Interesting Night

If you know Allen and I pretty well, you would know that we are very different when it comes to our movie selections. Allen has been watching scary movies since he was little (around 4). He loves a good scary/bloody/halloweenish movie. His favorite holiday is halloween because of all the new movies that come out.

 I however grew up never watching scary movies. The scariest movie I watched as a child was Sleeping Beauty and Snow White with the evil queens. As of today, I still hate scary movies because I over think things and freak myself out. Don't even think about movies that spew blood because I will most likely puke on you.

Well, monday night I tried to be a good wife and let Allen pick the movie and where we at dinner on our date night. I think I only watched maybe 30 minutes of the whole movie because my eyes were either dug into Allen's shoulder or trying to read my ebook on my iphone. Needless to say, my nerves were shot when it came time for bed. My husband, being the concerned guy he is, said I should take 1/2 of a sleeping pill so I am not up all night. Ok, 1/2 of a pill, that's not that much. I'll be able to get up at 5:45 no problem. LIES!!!! Yes, I did get up at 5:45 but I fell asleep in the shower, eating breakfast, blow drying my hair and almost driving to school. So, me being so smart, I stopped for coffee with 2 shots! I'm awake now and it's a good thing I was not teaching anything new yesterday hahaha.

Changes

Fall is finally here! I love fall and everything that comes with it. While grocery shopping today, I found the cutest wall hang of which I hung on the outside of our door. I love the cool days and nights, pumpkins, apples, Hoedown, and the homemade soups.


Well, I have some news...... No I'm not pregnant and I'm sorry if that was your guess and you are totally bummed.
Marley is no longer with Allen and I. No, she isn't dead just was sent to another family. The morning that became aggressive with me was her last week with us. She was sent to a family that has no child (she doesn't like children) and they have another chihuahua. Her new own says she has adjusted to her new home with ease and is very friendly.


 11 weeks until graduation! This student teaching experience has been going well. So far, I have learned that students can be bribed with ice cream sandwiches. Luckily  there are only 2 1/2 more weeks left at this placement. Student teaching is definitely an adjustment for the both of us. My day starts at 6 and lasts until 4, not including the days I work at the church. Allen is at work from 2 pm-10 pm. Most nights, I am in bed before he gets home and he is asleep when I get up and going. We really only get 1 night together because I work on the other one. I have learned that I am a jealous when it comes to time and it is something I need to work on.

Other than marley's departure our life has been pretty boring. I guess it is time to shake things up again.

Song of Solomon 8:6-7  Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.

Greetings from Philly!

I just learned there is an app for blogger so now I can write on my phone. So in my three days in Philadelphia I have learned many things

1) 97% of the streets are one way and the green light is your signal to walk
2) being other shoes besides heels and flip flops
3) don't ask for sweet tea because they will laugh at you
4) hashbrowns doesn't exist above the mason Dixon line.
5) dont speak to anyone because southerns, including tennesseans, will be laughed at immediately.
6) instead of saying excuse me just push your way through.
7) scrapple is like the southern equivalent to hash.

So far, the convention has been wonderful. We presented our posters yesterday afternoon and last night. Yesterday afternoon was all the undergraduate students. The following presentation was a mix of everyone( including professionals, professors, graduates and undergrads) however, they only excepted 25 of the undergraduate posters out of 400 total and both of our posters were accepted. We go a certificate, pretty ribbon to put on our name badges and popcorn. Overall it has been a great trip but, I miss home. Especially my husband. i think this will be the last research presentation for me.

1 year and counting

Well, we made it! It's hard to believe it has been a year already. People say that the first year is the hardest. I, however, disagree. Our first year was actually really good. Now some days weren't as easy as others and it did require lots of prayer and perseverance but overall not a bad first year of marriage.

As I was growing up, Walt Disney was a big part of my life. In every movie that contained a princess, she and the prince lived happily ever after in a HUGE castle with no care in the world. But he forgets to mention that in the real world when a princess finds her prince and the marry that things are a little different. You don't start off in a castle, you now have added families members and there aren't dancing kitchen objects that cook extravagant meals for you. Oh, the imagination of a child.

To celebrate, monday night we went out to dinner to The Stockyard in Nashville. Let's just say it was worth every penny we spent. This is my steak. it was HUGE. I ate a 1/3, Allen ate 1/3 and the rest was for lunch the next day. Yes, it did come with one onion ring. We then came home to dig into the top tier of our wedding cake. I hope it tasted better the first time because the only person who liked it was Marley, well she not really a person but you get my drift.

Since we didn't do the whole smash the cake in the other persons face deal we decided to have some fun with the dry crusty cake. 

