclaim control of my weekends.

Praise you, Jesus.

With that said, I can never end a 7-day work trip like this without giving props to the other segment of humanity – the minority, no doubt – that falls somewhere between Awesome and Very Awesome on the humanity scale:

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

I would lose my mind without these cherished colleagues, and I am grateful for them always.

What’re you appreciating on this Sunday edition of Thankful Thursdays?  Go on, be grateful!

thankful thursday #105

On this holiday Thursday, these things have made me feel thankful:

Sleeping in and waking up to no alarm.  Praise you, Jesus.

A 45-minute walk in the most gorgeous fall weather.  It really was glorious.

Time to read a book.  It was a quick read, but I sure loved having that big chunk of time.

Text messages of gratitude to and from people I love.

Skype.  It is fast becoming a Thanksgiving necessity!

Movies that remind me of our nation's leaders who changed history for the better.  Have you seen Lincoln?  Run to see it.

It has been restful, and peaceful, and we have much for which to be grateful.  It makes for an easy Thankful Thursday in my world.

What about in your world?  Go on, be grateful!  

the chicken and rice soup like crape myrtle's

Crape Myrtle's is a cozy little cafe, randomly attached to a local bookstore here in town. The folks there are casual and friendly, the menu is simple ...

... and their chicken and rice soup is like manna from heaven. (But maybe creamier? I don't know for sure.)

On the rainiest days here in Birmingham, it's the lunch I crave the most. It's just dreamy. That is all I can say.

I recently stumbled on a recipe for chicken and rice soup, and I would never dare to think it might come close to Crape Myrtle's, but I'll be darned, it pretty close to nailed it.

Glory.

The biggest challenge of this recipe is having the foresight to allow about an hour or so to let it simmer. Try it on your next cold, rainy night. The deliciousness factor will not disappoint.

Chicken and Rice Soup Like Crape Myrtle's

2 Tbsp. EVOO
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 4-oz. can chopped green chilies
32 oz. chicken broth
3/4 c. jasmine rice, uncooked
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 c. heavy cream
4 oz. sour cream

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Cook chicken until browned, about ten minutes.


2. Add chilies, broth, rice, cumin, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir well, cover, and simmer on low for about 45 minutes, until rice is cooked. Stir occasionally.


3. Mix in heavy cream and sour cream. Cover and heat on low for 15-20 minutes.


4. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if needed.

second anniversary

Two years ago today, I shared my blog with friends and family, after closet blogging for several weeks.  Frankly, I wasn't sure how long I would keep it up, but as it's turned out, I've quite enjoyed it.

In two years, I've found myself repeating thoughts; blabbering about nothing; or fleshing out in words something that's nested in my brain for too long.

Sometimes I start a post that doesn't ever take flight, and it sits idly in my post queue for a few days, but eventually just gets the axe.

Occasionally I start a post that I should have never started, and that, mercifully, gets deleted within minutes.  I made a promise not to dishonor anyone in the very beginning, and let me tell you a not-so-surprising confession: I've come dangerously close to breaking that promise.

Even still, 278 posts (including this one) have made the cut, and it's been so interesting to me, to see which ones have been the most read over the life of this blog.  In celebration of two years -- and we all know how I feel about a quick stroll down memory lane -- here are the top five most read posts:

So Long Saloon Black Bean Dip (who knew there were so many folks looking for this recipe?)

Meeting Nathan (one of my favorite stories to share)

Thankful Thursdays (a personal attitude shift that has had significant influence on me)

(Small-Town) American Pie (slice of pie, anyone?)

Get Your (Stitch) Fix (it's all the rage)

And here are a couple of my own personal favorites, just for kicks:

To Carter, on the Occasion of Your First

A Chocolate Sheet Cake Offering

Clothed

It's been a good two years.  I hope for greater things to come in the next two, and look forward to sharing a bit of them, right here in my little corner of the world.

Cheers!

thankful thursday #104

The work of Jesus in our hearts is sometimes painful, often humbling, and always miraculous.

On top of those descriptors, I'd add that my personal refining process is slow, gentle when I don't deserve it, and almost undetectable if I'm not really looking for change.

I confess that I'm not all the time diligent, or faithful, to ask Him to show me how He's working.  To reveal to me His new, that's replacing my old.

And sakes alive, I rarely have the eyes to see it anyway.

