Book Review: Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl

I bought this book one day this semester during retail therapy. It was on one of the center displays at Barnes and Noble, and the cover is what really caught my eye! I saw the duck boots and the heels and thought it looked like something I would like. I read the back and was sold!

This book is a true story about a woman and her family who move from the suburbs of New Jersey to the sticks in Virginia to live on a farm. If you have ever lived in the sticks or been or worked on a farm, you will relate to and understand this book. She has a tough time changing from her Manolo's and pencil skirts to overalls and mud boots, and the 'city girl stuck in a farm girl's body' makes for interesting reading! I found her writing style very entertaining. She formerly worked as a marketing director for Family Circle magazine, so her writing is witty and a bit sarcastic at times, which I loved.

If you are looking for a book with a defined plot, this may not be the best choice. To me, it was more of a memoir than a novel with a plot. Each chapter details a different story or experience that the author has, and I laughed my way through most of them. If you're looking for something light-hearted and funny, pick this one up and give it a try. She has a sequel of sorts scheduled to be released in 2011.

I give the book an A! Has anyone else read it?

Merry Christmas!

I am happy to say that we have a white Christmas, the first in our small little town in over 40 years! The last time a white Christmas happened here, both my parents were kids! I have always wanted a white Christmas, and this year it finally happened! The southeast is seeing a pretty nasty storm right now. We are expecting up to three inches of snow overnight, and maybe some more throughout the day tomorrow. It is beautiful! I am having trouble with the photo uploader on here right now, so I will try again tomorrow to post the pictures that I have taken of the snow! Church services throughout the area have been cancelled for tomorrow, and from the weather forecast, it looks like we will be stuck in the house for a few days because of freezing and dangerous roads and such. Fine by me! More hot chocolate, gas logs, another book, and the company of my family will make for a great time.

Well, another Christmas has come and (almost) gone, and Santa was good to me this year. Again, the pictures would make this part of the post much more interesting, but for now I will include a short list, and hopefully I will be able to put some pictures up tomorrow:

• new clothes and jeans
• new boots
• new books
• now programmable coffee maker
• mini crock-pot
• new perfume

These are a few things that Santa brought to me, and I am thankful for all that he did bring to me and my family.

Over the last few years, I have learned that Christmas isn't so much about getting and giving presents as it is the time with the people who mean so much to me. This really hit me hard last year.

Last fall, I studied abroad for the entire semester in Costa Rica and was unable to spend Thanksgiving at home with my family. I arrived home just 2 weeks before Christmas, and after being away from my family and friends for several months, I was ecstatic to just see them and spend time with them. I realized in a way I never had before the importance of love and family and being together. That experience taught me to never take the time with those you love for granted, a lesson I wish I had learned much sooner in life. That has truly become my favorite part of Christmas - seeing friends and family and being with them and laughing with them and making memories together.

Of course, the importance of loving relationships is shown to us through Jesus, the foundation for the Christmas season:

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

God sent Jesus to earth to save us all and to give us all hope. And that really is what Christmas is all about. Sure, the traditions of Christmas make this time of year memorable, but it is the Lord and his example of love that allows us to experience all of the joys of Christmas that make it so memorable to each one of us.

1 John 3:16-18
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

My prayer is that we all realize fully the love that Jesus Christ has shown to us, and that we let that consume our hearts and allow us to love others in the way that he loved us.

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,
   to us a son is given,
   and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Favorite holiday recipes, part 1

Several years ago, my mom's side of the family started a new Christmas tradition. Instead of my grandmother preparing all of the food and desserts for Christmas, all of the children and grandchildren would bring one or two dishes so that my grandmother would only have to take care of the basics, taking a lot of stress and work off of her! 

This year, my mother and I decided that she would make meatballs and I would make cheese dip and punch. I absolutely LOVE each of these, so I am including the recipes in this post! 

"Green Punch"

I know I have had this punch at many weddings before, and a few years ago, my mom found the recipe in an old cookbook. I love making this punch! It's so easy to make, and it is great for any kind of gathering or party, and is especially refreshing and tasty on those hot summer days!

