Graduation Extravaganza

This past weekend, Chad and I made the 7 hour trek up to Wichita Falls to see Chad's brother, Andrew,  graduate from high school. It was wonderful to celebrate this big accomplishment with him and the family.

The graduate! He was ducking down because he is taller than Chad now! 

 On our way to the graduation. 

(Note to self: Bring a book next time.)

Yeah! So proud of Andrew! He is going to LCU- woo hoo! 

Love LCU and can't wait to see what great things he does there :) 

"Andrew The Giant" walking across the stage. Why is it these always turn out dark? 

We had an awesome time catching up with family and hanging out. It makes me wish we lived closer to everyone :( 

Grandad always saves People magazine for me- so I am starting to catch up on my celebrity gossip. 

We ate yummy food and had a fun time! 

This Saturday, I am flying to Amarillo (at 8 a.m. in the morning- meaning leaving G-town at 6 a.m. to make the hour drive to the airport. Poor Chad! He is such a good hubby! ) I am flying to Amarillo to watch my baby sister graduate from high school. Then I have the week off- woop woop! I will be spending it in Ruidoso camping with my family. I have missed the mountains badly and can't wait to hike, read in a hammock, beat my family in games, and cook over a fire! It will be absolutely wonderful! (except that Chad can't come-the freezer is packed with frozen meals again) 

So one graduation extravaganza done...on to the next!

Music Mood

How I feel today... :):):)

Let's go, Rangers!

Yesterday, Chad and I went to Houston to watch the Rangers/Astros baseball game. It was really fun!

It was my first time to go to a major league baseball game. I learned what a "full count" was and got to see Elvis in a "pickle." The Rangers lost...I was surprised and sad but we had a good time!

Baseball is very important to Chad so I am glad that I got to share in this with him!

I think I would really like baseball if there were only 6 innings instead of 9. :) 

But  its not, so I'm going to try and like it with its 9 innings. 

We were SUPER high in the $7 dollar seats. We could hardly see the players but we were ready to catch a ball.  :) My favorite players are Elvis and Cruz. (Basically because they are the only ones I can remember. Oh and Josh Hamilton a course.) 

That was our Saturday! Now, I am going to jump back into the 14th century in my book, take Georgia Baby to the dog park, and cook supper. Happy Sunday!

I think I'll move to Australia

Today was been one of those terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days!

I think I'll move to Australia!

Queen of the Kitchen

To start out, I love this quote! 

There is nothing better than good food and great conversations around it. 

I'm in the kitchen a lot. I cook meals 7 days of the week with a grocery budget of $300 a month. Chad and I eat out twice a month if we have enough money and a course for special occasions. Recently (after Chad studied the heart in class), we have been trying to eat less beef. We use to eat ground beef in almost every meal. FYI- don't do that. It messes with your heart or something ;) Now, in an effort to be healthy and as Chad says, "To not die of a heart attack in my twenties", I am cooking with more fresh vegetables, more chicken (absolutely hate cooking chicken!), and eating more pasta (love me some pasta!). 

All that to say, that every woman runs their kitchen differently. 

For example, my mother scrubs the seeds out of the strawberries as she washes them so hard (brings back memories of her washing my hair as a child...my scalp is still bruised from those claws rubbing back and forth)  and she cleans up after meal- that means counters wiped down, dishes washed and loaded, and everything in its place with the smell of bleach lingering in the air. 

She taught me well but I am more relaxed- meaning I have no problem leaving dishes in the sink or counters untouched- maybe it will change with age. 

Anyway, back to the point, all woman have different kitchen rules which is why I love cooking with other woman to see how they run their kitchen. 

-How they chop vegetables or wash fruit

-Their cooking process: 

1. Throw a lot of yummy things in a pot and hope for the best

OR

2. Follow a recipe (that's me)

-Grocery Shopping: list OR no list 

(always a list for me, along with my grocery game face-watch out!)

I find it so fun and interesting. I also love the cooking secrets that are passed down through the generations. My Meme is an amazing cook. One of my favorite cookbooks is our family one- original family recipes that produce wonderful tummy loving magic:)

One thing that I love about running my kitchen is all the gadgets I get to use.

My favorite drawer! So many fun spoons, cups, and scoops. 

My spices! Approaching the 2 year wedding anniversary (WHAT?!? 2 years!?) I am quite proud of my growing spice collection. I remember buying our first spices, wondering how often I would really use cayenne pepper. Often I have found out- Chad likes his food hot, guess just like his women :) haha- had too!

The Ultimate Shelf

  We were very spoiled with our wedding gifts. I am so thankful for all the wonderful gadgets I get to use, especially my glorious red kitchen aid mixer and beautifully large crock pot. 

My favorite  cookbook- Better Homes and Garden- and favorite apron- Vera Bradley. You have to look good while you cook, right?

Right now, I love running my kitchen. Some days I tire of the endless cooking but I have a wonderful husband who eats whatever I put in front of him. I am having fun discovering what works for me and using all my new kitchen gadgets, maybe even creating a few of my own cooking secrets to pass on. 

So how do you rule your kitchen?

What are your kitchen gadgets that you love to play with?

And what are some of your cooking secrets?

