Thursday, September 30, 2010

Bragging Rights and Recipes

I have to take a moment and brag about Clayton and his completed project! As you all know we both moved to Young Harris, so he could manage the construction of a new recreation center/gym for Young Harris College. Young Harris College just transitioned from a two year school to a four year school and it is a beautiful campus nestled in the mountains! They now have a fully completed recreation center with a basketball court, bleachers, lockers, work out room, juice bar, and yoga/aerobics room! The place was always packed upon our moving!

I'm so proud of Clayton and his finished project! Clayton works so hard for our little family, and I am in constant awe of his drive and ambition!

 Isn't it beautiful?!

Now for some recipes!

Cherry Cream Cheese Pie
I made this pie (coutesy of Paula Deen) before we left Young Harris, and it's a delicious treat!

Ingredients:

Crust (My favorite, courtesy of Barefoot Contessa!)
1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons unslated butter, melted

Pie
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
1 (9-inch) graham cracker crust
1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling, chilled

Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a bowl. Press into pie pan and bake for 10 minutes on 350 degrees. Cool completely.


In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gradually add the milk; stir until well blended. Stir in the lemon juice and vanilla.
 Pour the filling into the crust and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. 
Top with the pie filling before serving.

Chicken Lettuce Cups
For you P.F. Chang's fans, I found this recipe for their lettuce wraps online! I tried this recipe last week and they were SO GOOD!

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, sliced thinly or cut into small cubes

8 button mushrooms, cut into small pieces
2 cans of water chestnuts, cut into small pieces
2 small cloves of garlic, diced
2 bunches of green onions, finely chopped
1 small bunch of cilantro, finely chopped
1/3 cup of hoisin sauce (really use any amount you like - adjust it to your taste)
2-3 tbsp soy sauce
canola or veg oil

Directions:Cook the chicken in oil until almost done, then drop in the garlic for about a minute. Add the mushrooms and water chestnuts. Cook for another minute or so, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked. Add the hoisin sauce and soy sauce, mix to coat; add green onions and cilantro. Cook for another minute or so.


Serve with lettuce. I also made some asian noodles (out of a box) that were delicious with it!

Enjoy!



Tuesday, September 28, 2010

"Happy" to my Friends!

This week is a very special week for two of my best friends! I can't let it go by without giving them a "Happy Anniversary" and "Happy Birthday" on the blog!

Happy Anniversary to Mrs. Hutchinson!

On September 26, 2009, my best friend Brittany shared her nuptials Spencer Hutchinson! I can't believe they're already celebrating their first year together! They have such a strong marriage and I am so happy for them!

Here's to that special day one year ago....


Happy Birthday to Courtney!

Love this girl to pieces! I can't believe this is the 9th year I've been able to celebrate her birthday with her! With have lots of memories...especially birthday memories together! One of my favorites was Court's 21st....when we sent her on a scavenger hunt throughout Auburn's campus! She had to figure out each riddle, and guess what special place she would find her next surprise beverage! Courtney you always bring a smile to my face and a laugh from my heart! Happy birthday sweet girl!

Cheers to the Birthday Girl.....a few of my favorite pics. Some are oldies, but goodies. :)


Happy Birthday, lovey!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Waaaaaar Eagle!

It's Game Day! War Eagle! We're super excited about our big game against South Carolina tonight.... Although I'm sitting in my new home drinking coffee and watching Game Day with my sister, I do wish I were back on the plains like last weekend!

Last weekend was a very special game weekend, because it was Clayton's first Auburn game since we've been a couple! Yes, we both figured out that he had been to several Auburn/Florida (and yes, Auburn consistently beat Florida) games during both of our college years, but that was before we knew each other. He was such a good sport! He put on his navy blue shirt and tailgated with the best of us Tigers!

We visited our house, The Palace, that is still in the Alpha Chi family! We even got a private tour! Oh the good times that were had in this house....
 Tailgating with the Alpha Chi girls!
 My sweet husband....what a sport!


Allie and Peacock....on our way to Bodega The Vault!

Happy Weekend and Waaaaaaar Eagle!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Our First Home!

Greetings from Atlanta! That's right...this is my first post from our new home in Atlanta, specifically in the neighborhood of Vinings. After a year of house searching (and our patient realtor Leigh) we found a place that we loved and were ready to call home! We closed on our new home and moved in two weeks ago! It was bittersweet to say goodbye to Jamie and Young Harris, but we are excited to be back in the city with our closest friends and family.

 These pics were taken our last night in Young Harris...We sat on the back porch and said our goodbye to our sweet girl. I only cried a little bit.

I love our new little neighborhood... we are in the heart of Vinings and have the privilege of walking to so many neat little restaurants and shops! It's considered a historical district of Atlanta and has so much charm!


Moving was quite stressful, but we could not have managed to do it without the help of family! This being our first move as a married couple, we learned that moving two people after accumulating wedding gifts and furniture is much different then moving one single person (aka a bedroom suite).

(Quick Side Note: I cannot thank our family and friends enough for all of our wonderful wedding gifts! We haven't been able to open/use most of them because our cabin was fully loaded and furnished in Young Harris. It was like Christmas morning opening all of our boxes of gifts during the move! We have LOVED being able to use our new appliances, kitchenware, vases, towels, bedding, frames, etc! We feel so spoiled and that's thanks to all of you!)

A (much needed) champagne toast with our helpful movers after a long day of moving! Celebrating our first night in our new home!

I know you're dying to see it....so here are pictures of our new home! Please keep in mind, we are not completed yet! There are still lamps to be bought, pictures and curtains to be hung! However....we are slowly but surely getting there!

 Walking in from the front door...The dining room/kitchen is to the right. Living room straight ahead. Laundry room/Guest bathroom is to the left.
 Left of entryway: Guest bathroom at the end of the hallway. Laundry closet to the left.
Laundry area.
 
Straigh ahead from entryway: Living room and countertop.
 Right of entrway: Dining Room. Definitely in need of wall decor!
 We plan to cover the dining room seats with this fun and funky Waverly geometric pattern!
 This little nook is across from the kitchen and the countertop. Eventually we'll get a lamp (and candlesticks, obvi). For now it's our homage to Rosemary Beach. (Yes, we have gone a little wedding picture crazy...but can you blame us?! This is the first time we've been able to print them and hang them in our own place!)
 Countertop and bar stools.
 Kitchen.
 Other view of kitchen and dining room.
 Our living room. It's so cozy and comfortable...I love the way it turned out! I got some really cool burlap curtains and a burlap lampshade from Ballard Backroom.
 This is my favorite accent pillow!

 Vern's new toy... just in time for football season!
 Master Bedroom. Obviously we haven't hung pictures yet, but I love how it's coming together. Clayton went out on a limb and hired a painter for me. I LOVE the way the color looks! So serene.
 I about died when I found these lamps at Homegoods! They are the perfect color and add such a great print to the room!
 This was an old shelf of my mom's that I painted... I'll share the before/after pics in another post!
 My personal favorite part... the master bathroom.
 My side.
 My haven.
 Clayton's side.

 Our closet....and we still have room! I have never once been able to put both summer and winter clothes in one closet! This is ten times better than the closet (aka rack of clothes sitting in the guest room) I had in YH.


 Guest room. (The duvet is still packed at my mom's house....)
 More guest room.
 Guest room attaches to the hall bathroom.
 Guest bathroom.
 More guest bathroom.

We're ready for everyone to come see us for a visit! The guest room awaits all of you out-of-towners! We've been so busy moving and getting settled, and actually spent our first weekend in Auburn last weekend for the Clemson game! We're so excited to be able to rest and relax in our new home together this weekend!