Ingredients: 

• 2 packages of lemon-lime Kool-Aid mix
• 2 cups of sugar
• 40 oz can of pineapple juice (the cans I use usually contain 46 ounces, which works just as well)
• 2 quarts of water
• 1 quart of ginger ale (you can find a bottle of ginger ale that measures right at a quart at the grocery store)

Directions:

1. Place Kool-Aid mix and sugar into a pitcher. 
2. Add the two quarts of (hot) water to the mix and sugar and stir.
3. Add in the 40 ounces of pineapple juice. 
4. Allow to chill prior to serving.
5. Just before serving add ginger ale and stir. 
6. Serve on ice and enjoy! 

Cheese Dip

Ingredients:

• 2 packages of cream cheese (the larger ones)
• 2 bags of shredded cheese
• 1 pound of hamburger meat
• 1 package of taco seasoning
• 1 jar of salsa 
• 1+ bags of Scoops Tostitos chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Set the cream cheese out so that it can soften while you prepare the meat.
3. Cook the meat as usual (brown, drain fat, etc.)
4. Add the taco seasoning per package instructions to the cooked meat. 
5. Allow the meat to simmer while you put the cream cheese in the cooking pan.
6. Spread the cream cheese across the bottom of the pan.
7. Add the meat on top of the cream cheese.
8. Add the salsa on top of the meat.
9. Spread the 2 packages of shredded cheese on top.
10. Place pan in the oven and allow to cook for 30 minutes. It may require more or less time. Just watch the cheese on top and let it cook to your liking!
11. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. It is best to eat the dip with Scoops chips so that you can scoop it up!

What are your favorite holiday dishes? 

SOLD

Lilly Pulitzer has been sold:

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/prep-stays-hot-as-lilly-pulitzer-is-sold-for-60-million/

Thoughts??

BR wish list

I wish it wasn't too late for Santa to add these items to my Christmas list!!!

Goldfish wrap in Cerise

Ruffle placket stripe shirt in Blue Stripe

Stripe Jane puff sleeve tee

 

 Scotty essential flat in Navy

Silk belted ruffle shell

Please, Santa?!

getting closer to Christmas

Yesterday morning, my dad and I went to the high school where he used to work (and just retired from last year) for the Christmas concert. The different choirs and bands and ensembles performed different arrangements of Christmas carols. I love going to Christmas performances and hearing the different songs, so I really enjoyed it.

After that, I went to my mom's work to see "The Polar Express" - NOT the movie. So what does this mean, you ask? The first grade teachers there got together a few years ago and decided to bring the movie to life. Son the last Friday before Christmas break, the children (and teachers) come to school in their pajamas, and the fun begins. A man dresses up like a conductor and blares music from the movie's soundtrack down the halls. The music sounds like a train, and the kids rush out of their classrooms, waving their tickets (little yellow pieces of paper) and move from classroom to classroom. Each room has a different activity - one has hot chocolate, others have crafts, and one room even has Santa! The children also have a chance to go outside and ride a real little choo choo train around the playground! They get so excited, and it is the cutest little thing!

I spent the rest of the morning wrapping Christmas presents and watching old game shows on TV with my sister and dad.

Yesterday evening, I had the opportunity to go to my first ever professional basketball game. My boyfriend bought tickets to go see the Atlanta Hawks play, so off to Atlanta we went! We got stuck in traffic as we got farther into the city, but we made it in plenty of time, parked right across the street from the Philips Arena, and went in to enjoy some food before the game started. I really enjoyed the game and the crowd and the fun things they did during breaks. There were even some celebrities there! Nene from the Real Housewives of Atlanta was on the front row, and another famous rapper was introduced as well. I've been told that the likes of Jay-Z, Young Joc, Usher, even T.I. have been seen at these games. Too bad that T.I. is in jail, or else he may have been there.

We got home last night around 12:30 am, and I went straight to bed and slept in this morning. I think we may do some Christmas shopping later today, but the rainy weather, may just keep us inside the rest of the day.

