Nothing much

I haven't blogged lately because there really hasn't been much going on. Mark and I have had a pretty relaxed February. We've just been working and hanging out at home. That may sound pretty boring, but it has been nice to take a breather. March will be a very busy month for me. Next weekend, I will meet my sister and her kids in San Angelo to visit my grandmother. Then the weekend after that I will fly to Austin to have a girls' weekend with my friend Joy and her other bridesmaids. Then, the weekend after that Mark and I will drive to Austin to attend Joy and Kevin's wedding. I feel like I am in the calm before the storm . . .

On another note, I did actually try two new things today. The first was that I went to Sprouts grocery for the first time. I really like the store! It was very crowded on a Saturday afternoon, but still had a quaint feeling to it. The produce (on sale) is very reasonably priced and fresher than the average grocery store. The reason I went to sprouts was because they had avacados and tomatoes on sale, and I wanted to try to make guacamole dip to take to a party tonight. I have never made guacamole before. Believe it or not, I had never cut an avacado before. Unfortunatly, my first attempt at guacamole resulted in too much salt. So, I had to go back out to Kroger this time and buy more avacados. These, of course, were not on sale. But, Kroger is a lot closer than Sprouts. I have now finished the dip. I think it tastes pretty good, but I will have to see what other people think tonight.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

On Jan. 30 my dad celebrated his birthday. I was so glad that the shower corresponded with his birthday so I could be there to celebrate with him. We all went to eat at Rudy's BBQ. My sister made a cake and brought it to the restaurant. I was very yummy! I love you, Dad! Hope you had a great birthday!

My niece and nephew, Aaris and Titus, helping put candles on the cake.

Dad blowing out the candles (with help from Titus)

Taking the candles back out. What fun!

My sister and me

Joy's wedding shower

As I previously mentioned, the weekend of Jan. 31 my mom and I helped host a shower. My good friend Joy and I were roommates in college. My freshman year, Joy and I shared a 1 bedroom apartment. Oh, the crazy things that went on in that apartment! Then, my sophomore year, Joy, myself, and two other girls shared a 3 bedroom apartment. My time with Joy in college was very memorable and precious to me. Joy, I am so excited for you and Kevin. I can't wait until your wedding in March! Enjoy this time in your life. You will cherish these memories forever.

Joy and me

All the hostesses with Joy (my mom is on the far left)

Joy is very excited about her cookware!

My mom made this flower arrangement. Isn't it beautiful?!

Two great recipes

On Wednesday night we had a fellowship night with our small group and on Sunday we had a class potluck. I thought I would share the recipes for the dishes I brought to those two things. To my fellowship night, I took fruit salsa and cinammon chips. The fruit salsa I got off of allrecipes.com. A week ago my mother and I helped host a wedding shower for my good friend from college, Joy. My mother made this fruit salsa and I loved it so much I couldn't wait to share it! I still have some left over and I can't stop eating it!

At work, we have a "crockpot club". Everyone who wanted to participate signed up. Then, every week for about 8 weeks 4 people bring a crockpot dish on Tuesday. If you are in the crockpot club you get to eat the dishes. You only have to bring it one time, and you get to eat for many, many weeks. It has been fantastic! One of the rules is that you have to share your recipe. So, I have gotten some great ideas! The one I made on Sunday was Pasta Fagioli Soup.

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 8oz. can red kidney beans, drained
1 8oz. can white kidney beans, drained
15 oz. beef stock
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. pepper
2 1/2 tsp. parsley
1/2 tsp. tabasco sausce (optional)
10 oz. spaghetti sauce
4 oz. pasta

1. Brown beef in skillet and drain fat.
2. Mix beef with all other ingredients except the pasta.
3. Cook 7-8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high.
4. During last 30 min. on high or 1 hour on low, add pasta.

ENJOY!

To ease your minds . . .

I know you have all been greatly distressed over my not being able to find Mario Kart. You can lay your little heads down to rest at night now, because we got it! After 6 stores in 2 cities (Plano and Austin), we finally just ordered it online. We should have done that to start with because we got it at newegg.com for no tax and no shipping! We are having a blast with our new game. I can actually play this one!