And we wait.

I distinctly remember the last time I continued to repeat outloud, over and over again, with no self control whatsoever, "This is Crazy!"

It was almost two years ago, and Kyle had just asked me to marry him. You can ask anyone who was there, or anyone who has seen the embarassing video and they will tell you, "yes, all Brittany did was jump up and down excited saying, "this is crazy!"

Which gives me a good feeling about this. Today, we made an offer on our first home.

Yep, we're real grown ups and sitting in the realtor's office early this morning I had to continue to tell myself 'don't say it again, you already said "this is crazy" 15 times.'

And we're excited and nervous and all kinds of anxious to know what the seller will say. Will they accept our offer, will they want more? It's a good exciting though, one where we know our ducks are in a row, our financial calculations met, and we really do like the house. And really if God for some reason doesn't think this house is good for us, well, we pray they don't take our offer at all.

Our realtor said we could hear back in 2 hour or 2 days...

The 2 hours is up and we're waiting. Yep. Can't think about anything else at all and waiting.

And yes, it's so crazy!

( If all goes well I'll surely put up pictures... however, what if you're the seller reading this and you see the picture of your house and you see that we really want it, and you ask us to spend way too much?? :)

Interesting Times before Study Mania

Wonderful weekend...

This week I'll be away studying my head of for my upcoming RD exam.  But in my absence I'll leave you with these... AKA a weeks worth of blog pictures :)

This is what my knee looked like after last week's carpet-burn fall. I'm glad to report that it's healing nicely. I'm sad to say I don't have time to tell the story right now. It's hilarious; and I'll post it someday. No doubt it'll happen again.

I was trying to figure out what shape the scab was in?? Any ideas?

THE planner came in. I started using it last night. I feel an indescribable relief not having to remember everything but being able to simply write it down.

I made Christmas cupcakes due to all the studying. They smelled like Birthday and looked like Christmas. And what more could you need to make you happy?

We got to use our new grill for the first time since we got it... oh about a year ago as a wedding present. 

MOST OF ALL: We went to Fresh! If you haven't heard, Fresh is a new Whole Food, Central Market type grocery store of the Brookshire's chain. This is actually the first one ever, and it opened this week! Here in small town or big town nearby, we don't have much variety in produce. But NOW we do! 

I'm not all about super expensive food just for the fact that it's expensive... but I am all about 15 different types of peppers or 20 kinds of apples to make life happier! 

Wish I had pictures of:

 - Wonderful dinner with friends!

 - Honestly the best (or first) Seafarers game I've ever played.

 - My first Taco Bueno experience.  It was quite comical.

More fun to come soon! My own review and pics of Fresh! and our findings from Big Trash Pickup: Texas Edition.

Remember it's still National Nutrition Month! Try adding color through fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your meals this month for a healthier you!

Do you know what today is?

After a week of playing catch-up reviewing what was done days before, I didn't realize what day it was until I looked at the calendar.

I know, if you're in Louisiana it's Mardi Gras today. You are in the wonderful world of king cake and days off school and work and all the things that make Louisiana great. 

But actually that's not the celebration I was talking about. Today March 8, 2011 is the day Kyle and I have been married for 10 months! Ten! We were very impressed with ourselves. Tonight I cleared off the kitchen table (a long overdue task) and we had dinner at the table like real people. Not too fancy, just smoothies and hot sandwiches Mama Taylor style. But we loved it.

Over dinner I asked Kyle "What have you learned about marriage this far, like what advice would you give to a friend?" He responded that he'd tell them it's hard work, but worth every minute. And I agree. Sometimes I surprise myself with how I react, because I'm reacting just like that girl I always said I'd never become. But Kyle is patient with me, and then we end up all smiles by the end.

Marriage is good. If you haven't yet, you should try it some day. (Of course when God gives you that person to marry and all those requirements).

Happy 10 Months to us. I told Kyle that he is doing a good job. Because he is.

[Oh, sorry... it's also my wonderful Uncle Bill's birthday, who on my wedding day told Kyle that he better take care of me because my family like me :) ]

Little Window into the Lives of Us

So we've had a few exciting days...