But as it goes with my Jesus, He is faithful to give me glimpses.  Some days He'll drop me into a scenario to which I naturally respond -- a test of sorts, but one I don't know I'm taking -- and I respond in a way that I know is not of me.

It's His creative way of spotlighting for me a work He's accomplishing for His glory.

And when He does, it reassures me.  It gives me hope.  It makes me thankful.

I had one of those moments today, where the reply came from a place I can't say I knew not so long ago, and I could feel nothing more than gratitude.

Not because I'm better, but because I'm changed.

Do you appreciate the evidence of change when it lands in your lap?  Go on, be grateful!

hello monday (new blue)

An ideal weekend for me includes a little lazing mixed in with a little productivity. It's a hard balance, but if, come Monday morning, I feel refreshed and have something to show for my time at home, that is a good weekend.

This weekend afforded me both, but Monday morning is literally raining on my parade, so how about some hellos to start this rainy week?

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Hello, before and after. Jazz Club is making a bold statement, I'd say.

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Hello, weekend food frenzy. How many calories did you say I consumed this weekend? Oh.

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Hello, new sofa. I'm glad to finally meet you, and I look forward to many, many years together.

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Hello, furniture rearranging. Quite the back-breaker, you are.

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Hello, Thanksgiving in just ten days.  (How did that happen?)

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Hello, Christmas shopping.  Let's get you knocked out asap, okay?

Happy Monday, folks.  Get out and greet the week!

thankful thursday #103

Last spring, Nikol took me with her to a show choir performance of some of the high school girls from church that she mentors.

I am not ashamed to admit that I am just nerdy enough to feel genuine excitement about such a performance, and let me tell you, it was glorious.

There was something about single thirty-somethings, sitting in a high school theater, and observing high school student dynamics that made for spectacular entertainment. The giggle boxes got turned over, and there was no going back.

Regardless of our comedic commentary, though, the girls did do a great job ...

... and invited us to another show choir event.

Today I got a break from my routine, and had the chance to support our own little cast of real-life Glee. How can that not make me happy? And grateful, for young people's talents?

What out-of-the-ordinary something might you be appreciating today? Go on, be grateful!

cheese sauce, please

Do you remember when some beat-down parent, who was tired of forcing their child to eat broccoli, caved and offered to dump drizzle cheese sauce on top?

I don't.

We just ate what was prepared, vegetables and all.  And there was no cheese sauce on the table to make broccoli more tolerable.

But a cheese sauce-based casserole will always be close to my heart, because of my crazy love of cheese, so this recipe naturally intrigued me.

The original is from Sunset magazine's November 2008 issue, but the original also serves 12-14 people, and let's be honest, that's not conducive to cooking for one.  This version is adapted to serve a more reasonable number, say, 4-6:

Gorgonzola Broccoli Casserole

1 bag broccoli florets (in the steam bag)
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/8 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. gorgonzola (or other blue) cheese
1 c. panko bread crumbs
EVOO

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


2. Steam broccoli according to package instructions.


3. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.  Whisk in flour and salt, and cook until bubbly, about 1 minute.


4. Add milk and cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until boiling and thickened, about 3 minutes.


5. Add cheeses, and whisk until smooth. Stir in broccoli, and pour into a small casserole (1 1/2 quart, or an 8 x 8 would probably also work).


6. In a small bowl, mix panko bread crumbs with 1-2 tablespoons of EVOO, to create a crumble topping.  Sprinkle evenly over top of casserole. 


7. Bake until crumbs are golden, and casserole bubbles around edge, about 20-25 minutes.

And a couple of personal notes ...

• If you're not pumped about casseroles, this could definitely be a stand alone cheese sauce to serve aside vegetables.  Or for chicken.  Yummy.


• If you're not into blue cheeses, shame on you.  But I think Parmesan might be an inferior alternative.


• I'm also thinking this might have potential as a full-meal casserole, if you added some diced cooked chicken to the mix, and maybe doubled the sauce portion of the recipe.

Did you (do you?) require cheese sauce for your broccoli?

hello monday (daylight savings)

Are you surviving the time change? I personally enjoy the sunshine greeting me in the mornings, but the number of complaints I've heard from others in just 24 hours is a little bit much.

Come on, people. Lighten up (no pun intended)! How about some hellos to kick off this week of daylight savings?

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Hello, book recommendation, compliments of my lovely coworker.

(I'm looking forward to seeing what you highlighted in here.)