Happy Saturday!

The Sing Off

No words are necessary. This is my favorite group on The Sing Off!

A note to the teacher

Dear Dr. ------------,

I understand that Christmas is a busy time of year, and that the end of the semester brings exams and things that must be graded. On that note, I must inquire as to why you have not yet posted the only two final grades that have yet to be posted? Forgive me, but we took the exam over a week ago, and the professors who gave tests Saturday and Monday had their grades in two days ago. I respect you as a professor and a pharmacist, but would love it if you would put my mind at ease and allow me to completely enjoy my break by letting me know what grades I have. I appreciate your concern and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
TCS 

There's no place like home for the holidays!

I am glad to say....

....that I am HOME for the holidays!!!

I have survived my first semester of pharmacy school!!! I can hardly believe it. It really flew by! All that time studying and in the library really did make the time pass so quickly.

I came home yesterday afternoon as quickly as I could. I took my last final (of eight) at 9 am yesterday morning. My first final was the Monday after Thanksgiving. We had one that Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. The others started last Wednesday, and then we had one a day (Thursday-Saturday, Monday) through yesterday. Most of my grades are back, but I am still waiting on a few. I never have understood why it takes so long to get scan tron tests graded and back? But for some professors it takes nearly a week.

I am glad to say that with the Lord's help I passed all of my classes with A/B+! I remember after the first couple of days of school at the beginning of the semester, particularly after my first biochemistry class, feeling completely overwhelmed and in over my head. I am not a science person at all. I love English and Math, but Chemistry and Biology have never really been my thing. The thought of making a good grade in Biochemistry was not even in my head when I started out this semester. I actually remember going home and calling my dad in tears after that first class, thinking there was no way I would be able to do it! The professor jumped right into the material in the first class and explained in detail the mechanisms for how two different drugs work, and I remember our entire class sitting there stunned and completely lost. I am so thankful that the Lord has helped me to persevere and study, not just for Biochemistry, but for all of the other courses as well, and achieve good grades. I know that he has made some miracles happen.

One of the biggest 'miracles' happened just today. Our most difficult (well, my most difficult exam - Biochem) was last Wednesday, so after that exam, I was so burned out! It was difficult to find the WTS (will to study) as me and some of my classmates like to call it, and studying for my Saturday morning exam was no exception. An EXAM?! On Saturday MORNING?! Whoever heard of such a thing? I went into the exam feeling a bit unprepared, and walked out thinking I had bombed the test and wouldn't be able to keep the A that I had in the class. I looked through my notes and found 6 or 7 questions that I thought I had missed. At 2 points a piece, that put me too close to the grade I needed to make, so I honestly thought that I had hurt my grade. I was really hard on myself for a couple of reasons: 1. The test wasn't too difficult and I should have known the material better. 2. I made good test grades all semester and was aggravated that I didn't apply myself the way that I had in studying for those tests. So I've been a bit nervous over the last few days about the grade, especially since it is the heaviest weighted class this semester. Well...this afternoon, the professor sent out an e-mail notifying us that the grades had been posted, as well as our final grades, so I pulled up the site nervously. I was with my dad when I checked, and was shocked to find that I made a 96 on the test. I have NO IDEA how that happened, and I kept saying that to dad over and over. "This makes no sense, dad. How did that happen? I thought I had at least 10 points lower than that." And he chuckled and said, "It's funny how God works sometimes!" And it was so true. I have no idea how that happened, because I was certain that I had missed 6 questions. I still can't believe it, but am glad that things turned out the way they did! Thank you, Lord!!

I enjoyed my first full day at home today. I spent some time with dad running errands and just being buddies! And I hung out with my sister and mom and watched a movie, and also got to spend some time with my boyfriend and his family. It was a very relaxed day. It is so nice to be at home and not have to be concerned about what I need to be studying!

I have no plans for tomorrow, other than some online Christmas shopping! I got really behind on gifts this year because I was so caught up in studying for finals for the last few weeks. I love Christmas time!

Can't wait to see what I am able to do with the rest of my free time tomorrow!