I beat Kyle in Monopoly on the Nintendo. This is only the second time I've beat him in a game of any sort in the almost 4 years I've known him! (Last time it was dominoes in the fall of 2008 in Oklahoma City, OK.... it was that memorable).

We washed Kyle's truck in one of those "fancy" drive-thru car washes. I told Kyle that the money spent should come out of our entertainment fund.

We went to the movies on a real date. Nope, I didn't see this movie (but isn't that fun). And then we saw the King's Speech. Congrats to the King's Speech for winning all the awards that we were too tired to stay up and watch you win! 

So sure, our excitement may not be Times Square or anything, but it makes us happy and we feel blessed. 

Stay tuned for:

- Updates about that crazy Thesis Proposal, school, etc.

- Pics from our Weekend with the Taylors!

- And more crazy shenanigans, as always.

- AND the new blog header for the Month of March!!! National Nutrition Month!

Valentine's Extravaganza

Exactly 3 years ago Kyle and I had just started dating.  He had just started working as an intern at Sky Ranch in Van, TX.  I was still working my way to my bachelors in Nutrition down in good ole' Baton Rouge.  So we were about a month and half into our long distance relationship, and Valentine's Day came!

When I say Valentine's Day, I know some of your cringe, and some of you say "Single Awareness Day," but fo those who aren't single you may be thinking that there's the great expectation to live up to... waiting hours for a table at a restaurant, paying too much for flowers that will die soon, and buying chocolate for someone who probably set a New Years' Resolution to lose weight.

But for those of you in a new relationship, or those of you who are very much still lovebirds... you can remember how exciting the first Valentine's Day can be!

So Kyle and I were trying to figure out where we'd spend this special holiday and then it turned out he was working for the weekend. Oh well.

But Kyle got together with two of the other interns and planned what they called "Girlfriend Weekend."  The other two interns had also met girls at camp the summer before and had recently begun the long-distance relationship challenge.  We arrived that weekend to find out that all three girlfriends were there in a cabin the boys had decorated with flowers and candy! It's a weekend we'll never forget.

...which leads me to Valentine's Day 2011. It just so turns out all those 'girlfriends' became 'wives' and all those 'interns' became 'full-time staff' out at Sky Ranch. So in girls Bible study it's the three of us ladies, and one ther lovely married lady who her also visited her then boyfriend out at the Ranch while they were dating long distance.  We have loads of fun sharing stories. And a few weeks ago we remembered "Girlfriend Weekend" and planned this:

Fancy Valentine's Dinner

We used all of our own dishes that we're so proud of, candles leftover from our own weddings, flowers left over from recent weddings, Christmas lights, wedding shower decorations, and our own flair to create a Valentine Date masterpiece.

 Josh and Katie's Table                 Kyle and Brittany's Table

Becca and Trevor's Table                  Jenn and Chris's Table

We told our husbands to dress up, come hungry, and arrive at 6. That's all they were told.

We has a night with wonderful food we made ourselves, dancing via Kyle's ipod, and sparkling apple cider toasts to our wonderful husbands. Jenn to Chris. Katie to Josh. Becca to Trevor. and Me to Kyle. and of course for more on the night, and great pics of the actual couples and dancing! check out Becca's blog of the special event!

Maybe we had more fun than they did. But we think they were secretly jumping up and down with excitment on the inside.

So enjoy Valentine's Day today. Married, dating, engaged, or single... take time to tell someone in your life that you love them. And it doesn't even have include a box of chocolates (although they may very well appreciate it!)

Real Snow! See!

It really snowed! Like rolling up snowmen (even thought they were dirty) snow!

And I convinced my husband (who is very used to snow being from Oklahoma) to go out and play in it with me! Because where I come from, this never happens! Story here.

Enjoy the weather today. Even if that means you must make an army of snow men to use it all up!

P.S - Don't I just have the cutest husband :)

Oh Kyle Sandwiches.

So today Kyle and I woke up and I remembered that today was one of those days I would need to/ have to shower. You know... like normally if you woke up late you would skip the shower, but not today because your hair is so gross that it HAS TO be washed... anyone else have those?