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Hello, new voting location. Will your lines be super long first thing in the morning?

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Hello, Brownsville friend coming to visiting this week!

Your Birmingham Belles look forward to hosting you.

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Hello, bottomless Halloween candy bowl. Enough already.

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Hello, navy paint samples.

You are so similar, but one of you will prevail. Eventually.

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Hello, upcoming weekend at home.  I am so very happy to see you.

Don't let the time change make you cranky.  Make it a great week!

thankful thursday #102

Tuesday is Election Day.

Like many people, I am annoyed by the mudslinging campaign tactics, the seemingly pointless debates, and the division that rears its ugly head throughout this home of the brave.

Like many people, I feel like politics are over my head, the issues are too complex, and the average American could never make a truly informed decision, no matter how intelligent he or she is. 

Like many people, I shamefully wonder if my vote even matters, if there's any leader on the ballot whom I would trust if I knew them personally, and if it isn't all a waste anyway.

It would seem as though today I'd be thankful that in one week, this election will be over.

In the end, though, no matter who is elected President, I'm grateful that we are assured that God sets kings in their kingdoms:

"Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them."
-- Daniel 2:20-21

If we believe in the perfect sovereignty of God, we have to acknowledge that whichever candidate is voted into office, his power has been divinely ordained.

We might not like it, we may disagree with every decision he makes, and at some point, we will insist that our way would be better.

We may feel like there is no hope for our country.  And maybe that's true.

But I would suggest that our hope should never be in our country, or any elected official, or any political agenda, but in our Lord, who is meticulously working out the redemption of His people, and using every elected official to do so.

I certainly do not have all the answers, or understand every issue at hand.  What I do know, is that I have been born into a country where people have died for my freedom, and fought for my right to have a say.

So I will vote on Tuesday, and be confident that God will use that vote to accomplish His purposes in this chapter of His great story.

Are you able to be thankful in the midst of political division?  Go on, be grateful!

some say boo

Others say moo.

(I wish you could watch him walk from behind, and see his tail swish.)

This morning, my boss lurked in my dark office with a freaky mask on, and jumped in front of me upon my arrival. I screamed and jumped a mile. We all know how well I do with creepers on Halloween.

Between the adorable costumes on toddlers and the scary masks on grown men, I got to thinking about how everyone hides behind some sort of disguise at one time or another.

They're afraid, but wear the mask of bravery.
They're grieving, but wear the mask of stoicism.
They're worried, but wear the mask of confidence.
They're lonely, but wear the mask of busyness.
They're hurting, but wear the mask of wellness.

We all struggle, we all want to hide our imperfections, and we all work hard at creating the perfect costume to accomplish just that.

When that one kid went ravaging through your candy bowl tonight, did you think he was ill-mannered? Or did you think that maybe he doesn't have parents to teach him any better?

When the little girl could barely speak trick or treat, did you assume she wasn't well socialized? Or did you think she could be the one bullied in her class at school?

Did you think that those parents had it all together, with their perfect kids in perfect costumes, with a perfect house down the street? Or did you wonder if maybe they were in the middle of a financial crisis? Or were having tough times in their marriage?

While some Christians are hating on Halloween (someone, explain that to me), it's been a reminder to me that behind the masks, there are stories being written, and hearts that are broken and dirty, just like mine.

And often, the cute little ones?  They just want the good candy.

Happy Halloween, folks.  I hope you got lots of treats!

right about now (the one after the georgia-florida game)

Random bits of life happening in my world, right about now:

loving: the score of this game from Saturday.

Did you hear me squeal out loud? I definitely did, listening to the final call on the UGA broadcast in my car. No shame here.

reading:  A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken.

I've only just begun, but I've been warned that it is an intense and passionate memoir of a man digging deep to reconcile inconceivable loss with the faith he knew to be true. I imagine that where those extremes intersect, Beauty really does become tangible, and his love story will become his Love story. Incidentally, C.S. Lewis drifted into the lives of the author and his beloved, and letters between them are included in this book.

excited about: these three navy paint samples sitting on my kitchen table. They are waiting patiently to be displayed on my wall, so I can decide the winner. Oh, I hope I like one of them.

missing: Little Man. It's only been eight weeks since I saw him last, but that's a long stretch in baby time. How can I not miss this face?

trying to: decide what my next cooking adventure will be. I made chicken pot pie this weekend for the first time, and those leftovers are dwindling.

