iTunes Giveaway Winner!

First of all, thank you ALL for reading my blog. I have a feeling this won't be the last giveaway on here, so make sure you visit often and say hi!

Now, onto the goods. After consulting the Random Number Generator, I am pleased to announce the winner of the iTunes gift card is...


Allison was comment number 6! Allison is also a fellow blogger. She is endeavoring to read all the Pulitzer Prize winning books, which is quite an undertaking. She is blogging her thoughts and summaries on each of them. You should check it out--you'll find a new book to read!

(Allison, I sent you an e-mail asking for your address and such!)

iTunes Giveaway!

I will draw the winner at 10 PM Central,
so keep the comments coming until then!

The Power of Love

Last night was the night. The awaited for, exciting, thrilling evening when Celine Dion's tour came through Dallas. Even Emmitt Smith was there!

First of all, some history. I've seen Celine Dion in concert three times. The first time she was the opening act for Michael Bolton. (Yes, that would imply that I, in fact, have seen Michael Bolton in concert--actually, TWICE. In case you were wondering, it was before he cut his hair.) I saw her again during The Today Show's Summer concert series at Rockefeller Center on an NYC trip with Alisia and Amanda. And now, concert numero three last night at the AAC with my mom.


It was so fun! I can't remember the last time I went to a concert where I knew all the words to all the songs. Some of them took me WAY back to 1996 and my first taste of freedom called a driver's license. Some of them just made me laugh when I thought of how many times I sung those power ballads about finding true love (in the car, at the top of my lungs) coming from the heart of a girl looking for just that. And there I was so many years later, going to a concert on some tickets given to me by my very own love. The thought feels like a great big hug.

Celine kicked it off with "I Drove All Night." I can't remember the order but she played all the hits: "The Power of Love," "Because You Loved Me," "I'm Your Angel," "Waiting For You," "The Prayer" (with Bocelli via video--beautiful!), and many, many more. She did a cover of "How Do I Get You Alone" originally performed by Heart. Of course, the big finale was "My Heart Will Go On." I wonder if she is sick of singing that song.


I may or may not have some video that may or may not have me singing loudly in the background while at the same time a random man of great fabulosity 5 rows behind us screams to Celine, "Get it girl! That is my favorite song!" during "The Power of Love."

Adventures in Cowtown: Fort Worth Nature Center

This past Saturday morning we got ourselves out of bed and drove out to the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. If you know me at all, you are as shocked as I am that I ventured out on such an excursion, and you will be mystified by the fact that it was my idea. (Brad is still scratching his head trying to figure it out.) But it seemed an appropriate use of an 80 degree January day.

The FWNC has over 20 miles of hiking trails, organized canoe trips, and other such outdoorsy activities to suit your outdoorsy-type selves. We decided to take the longest trail--one that is 3.25 miles one way. Initially Brad thought this would be a cakewalk, however, this particular trail marched us up one canyon side then declined back down to the valley. Up and down. Then back up and back down. And just when we thought it was over, up and down once more. In total, we walked almost 6 miles. (We decided to walk the road back. Our dog was wanting to be carried!)

But you know what? I actually enjoyed all the nature.

Brad & Penny the Adventure Dog
Taking a short rest

Friday Musings

This post is going to be a bit disjointed. Brace yourself.

Today I went back to work. After sleeping in everyday since the 23rd, I drove the whole way wishing I had stayed in bed. It was a quiet day, with many people prolonging coming back until Monday. I could have, but ultimately I will use the extra vacation day later in the year when I have had less than 9 days off in row. And on that day, I will be thankful that I went to work this day. (At least this is the story I've been trying to convince myself to believe.)


This weekend I have a goal. I am declaring it boldly on the world wide web so that I will hold myself accountable to it. Over the Christmas holidays, I started reading 1984 by George Orwell, simply because I had never read it. I wish I had been able to leave 1984 in 2008. I have found it to be the most boring book I've ever picked up. (And I even liked Silas Marner!) I guess I am more interested in utopian societies than dystopian (hello, happily ever after), but unfortunately I am not finished with it, so I am proclaiming this weekend to be "Down with Big Brother Weekend." I won't go to work again without this book checked off my list.

I will also be watching quite a bit of Planet Earth, taking down all the Christmas, and maybe going hiking. Shocking, I know. Best of all, I'm going to take a big nap, because I have started the year off TIRED.

Have a great first weekend of 2009!

Brunch Casserole

This casserole has been making the baby shower and work potluck breakfast circuit for a couple of years now. Recently, it showed up at our New Year's breakfast, so I thought I would post the recipe. I made it from the trial and error of combining other casseroles and just plain ol' personal preference, but I'm sure there are many recipes similar to it out there on the information super highway or your mom's church cookbook. I've given it a creative name for your enjoyment. (I have no excuse other than I am tired.)

Breakfast Casserole
2 1/2 cups of seasoned croutons
1 lb. pork sausage
6 eggs
1 pint half and half
1 can cream of mushroom soup
3/4 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 can Rotel
2 cups shredded monterrey & colby jack cheese

First, let's butter or grease your 9x13 casserole dish. Spread the croutons in the bottom of the dish. Brown the sausage, drain, and layer on top of the croutons. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and pour in the half and half. Combine the cream of mushroom soup, rotel, and cheese with the egg mixture. Finally, stir the drained spinach into the eggs & co. and pour it over the sausage in your casserole dish. Refrigerate overnight.

Bake at 325 for 1 hour, once the egg mixture is set and browned on top. It serves best if you let it sit for 5 minutes before dishing it up.

A personal note on this dish: I'm not a huge fan of spinach, so that's why the measurement is 3/4 of the bag. I was afraid all of it would be a little too spinachy for me, so feel free to dump it all in there if you prefer. The color goes so well with the happy Rotel tomatoes. Enjoy!

NYE 2008

What a fun and memorable New Year's Eve! For the past few years, I feel like we have thrown something together last minute for NYE. Not this year. In early November we started talking about ideas for the night, and we ended up with a cabin at Riverbend just outside of Glen Rose.

The New Year's Team
We split up the meals for the duration of our stay (dinner, breakfast, and lunch), and everyone brought a snack. Brandi's rice krispy treats were a hit, along with some kind of chex/m&m/goldfish/sugary-deliciousness that Ashley brought. (We need the recipe!) Dinner was homemade enchiladas, King Ranch chicken, and tamales. Muy delicioso!

After a couple of games of knockout and a marathon volleyball tournament at the gym (I was a spectator, thankyouverymuch), we headed back to the house for Battle of the Sexes. I am still blaming myself because I should have known that Sony Playstation debuted in 1995. I was off by a year! After that, we were ready for the count down.

Happy New Year! We are so thankful that the Lord has blessed us with a great group of friends to do life with. Onward to 2009!

Here are the pics I caught!
Ashley & Chris (with Robbie in the back left)
They coordinated the event. A Great BIG Thank You to y'all!

Aaron & Brandi

Laura

Whitney & Bryan

Brad & Me

Troy & Aimee