L is for LOVE

Saturday is my engagement anniversary (unfortunately we don't celebrate this really...maybe a dinner but we would do that anyway! It seems like a good excuse for presents to me..) and I can't believe that it has been five years since the hubs got down on one knee. 

Matt is not a planner.  He wasn't then, isn't now, nor will he be in the future.  He is much more likely to do things spontaneously...well at least more than I am these days.  I think he would love it if he could just turn to me and say "Pack a bag, lets leave tonight for Vegas!" and I would immediately think this was the best idea ever.  **I would think this was a fabulous idea...the key word however was immediately** 

Rewind 5 years ago to the proposal.  Matt picked up my ring Saturday morning, and it was on my hand by Sunday night.  Having the ring in his possession caused him great anxiety and overall a state of panic.  The faster he could propose the better!  He proposed to me in a park that we had walked hand in hand through many a time and had sat and enjoyed the weather together on numerous occasions.  It was a special place before and is even more so now. It will forever have a special place in my heart.

I said yes then without hesitating, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.  Matty you are truly the love of  my life and I am so thankful that the Lord blessed me with you.  You make me a better person and you have shown me what it truly looks like to follow after the Lord.  Thank you for choosing to spend your life with me 5 years ago.  I love you!

Recipe Roundup 2- Chocolate Bark

I have a favorite dessert that is my go to recipe for parties and potlucks.  At my house we just call it Chocolate Bark, but it is also known as toffee or heath bars.  One of friends has lovingly named them after me in her recipe book:)  It is super easy and DELICIOUS!  I have seen it made a variety of ways, but this way is my personal favorite. 

yummy chocolate bark!!

Ingredients:
1 sleeve club crackers
1 stick butter
1/2 cup brown sugar (I use light)
1/8 tsp baking soda
1 16 oz. bag of milk chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Spread out club crackers on a standard size cookie sheet, leaving about 1/4-1/2 inch empty on the edges.  I break crackers smaller to fill in spaces if there is not enough room for an entire cracker.
3. On the stovetop in a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar together over medium heat.  Once the butter is really melting, I start stirring frequently.  The butter and sugar should start to look creamy and will be a light brown color. 
4. At this point, add in the baking soda and stir.  The mixture will get frothy. (**Don't leave the sugar mixture on the stove long after this point or it will start to burn)
5. Pour mixture over the crackers and spread evenly with a spatula.  Bake for 7 minutes or until crackers are golden.
6. Take crackers out of the oven.  Immediately pour the entire bag of chocolate chips over the hot bubbly crackers (I try to evenly disperse over the crackers as I dump them out). Wait about 30 seconds-1 minute for the chocolate to start to melt and then begin spreading the chocolate evenly over the crackers.
7. Refrigerate tray for 4 hours or freeze for 45 minutes.  Break apart into bite size pieces and enjoy! (If waiting to serve, keep refrigerated.  The crackers begin to thaw and become sticky:)
Happy Eating!!

Fashion Security Blanket

Do you have a fashion security blanket? Something that you wear (possible frequently!) that makes you feel comfortable and better about yourself? I do...THE CARDIGAN. 

(anthro cardigan...love the mustard color!)

I was so thankful when these came back in style and were no longer designated for dorky librarians (no offense to anyone who knows a librarian who has sported these awesome sweaters...they were just ahead of the times...).  There are so many different options- colors, patterns, lengths, etc.  I probably wear some sort of cardigan at least 3 times a week.  They are perfect for covering up flabby arms and any unsightly bulges, without having to give up any style. You can wear them with skirts, dresses, pants, jeans, ANYTHING! I am going to have find some lightweight cardigans for the summer because I can't imagine life without the security of my cardigan sweater!!  What is your fashion security blanket?? I know you have one- jean jacket? spanx? Fess up!

book nerd

I am a book nerd.  This is not a huge revelation by any means, this has been common knowledge to anyone who has known me since about the age of 4.  I was OBSESSED with the library as a kid, partly because I was partially banned from buying books as a kid because I read them so fast it was a waste of money.  ((I have vivid memories as a kid of visiting the bookstore (pre B&N...we are talking Bookstop here folks) with my mom and sister and sitting on the little step stools in the kid section and read 2/3 of a babysitter's club book while they shopped around. I can see my Mom's point now.))  But if there was any type of reading competition, I was all over it.  BookIt!, Bluebonnet books, summer reading programs, I owned them all.  That is because not only did they involve my love of books, but also a chance for me to crush other little kids and show my literary superiority...I was competitive at a young age ok? 

I still love to read as an adult, maybe not quite as frequently, but its still a great love.  This all being said, I would never claim to be well-read.  I do not read the classics or important books filled with social commentary.  Those that I have actually read were probably required reading for my English classes growing up.  Not that I don't enjoy those (although who really actually liked Moby Dick?) but that is not the genre I lean to typically.  I prefer quick, easy, entertaining reads.  My recently read book list would have quite a few books in common with a 16 year old (without the Bieber biography) and I am quite okay with that.  I love Nicholas Sparks books, Harry Potter, Twilight, most fiction best sellers, you get the idea.  So of course the Hunger Games series was on my MUST list for my trip last week during spring break. 

Now some folks might get embarrased to have to visit the TEEN FICTION/ADVENTURE section at their local bookstore, but I am not one to.  In fact, I make mental notes of other books to look up:)..not really but I probably should.  ANYWAYS.....I was super excited to bust this bad boy out on my flight to visit my sister last week and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.  I loved it!  It was a great story and I couldn't wait to read the next two books in the trilogy and they were equally as entertaining.  It was a really new plot concept with intriguing characters and I didn't want to put them down. So if you are on the market for a new series, I highly recommend this one.  Or if you hate reading and think I am crazy person, they are making the series into a movie(s) and they are currently casting the main characters, so get excited!