As of late...

Lately, we have been super busy. 

Chad is in panic mode with his boards coming up and I have just been busy. 

Last weekend, we ran in the D'Feet Breast Cancer race.

Most of us ran the 10k (6 miles). Chad and his friend ran the 5k (3 miles).

I was so happy to be there and support our teacher who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The weather was great, expect for a pretty strong wind on seawall. 

I ran my best time and even placed 3rd in my age group. I didn't even know until I got an e-mail saying I won a prize! It was great to spend time with good friends and support a good cause. :)

Chad and I have been needing to go on a date since it has been forever since we have been on one.

We looked around and found a graveyard tour done by Galveston Historic Foundation.

So we signed up for it!

Here are some of my favorite grave stones.

The tour lasted an hour and a half was very interesting!

We learned a lot of history and stories of some Galveston families.

And it was great just spending some time with Chad!

I really want to read some non-fiction books about Galveston now.

It does have a pretty cool history.

What has kept me busy lately is my quilt.

I have finally finished the quilt top!!

I love how it turned out! I still have one more class and the hard part has yet to come- the actual quilting but I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I am so glad I took the quilting class. It was been really fun and enjoyable. 

Next weekend, we are going on a trip with all our couple friends. I am so excited and can't wait to get away for the weekend. 

Happy Fall to you all!

The Messy Kitchen

 I've decided if I had a cooking show it would be called "The Messy Kitchen".

That basically describes how I cook. Chad hates my days in the kitchen when he is on clean up duty.

Well today was a messy kitchen day!

After church, we headed to conquer Wal-mart. My hatred for that place grows every time we go. 

Thankfully I had back-up today- Chad and I hurried through as fast as we could.

I love groceries, once they are home and all put away. 

Today, with fall actually in the air, (it's in the 60's today) I made my fall food favorites!

Strawberry bread! I love bread, any kind will do, but strawberry bread is especially yummy.

It's easy to make and makes a lot. I usually freeze a dozen for later so it will last.

And because moist muffins will grow mold extra fast in Galveston. Thanks Galveston.

We are trying sunflower oil now. Chad says it is a little bit healthier than regular. 

Hey, maybe this will help with my new talent of frying food. 

I also have a new favorite trick- frozen fruit!

I never have time to eat breakfast in the morning but I will drink smoothies.

So I buy lots of bananas and freeze them.

Remember to take the peel off!

Frozen bananas+yogurt+milk (whole milk of course)+ lots of Hershey chocolate syrup=

A perfect Whitney breakfast smoothie:)

Another fall favorite: hamburger soup.

It's a family recipe and favorite! 

I have already posted the recipe for hamburger soup here

Last, I made, as I like to call them, the Rolo Sandwich.

Put a Rolo candy on a Ritz cracker, stick it in the oven at 350 for 4 minutes,

stick another cracker on top when they come out of the oven and are squishy.

They are pretty good- salty and sweet but Chad and I both decided we just rather eat Rolos.

Now to go clean my messy kitchen...

If you have a cooking show do they clean the kitchen for you?

Flying Goose and Fried Things

 Well, I made my first flying goose this week.

I actually made 12. And let me tell you, these flying geese make me happy!

No, I didn't go hunting or cook a crazy dish.

The flying goose is a technique we learned in quilting class this past week.

It's a trick in quilting. It looks like you made triangles but really it's all squares! Tricky, tricky.

Yeah- flying goose. Pretty cool. 

Here is my first block. There are four flying geese in this pic and they all match great.

I'm so proud.

But I'm even prouder of my pinwheel! 

It matched up, it matched up...did I mentioned it matched up!!! :)

This quilting thing is my new love, besides Chad, chocolate, Georgia, chocolate...

Anyway, I'm really enjoying it. I love the class and the 45 min. drive doesn't even phase me.

In other news, food news, I have gotten really, like really, good at frying stuff.

Chicken is my specialty. 

Tonight I made Chicken Fried Steak from The Pioneer Woman.

This is her picture from her website but mine looked just like it!

It was delicious. :) Click here for the recipe.

And this morning for breakfast, I made my grandma's drop donuts.

Basically fried dough with powdered sugar icing on top. Totally healthy!

Hey, my arteries might not like my new frying talent but my stomach does. (And Chad's too!)

Check out my newest purchase for our house.

This awesome basket. From where, you ask? IKEA!

I made my first trek through Ikea this past weekend.

My life has been changed. 

so. many. ideas. 

My mind was blown.

But happy to say, after miles of walking through Ikea I only walked out with this awesome basket.

I plan to put my quilt in this basket once it's finished.

Here is my cute, fluffy, in desperate need of a haircut, running partner!

Georgia loves running with me now. 

In fact, she now knows when I put on my shoes it means "run" and begins her happy prance and the annoying trick of getting her leash, then dropping it my lap.

We learned last week Georgia does have a limit. We tried to run 4 miles last week but she was done at 3.5- poor pooch!

She is really the best though, fluffy hair and all.

Well folks, that's about it with the Pac's.

Hockey season has started. Oh you didn't know? Well, it has and I now have one very happy husband, who looks extra cute in his Dallas Stars jersey. :)

Over and out, y'all!