Anyway so today when I realized that HAD TO shower and I would be running late for work I also remembered that I needed to still pack a lunch. When I saw Kyle enjoying his morning, I asked him ever so sweetly if he would make me a sandwich.

Now, laugh all you want. I have guy friend who laugh and laugh about getting married and asking their wives to make them sandwiches. But this, ladies, was a GREAT sandwich!

Can you see all the wonderfulness in there (even my metallic purple nail polish). I'll explain...whole Grain bread, cream cheese, lettuce, powerful red onions, ham, pepper, turkey, and olive oil! Oh my goodness, try it today.

Like Right now.

Like Get up from the computer and make this sandwich.

Before today, I had always stuck to the PB&J (which is my favorite) or tuna fish (which is also my favorite) or something like bananas and honey on french toast sandwich. And I thought I got creative, come to think of it, I make some really great sandwiches...but not like this...

Not today. Today, ladies, try this sandwich. Or ask your husband to make you a sandwich and see if he's got some crazy chef gene up his sleeve like that Mr. Hess.

More to come as I catch up on the days I was out sick with a case of "thesis proposal." And guess what?! I finally uploaded Christmas photos. So they'll be arriving soon!

Self Defense and 19 days left.

So today I've been thesis-ing. I will admit that yesterday I did not do much because I was making cake truffles (otherwise known as "cake balls") for my co-worker's birthday AND welcoming my husband home!

Now I'm not sure many of you knew my husband was out of town. See I read somewhere that you're not supposed to post things like that on the internet. You know 'they' say that if you update your facebook status people who you think are your friends may just not be.

Example:
Jarold Harper: is sooo excited about his new 79inch flat screen for Christmas!
Jarold Harper: is packing for the winter vacay!
Jarold Harper: is excited to be heading to the Bahamas! See you in January!

Jarold Harper: is mad someone stole his flat screen while he was gone! How did they know?

Duh!

So I figure now that my husband is back in town, I can tell you that he was gone. Plus I think they give that warning because they think maybe some woman may not be able to hold her own if her husband is away. But for those of you thinking about it... this woman can, in fact "hold her own" and has been recently trained in self-defense at work and is prepared to use both the defense and the offense.

You know, just in case you were thinking.

But for today. Quick report for 19 days left of thesis proposal-ing: I've been working on the thesis proposal. I spent many many hours doing online training so that I'm qualified to even apply for an IRB approval exemption. Tonight I'm working on what they call a Review of Literature.

So today I'll teach you a little about thesis-ing. A "review of literature" is when you search all the journals and all the databases about everything that's already out there on your topic. You search high and low, far and wide and then write it all into a 20 page-ish paper. To say, here's the problem in the world, here's the research that agrees with me, but here's why me doing this project is actually important. Please let me do it.

Enough about school work. Kyle took a video of a little Just Dance action tonight. Maybe I'll figure out how to post it.

December 31, 2007

It's New Year's Eve.

Three years ago I woke up in the grandkid play room at Kyle's parents' house in Norman. Three years ago I had been traveling with the best and greatest Amy Wheeler and Kate Spytek in our adventure from Wisconsin to Texas to Louisiana.

See Amy and I flew up to visit Kate in her hometown and to help her drive her car all the way back to Baton Rouge after a semester abroad. We loaded up the car, decided not to shower, and headed to Dallas for 52 College Conference. In "our" plan, we thought "oh when we get to Tulsa, we'll get a hotel room and drive the rest of the way the next day'... in Kyle, Amy and Kate's plan they thought "oh we'll keep driving to Norman and stay with Kyle's parents (Kyle was living there) and then Brittany and Kyle will fall madly in love."

Do I have to tell you who won?

So we arrived that night at Kyle's parents house and ALL his sisters were present. All family members greeted us at the door at about oh, 10:45pm... did I mention that we didn't shower that day 'because we wouldn't be seeing anyone we knew.'

The next morning Kate and Amy sneakily had to drive to Dallas to pick up a friend at the airport and there would not be any room in the car for me then... so I would just have to ride the 4 hour ride to Sky Ranch with Kyle ;)

New Year's Eve was the day that I realized how my little crush was way more than that, and how this Kyle Hess character was more than I could have imagined. His family was wonderful, and hometown great, and on top of that we was a great driver too!