enjoying: a marble hot chocolate from Starbucks. Do you know this trick? Half white, half dark chocolate? Since I don't drink coffee, this is a go-to splurge on chilly days like today.

using: Ace bandages and Advil like they're going out of style.

wearing: a new sweater I received in my recent Stitch Fix package. It's great for a lot of reasons, but especially because it doesn't scratch the living daylights out of me. It's soft and cozy, like it's already been broken in, just for me.

waiting on: my couch to arrive. They told me 6-8 weeks, "maybe sooner," but it looks like "sooner" isn't in the cards. I keep telling myself God's timing is perfect.

planning: to run this race in January (I have a thing for races related to food and beverage, apparently):

Do you think they'll serve me a marble hot chocolate at the finish line?

singing: "No One Will Ever Love You" by Connie Britton and Charles Esten, that is, Rayna James and Deacon Claybourne from ABC's Nashville. Yes, I absolutely downloaded that song after last week's episode.  Don't judge.

needing: Buddy the elf to magically transform my dad and two brothers into people who are easy to shop for. I sure do love them, but my word, they stump me every Christmas.

learning: that I make a terrible, terrible rehab patient. This ankle injury is so very frustrating, and more importantly, driving my personal athletic training team crazy. Christopher and Jay, I don't deserve your patience, and I owe you both.

listening: to ESPN's 30 for 30 episode, "The Ghosts of Ole Miss" about the forced enrollment of the first African American at the university. I'm only half listening, and I have no association to Ole Miss other than a working relationship, but just seeing James Meredith interviewed makes me tear up.

wishing: I designed Christmas cards for single people. It's feeling like my 2012 design is right out of Struggleville, USA.

doing: a Bible study, in which the accountability gals and I meditated on this scripture last week:

The spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
For who knows a person's thoughts, except the spirit within them?
In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
-- 1 Corinthians 1:10-12

I can't stop thinking about it. (I'm pretty sure that's the point of studying it to begin with.)

praying for: the families affected by Superstorm Sandy this week. Mercy, the photos are stunning.

dreaming of: a day coming soon when I will run again. And I'm not even a bona fide runner. If you're not limping around for one reason or another, take a minute to be grateful!

What are you up to right about now?

get your (stitch) fix

At the risk of sounding entirely too interested in the things of this world (you read my recent post about shopping, right?), I can't not share about this little styling adventure.

Meet Stitch Fix.

Stitch Fix is an online styling service, designed to deliver a handful of clothing pieces to your doorstep and some unexpected spunk to your wardrobe. Here's how it works, in its simplest form:

And here's the process with my personal experiential notes:

1: request an invite

Click here to fill out some basic info and "request an invite." That gets the ball rolling, and over into the Stitch Fix court.

2: give them your stats

Stitch Fix will send you a Style Profile (don't stress, it might take a week or so to hear from them), in which you give them important details about you, your style, your preferences, and your budget. You can also specify items you may not want to receive. (For example, I was wary of pants, so in this shipment, I requested no bottoms.)

You get to judge some sample outfits to help direct your stylist, like this:

3: schedule your fix

Each fix costs $20, so even if you hate everything they send you, you're only out one Andrew Jackson. Select a time that you wish to receive your package of goodies. Big perk: Stitch Fix pays for all shipping.

4: stalk the usps and track your package

5: try on the goodies in the comfort of your own home

It was seriously like Christmas.

And isn't it great, that each piece offers some ensemble suggestions?

(Can you even get over the fact that this top has koi fish on it? It was a sign.)

6: decide what you want, and what you don't

I was shocked to love everything in this package. I was more shocked that everything fit. (And one item will likely even be a Christmas gift for someone ... shhhh!) They provide the packaging and shipping label for your "no thanks" items, and you drop those back in the mail within three days.

7: give feedback and settle up on the keepers

The stylist did pretty darn well with my first round, but feedback will help her be even better when I do this again. The feedback section is both guided and open-ended, so you have the opportunity to be thorough and detailed.

And a couple of important notes on payment and obligation:

• If you decide to keep everything in your box, you get a 25% discount on everything.
• If you decide to keep anything in your box, your $20 styling fee is applied as a credit toward that purchase.
• Although you will be invited every month to schedule a fix, you can skip it. No obligation to ever do it again. (But I will be.)