Bug Spray

This week as I was outside, getting eaten alive my mosquitoes, I sprayed myself with bug spray. As the smell of deet filled my nose and the greasy spray soaked into my skin, I was immediately taken back to Africa. 

A year ago, I had just graduated from college. The world was at my finger tips. With our best friends, The Shumans, and mentor, Jim Beck, Chad and I boarded a plane destined for Kenya. We were there for 6 weeks. It was an amazing life changing mission trip. So many days, I love to dream that I am back there.

 I love to imagine that I am sitting and drinking gallons of the completely amazing chia tea made by the Africans. As the evening light disappears and the night sounds start, I imagine sitting discussing how to change the world as Jesus did. I imagine the feeling of being consumed with people and forming a community. I imagine the sound as the electricity fails yet again. I imagine thriving with the slow pace of life along the many bouncy unpaved roads.

Most of all, I imagine the people. The complete sense of community and Christian friendship and the thought that this must be what heaven is like.

I love how in one single act, the spraying of bug spray, I am filled with these wonderful images of Africa.

I will leave you with this song. I remember Chad singing it often as we traveled the African plains.

Plus, the video is hilarious. My- how music videos have changed.

What I've been reading lately

With 2+ hours naps during work and a studying husband, I have lots of reading time on my hands! I usually read a book a week :) Here is what I have read lately...

Nothing like a good John Grisham. I really enjoyed this book because it has a missionary as a character and parts of the story take place in South America. What was frustrating is that I had read it before but couldn't remember the ending. I still enjoyed it and liked the ending because it was realistic. I will always recommend a good John Grisham!

 Loved this book, although hard to read for long periods of time. (I'm the type of person that likes to stay up till 3 a.m. to finish a good book. I love to get so engrossed in a book I can't put it down. This was not one of those books you can do that with.) It is set up in diary form. It is about white women who are sent to live with the Indians. I love books about Indians and their lifestyle. (If I had a choice in the matter, I would chose to be an Indian.) I love exploring other cultures. I feel there is always something to gain from another culture. Very good and interesting read! 

Oh John! Another good one. It is about a lawyer who starts representing the homeless. Chad and I use to eat with the homeless every Tuesday night in Lubbock. I discovered God and a whole new prescriptive about life by talking to the homeless on Tuesdays. It took me back to those days. I feel John is always a solid author- you know what your getting.

Wow- this one...depressing. I would have to put the book down just because I was getting overwhelmed. It had a good ending (thank goodness or I was going to be mad) but man getting to the end was hard. I cringed as I read some things and felt so sad for this couple. Life in the past on a farm is tough. Not necessary a favorite read but still good. It made me think and the truth is sometimes life is depressing. I did like how the author wrote the book, his descriptions of experiences were different and made it me look at it from a new perspective. It really made me appreciate the life I have, along with my marriage. So glad I don't live in Gap Creek!


I found this on pinterest and love it because this is totally how I feel:

Happy Reading!

Moldy Rant

MOLD! I am sick of it! There is mold growing everywhere in our house!!! (slight exaggeration  of course) I had no idea that this a normal thing. We have mold growing on our wood blinds, shoes, window sills, and wooden chairs! Gross! Chad called the landlord because I was outrage at all this extreme mold fest going on in our house. Come to find out...this is normal in Galveston. Disgusting! 

So with my vinegar water in hand, I am slowly dousting our house.

Die mold die! 

 Some shoes that have been taken by the mold monster!

On another non-moldy note, this week has been great!
1. Chad has started playing in a PA softball team. His team won 14-1 their first game! I went to cheer him on. Georgia might come this next week. (After her hair cut/shave she has been under house arrest due to fact she is rather ugly with no hair. But her hair has grown out so I will take her out now. - Hope that never happens to our kids. :)
2. I have been cooking recipes from the Pioneer Woman. Her dishes are wonderful but man they take time. I am not use to spending more than 45 minutes to make supper. The other night I spent 2 hours- umm not ok. I guess I cook more for convenience than taste. On the weekends, I don't mind spending time on a good meal but not after I have worked all day. How do you cook... for convenience or taste?

3. I have finished Andrew's afghan!!! Oh Hallelujah! (Note to self: never crochet a blanket for a 7 foot man!) The blanket turned out wonderful. I can't wait to give it to him for graduation.

This is Chad's last week of his Great Syndromes class. He has his one huge test this Friday. Then, we will have the weekend off. We don't have any set plans for this special weekend off- I'm hoping camping or maybe go see the movie The Avengers. We are wanting to start doing something as a couple together weekly. We are going to try tennis for a start and see how that goes. Any other ideas of couple things to do? (for free!)

Well, that's our moldy life for right now! :)

Pie Happy

I made a blackberry pie :) 

Add some (actually a lot) of vanilla ice cream on top...

And you have some happy Pacanowski's!

First Fruits

People:

We have our 1st tomato!!! 

Here is our tomato plant!

The other plants that have grown like crazy!

Nothing has died yet!

Water boy :) Chad has enjoyed gardening as well. 

We can't wait till we have more $$ and a bigger yard to grow a lot of plants.

And....

TADA!

1st tomato ever!

I love my garden. In fact, I used some basil in our pasta tonight.