 As I lay in bed that night, I just kept thinking about how blessed we have been. The Lord says not to worry about anything which I am really bad about. Everything was taken care of this year. We paid off Allen's car. My yearly MRI was crystal clean. My hormone levels are dropping. I got a wonderful student teaching assignment although it seemed kind of sketchy at first. and I am graduating in December. Everything is just falling into place as far as I know, but only he knows the true plan for this journey.

Day 2

Whew! I am pooped and it's only my second day. If you didn't know this already, I am student teaching this semester. I am four months shy of being a High School Chemistry and Biology Teacher. I'm crazy right? Who in their right mind would teach chemistry and biology let alone with high schoolers? I guess this girl is. If I can teach college students then high school should be easy peasy. Maybe? Tomorrow is the BIG day. I get to meet my students, well first period anyway.

This whole student teaching this is a real adjustment. Instead of sleeping until 8-830 (sometimes 9), like the past 3 months, it's 6 AM for me. That was a real shocker yesterday. My body did not want to get up let alone try and get ready. But I did. My cooperating teacher is really nice now to see how the kids are tomorrow.

As far as any yummy concoctions from the Kitchen goes, I got nada. I cant remember the last real meal that I have cooked beside just cooking for me or picking at leftovers. Last week I did make these scrumptious whole wheat garlic and herb pretzels. For being healthy, they were actually pretty good.  

baked not fried

Yep, you guessed it, another recipe. But this isn't just for your knowledge, it's for me too. I can come back here for pictures and the recipe if i ever lose the paper copy.

If there is one thing I love to do that is go to the farmers market in town and get fresh veggies every week. This week I decided to make something I haven't made by myself yet. Eggplant Parmesan! Allen was really excited when he asked what was for dinner that night but I had high expectations to keep up with. The first time Allen had eggplant was when his mom made it a few years ago and this night would be the second.

Traditional Eggplant Parmesan when the eggplant is fried has an about 550 calories per serving (1 cup). So, I decided to make my own that has almost half of those calories.

Beaked Not Fried Eggplant Parmesan

2  sm eggplant, cut into 1/4" slices
1/4 c + 1 1/2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
2 lb plum tomatoes or 1 can (28 oz) tomatoes, chopped
20 fresh basil leaves
1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Generously oil 2 non-stick baking sheets.
2. Put eggplant on pans and brush tops with 1/4 cup of the oil. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Bake 30 minutes or until softened.
3. Heat remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, 1 minute.

4. Add tomatoes, basil, pepper, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and cook until sauce is thickened and reduced to about 2 cups, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

5. Transfer tomato mixture to food processor and puree until nearly smooth.

6. Coat bottom of 8" x 8" baking pan with 1/2 cup of the sauce. Add one-third of the eggplant, and top with another 1/2 cup of the sauce and 3 tablespoons of the cheese. Repeat twice (eggplant, sauce, cheese), ending with remaining 6 tablespoons cheese.


7. Bake until browned, about 30 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition (per serving): 300 cal, 10 g protein, 24 g carbs, 11 g fiber, 20.5 g fat

Now, When I first bit in I wasn't sure. I am a TOTAL Texture person. So tofu, cottage cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, refried  beans, peas out of the question. The texture was.... different (not crunchy or gooey), not bland tasting but needed a little more cheese but overall pretty good. And to my surprise, Allen enjoyed it too. It wasn't his mamas but then neither and I.

scrumptous

Happy 4th! a day late though.  Allen and I got to take a mini vaca for a few days. We drove to Crossville and went camping. No internet. No facebook. Just him and I for 3 days. Monday we did head farther east  to visit his mom and our new nephew. Zamsom Alexander Gillis- 5lbs 12 ozs. Allen was so scared to hold him worried that he was going to drop him. Precious he is and I can't wait until we get to see him again. 

So I have a new recipe... I know your dying to hear what tasty treat I have made now. A picture says a 1000 words so here is a picture.

 Yum! right? Strawberry Oat Muffins.

• 1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 1/4 cups rolled oats
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup strawberry puree (toss a few large hulled berries into a food processor and pulse until you have 1/2 cup of puree)
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1/4 cup honey or other liquid sweetener of choice
• 2 Tbsp canola oil
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup hulled & diced strawberries (measure after chopping)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Coat a 12 cup muffin pan with canola oil cooking spray or line with paper cups.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients (through cinnamon), and set aside.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the next 7 ingredients (applesauce through egg).
5. Add the dry ingredients into the wet, stirring until moistened. Gently fold in the diced strawberries.
6. Use an ice cream scoop (for uniformly-sized muffins) to spoon batter into prepared muffin pan.
7. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean.