Four People I'm Thankful For

So looking back through my life I've realized how God has blessed me with wonderful friends!  I think now is a very appropriate time to take the time to highlight these girls that are my best friends who I could not live without!!  Fayetteville, Dallas, Kansas City, New York City, Destin, Cozumel and the list goes on.....we have had some wonderful times making wonderful memories!

Graduation...we are now U of A alum

Stacey's birthday at Powerhouse

Spring Break Cruise 2009

Going out with the girls

Summer 2008 trip to NYC

Summer 2008 trip to NYC

My first Subway ride in NYC

Fall 2008

Fun night with the girls

Bid Day Senior Year 2008

Stacey's 21st Bday

My 21st Bday

Cheerin' on the Hogs

Girls trip to Dallas

Lauren's 21st Bday

Lauren and I got to meet Paula Deen 

Destin Summer 2007

November 2009 Stacey is engaged

 

Philippians 1:3 "I thank my God every time I remember you!"

Thanksgiving 2009

This year we had Thanksgiving in Bella Vista with my grandparents.  I was very lucky to take off work for a few days so I could spend extra time in NWA!  I love Thanksgiving because we always have lots of fun, eat lots of good food, and I get to soak up everything my grandma knows about cooking!  Mom and I were actually informed that Thanksgiving is at our house next year so this year we really had to watch the main event of cooking the turkey.  My favorite dish of Thanksgiving is Sweet Potato Casserole.  We do not just make the basic casserole with marshmallows.....we add brown sugar, pecans, and lots of butter (Paula Deen would be proud)!  Needless to stay we were all stuffed but in a very good way!  Mom, Dad, and I also started a new tradition this year.  We had never gotten up early to experience some Black Friday sales so this year was the year we finally ventured into the madness.  We decided since I was needing some cookware for an apartment why not get a deal!  It was tons of fun and I think we started a new tradition!  This Thanksgiving I think I am especially thankful for my wonderful family!  Being away from them is hard but it makes it very special when I get to go home and spend quality time with them.  God Bless you all through this holiday season!

Dad, Mom, Me, and Matt

This picture was taken at the Fayetteville Square....every year we go to see the lights...it really gets you in the Holiday Mood!!

Sophie really wanted to be a part of the table so as soon as Granddad got up she jumped at the opportunity to join the table!

Sophie is one smart pup!  She knows she has the best odds if she sits by Granddad because he is the most likely to share his meal!  I mean how could you resist?

Here we are loading up our plates for Round 1!  

Here we are in front of our Thanksgiving spread!  Yes, it did taste as good as it looks!

I hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving and enjoy this Holiday Season!  Remember Jesus is the Reason for the Season and take time to praise him for the great blessings he has given you!

I've Moved to Dallas

As most of y'all know I finished at the U of A in August and decided to move to Dallas!  At first I wasn't sure about my decision because this meant leaving my wonderful family and friends in NWA, but after lots of thinking I have decided that this is where I need to be to start my life in the "real world".  I am very thankful for the wonderful friends I have met so far!  They have helped me acclimate and maneuver my way around the BIG D!  Here is a little glimpse into my life so far in Dallas!

Me, Molly, Caroline, Nicki

As many of y'all know, Nicki was my roomie for 2 years in the TriDelta house.   Molly is one of Nicki's friends from high school (they are from Dallas) and Caroline (from Austin) is one of Molly's roomates from Baylor.  I am so thankful for these 3 girls!

These two girls are Hannah and Sarah.  Hannah (from Dallas) and Sarah (from St.Louis) were roomates and Pi Phi sisters at Mizzou.  I met these two girls at bible study and I can't imagine Dallas without them!

Lauren (on the left) is one of my good friends from work.  She went to Texas A&M and moved to Dallas after graduation.  I am so thankful to have met her and hang out with her outside of work!

Meagan (left) and Cheyenne (center)

These two girls are who I am currently living with!  Megan and Cheyenne are both from the greater Dallas area and went to the U of A with me.  Meagan was a Tridelt with Nicki and I and was even our neighbor sophomore year in the Tridelt house!  I am so grateful to be living with these two great girls!

Elissa and Miranda

Elissa and Miranda are both Native Arkansans like myself therefore we have a special bond living in Dallas!  Elissa went to the U of A with me and Miranda went to UNT but they are both originally from Conway.  I met Miranda through Elissa at bible study.  As you can tell these two girls are very fun and I am so glad to have them here in Dallas!

I hope y'all enjoy learning a little about my new friends in Dallas!  I promise to update more often to keep you in the know about my new life in the BIG D!

XOXO

-E

God Bless America and BBQ

My Patriotic Puppy Sophie!  I just love her profile!!! :)

My brother loved the smoked ribs Granddad made for the 4th!  He tested many before we actually ate!

My Grandma loves sparklers!!!  We called her Lady Liberty all day!

The 3 racks of ribs my Granddad smoked!  They were wonderful!!!!

Our table Patriotic table scape!

My Dad...he was the only person not dressed in patriotic clothing so he grabbed some red wine to take care of that!

Matt and Granddad: Our wonderful chefs for the day!!

The 4th of July was so fun!!  My Mom, Dad, Brother, Sophie, and I spent the day at my Grandparent's house hanging out and eating.  We had smoked ribs and pulled pork, which my Granddad woke up at 5 am to put in the smoker, baked beans, coleslaw, watermelon, brownies, and spice cake cupcakes! It was a very yummy day to say the least!  I love holidays with my family because they are always filled with good food and lots of stories and laughs!  We finished the night with watching fireworks at Arvest Ballpark and when they only lasted 10 minutes we spent the rest of the night driving up and down the highway being "fireworks chasers" and trying to find other fireworks displays across NWA.  It was a great day for our family and I hope it was for everyone else as well!!!!

XOXO

-E

The Hills Season Finale

Tonight was the last episode of The Hills staring Lauren Conrad...LC! :( This is one of my favorite shows and I have loved LC since her time on Laguna Beach!  So in honor of her last episode, Lauren, Ryan, and I grilled out hamburgers and chicken, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese.  It was so yummy and the season finale did not disappoint!  I wish LC the best and I know she will go on to do great things!

XOXO

-E

BIRTHDAY WEEKEND!

Two of my friends turned 22 this weekend....Holly and Stacey!  For Holly's birthday Friday night we went to U.S. Pizza and ate dinner then went out!  We got her a really cute cake from Rick's and a gift card to Maude.  For Stacey's birthday Saturday night we went to Powerhouse...home of the world famous Kilowatt...need I saw more!  haha!  We also got her a cake from Rick's and a gift card to her favorite store...Hobby Lobby.  Needless to say, we had a GREAT weekend filled with Fun, Friends, and lots of birthday cake!  Yum!  ALSO, NICKI CAME TO TOWN THIS WEEKEND!  We were all so excited she made the drive from Dallas all by herself to be with us for the weekend!  We miss her already!  Love you Woose!

XOXO

-E

First House Project

I just moved in to the house in Fayetteville with Lauren, Holly, and Stacey.  I felt like we needed something at our front door so I went with Mom to westwood gardens and got some flowers and planted some pots to put at our front door.  I also got some herbs, so I can cook with fresh herbs! Yum-O!  It was so much fun...I love gardening!

XOXO

-E

Matt is an RHS alumni

So, my brother just graduated from high school last Friday night from Bud Walton here in Fayetteville!  He graduated with just over 700 people!  He is going to the University of Arkansas in August and he is so excited.  It will be so great to both be U of A alumni!  It was a great weekend with my parents and all four grandparents!  We had a blast and I think my parents are in denial that they have no kids left in high school!  I can't believe how I thought this day would never come!

XOXO

-E

KENNY CHESNEY CONCERT

For mother's day, my mom got two tickets to the Kenny Chesney concert in Little Rock.  My dad didn't want to go, so I got to go with her. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!  We went early to Little Rock and went shopping, ate dinner at Macaroni Grill, then went to the concert.  We had a GREAT time and the concert was wonderful!  Lady Antebellum opened, then Miranda Lambert played, then Kenny came on hanging in a chair over the middle of the crowd....it was such a cool entrance!!  So, if you ever get a chance to go see Kenny.....go see him....HE IS GREAT!

XOXO

-E