December 31, 2007 was the day Kyle Hess and I held hands for the very first time!... and the day he asked, and I officially became his 'girlfriend!' ...bet you can guess what followed a few years later :)

Jill Marie Photography By Jill Pfalser

Happy New Year's Eve! Hold someone's hand!

The Lady that Gave Us Two Cherries

We went to Chick-fil-a. Yep, that's what I said... Chick-fil-a. 

Thanks to our endless supply of coupons from Calendars and Mrs. Janet we made a special trip into the big city (aka Tyler) and ended our meal with a Peppermint Shake. After I said "my husband" and gave him googly eyes, the lady behind the counter said "oh, I'll make that two cherries!"  And our shake came with two cheeries attached together! Awwwwww. See below.

What's your favorite thing about Chick-fil-a?

Fire and Glow

You won't believe what I found when I arrived home last night...

Yesterday I stopped on my way home from work to, as usual, pick up the few groceries I needed to tie us over until the weekend. Last night I got some frozen pre-cooked crispy chicken strips. This was a feat in and of itself since they were not located anywhere near the chicken nuggets in the freezer section. Anyway I had the grand idea of coming home and making chicken strips a-la Buffalo Wild Wings using honey barbeque sauce for Kyle and buffalo sauce for me.

Because of my trip to the store, as I drove home it was dark out. And oh my! as I pulled onto our street there was a glow! Coming from OUR house! Don't worry, it was not on fire... but there were Christmas Lights! The colored kind that aren't red and green but pink and lime green and golden yellow and turquoise... the great! kind! All up, all done, all lit... on OUR house!

When I walked through the front door smiling, I was greeted by my sweet husband who said "you said you wanted Christmas Lights."  Apparently he had been reading the blog, and in my rant of 'wants' he noticed that I wanted lights. Now isn't that just the best husband anyone could ask for, really?!

So now our house, adorned with lights, and our new fridge (more on that later) and our tree and all the twinkling things is very very Christmas. Last night Kyle and I wrapped gifts as my mouth recovered from the buffalo strips.  I made the mistake of calling my little brother when trying to find a good buffalo sauce... now, yes he was very helpful, but he said it wouldn't be too hot... a few strips later, a fire in my mouth, 2 glasses of lemonade, 1 glass of milk, and quite a lot of yelling, my gums and tongue pounded as they recovered from the heat. But Justin, I will say the flavor was great.

Lessons learned today:
1. The pre-cooked chicken strips are in the middle of the meat aisle, not in the frozen chicken wings and nuggets and meat patties section at WalMart.
2. I have a great husband, and he's great at putting up lights.
3. Louisiana Wing Sauce is not 'mild.'
4. Milk really does work better than water when things get a little hotter.

What can you do today to surprise someone with a little Christmas cheer?

More to come, as always.

Our First Tree

Okay, so I'm real excited about Christmas! If you cannot tell by the new picture up top (overloaded with all things Christmas), then I don't know how you would know.

Here's the thing, so I have some studying to do tonight, and I have to get to it... but here's our "Getting Ready for Christmas" blog!

First of course, the putting up of the tree! It's our first married Christmas! It's so handy to have married someone so tall!

Kyle's a great 'fluffer!'

And then me, fluffing the way Mom taught me!

Being newly married we decided to wait until the after Christmas sales to buy any decorations. So that means using what we've got to decorate this year, or making things! ...as you will see, we have a ton! Between everyone else's leftovers we may be set! But I'll be creating some ornament so stay tuned for those crafts.

Finished product... this would be where it
should be both of us in the picture!

I just hid the other colors of our Fiestaware and pulled out
all the red and green!

 This last picture would be my favorite. Taken by none other than Kyle Hess. So that's it so far. There's more to come, and even more we need to take pictures of! So I guess we should have taken a picture together, oh well... we will soon! Gotta study!

More to come on last night's cookie decorating extravaganza!! and actual making of some crafty decorations! (oh yeah, and our College Station trip... I keep forgetting that one.)

So when does your tree go up? And what will you be doing to celebrate since it's DECEMBER!