Seriously, people. Get your Fix! You might score a new favorite something, and when asked where you got it (and I hope you will!), you can say, Oh, I'm not sure.  My stylist found it somewhere.

thankful thursday #101

Last year, my work siblings dragged me kicking and screaming to a haunted house for some "team building."

And it was horrible.

This year, I was adamant that I would not participate in any Halloween-centric team building unless it involved a pumpkin carving contest.  The haunted house just wasn't worth the anxiety.

Nothing has been planned at this point, and I'm grateful for that.

Instead I will be attending a Halloween festivity tomorrow night with some friends that is my favorite kind: per the invitation, a no-costume party, at a "not so haunted plantation" (also known as, the modest home of my friend Donna).

We're going to eat Mexican food and play games.

Am I boring?  Maybe.

Am I thankful?  Yes, indeed.

Are you festive for Halloween?  Dressing up?  Scaring kiddos on the front porch?

No matter, I hope you find something to appreciate this week.  Go on, be grateful!

shopping and a beloved tradition

I'm kind of a moody clothes shopper. It takes time and patience, and I'm usually running low on both of those resources. I'm either feeling it, or I'm not.

I also usually prefer to shop solo, but Nikol and I do have a little tradition which I have grown to love. She is a solid shopping date.

We ventured out tonight for our annual Dansko Expedition. She actually needed a new pair; I did not. She bought a pair; I did not (please, hold the applause).

(Had this red leather pair been there, however ...

... I confess I might have been more tempted. She is so pretty.)

To honor tradition, though, I did snatch up these cute boots (something is better than nothing, folks) ...

... in a sort of gray-ish, pewter color. They are short, you see, thus avoiding the fatted calf dilemma. You can bet I will take advantage of a season where low boots are the trend.

We also ventured into some other favorite shops, and giggled our way through a few fun purchases. Is there really any better way to approach shopping?

There's this one store, where basic t-shirts sell for over $100 (?!) -- to be clear, not one of the aforementioned "favorites" that we patronized. We dreamed of perusing the inventory there, and casually asking the clerk, Excuse me, ma'am?  Is this price listed in pesos?

I wish I had the guts to really do that. I think I would laugh about that for months.

In another store where we were both trying on clothes (namely in my case, one of those tops that looked great on the rack and not-so-great on), I asked Nikol through the wall, Have you ever been totally humiliated for even trying something on?

And in yet another fitting room, I audibly spoke to no one in particular, This is awful.

Out loud, I rebuked today's fashion trends. Someone tell me I'm not the only one.

Nikol and I agree it's good to try on things that stretch us a little bit. That's the No Guts, No Glory philosophy. We also agree that sometimes those items would have been better left on the rack. That's the Know Your Role philosophy.

Finding the balance is key to a) maintaining sanity while shopping, and more importantly, b) sparing your close friends from having to say to your face, Do not do that again.

What are your shopping philosophies? Or horror stories? How do you make shopping bearable?

thankful thursday #100 (the giveaway)

After last Friday's little tumble, it's been a sad week for exercise. I was hitting a nice running routine, and I was bummed to have it interrupted.

A perfect time to practice some gratitude, wouldn't you say?

On the up side, sad times are always delicious times in my world, because let's face it, I'm an emotional eater. This week of food indulgences probably shouldn't be in the I'm-thankful-for category, but I'm making it so. I have eaten well this week and enjoyed it.

And on the more legitimate up side, the ankle is healing up and the swelling is going down. I sure do take it for granted that my body can be pushed to run five miles, and when it's had a bad day, heal up when it needs to. It won't always be this way, so for now, I'm grateful.

Now, the giveaway!

So fun. I loved reading your thankful posts; they really do make the heart overflow. I hope yours did.

I really wanted to send some cards to everyone, but I stuck with the plan and selected two random names. I could have drawn names out of a hat, but that might have appeared shady, and well, I'm not shady.

So to be above board, I did it online, for-real randomly, and here's what I got ...

(drumroll, please)

... and ...

(Don't you just love how there's an exclamation point at the end of each selected name? It's like I really did draw your name out of a hat and squeal with glee.)

Katie and Deana, I will pop those in the mail to you tomorrow. Maybe they'll arrive just in time to brighten your Mondays.

Thanks, y'all, for humoring me, and for celebrating one hundred posts of gratitude. Here's to one hundred more!

Be thinking about how you're going to spend these cards, you two. Go on, be grateful!