My First Sushi Making Experience

I have always really liked sushi rolls...

...and when one of my Mom's Japanese friends brought sushi to our Thanksgiving lunch, it inspired me to learn how to make it!! So today was my day. I made one of my favs, a California roll. I used Alton Brown's recipe and dove right in. First, Jacob and I went to Wal-Mart after church to purchase the ingredients. The ingredients were about $15, but several of the items (sushi rice, rice vinegar, bamboo rolling mat, seaweed wraps) can be used multiple times.

First thing I made was the rice, which is VERY sticky. I had to prepare this much earlier because the rice has to cool completely, to room temperature.

Next, I prepared the "innards"- cucumber, avocado, and crab sticks and put them each in bowls.

Then, the sushi roll assembly line began. I was actually quite surprised how easy it was. The recipe made 8 total rolls and as I went, my sushi rolls got tighter. So, I've learned for next time :)

When I finished, I had 8 sushi rolls cut into sixths! I was quite impressed with myself.

Moral of this story: If you like sushi, try making it yourself! It was easy, relatively inexpensive, and DELICIOUS!!!

"Ringing" in the New Year with a Trip Down Memory Lane

As Jacob and I were taking down our Christmas decorations today, I took some time to look at our Christmas cards again. I usually keep all the cards I get, but they get so scattered. So I took a second, to organize our Christmas cards from this year.......which also led to the organization of last year's Christmas cards. All I did was order the cards from shortest to tallest. Then I hole punched the cards and put them on rings. Here is what the final product looked like:

I'll eventually go back and make a "header sheet" for each set so I know what year they are from!

As I was digging out last year's Christmas cards, I also fell on a plan to eventually organize all of my greeting cards from over the years (thank you notes, birthday cards, engagement/wedding cards, etc.) by the year they were given. In the mean time, I stumbled across some sweet and funny cards that took me on a little trip down memory lane.

A sweet card from right before my Grandad passed away.

A birthday card from one of my best friends.

A birthday card from my parents for my 19th birthday.

A card from Jacob which is HILARIOUS! I don't know if you can see his quote in the writing, but in the card he wrote, "Being married to you is like breathing: Sometimes I get choked up and think its going to kill me but then most of the time its completely natural!" LOL.....and he was so proud of that....

This is actually one of Jacob's birthday cards from his brother, Parker. But we definitely got a kick out of it while we were looking back through our collection.

So, for all of the people out there who don't want to spend a dollar or two (or seven now-a-days) on a card, just know that there are people out there who keep them and enjoy looking back at them! Now, you should go "ring" in your new year by organizing your Christmas cards. You never know....it just may take you on a sweet journey as well!

She's Country

Well, it has been over 2 years since my last blog post. I had just gotten married and was living blissfully unaware of what my future would hold! And now, as it seems, my life has done a complete 360 and I may be what you would call a "Country Girl"! I changed the name of the blog to a line from one of my very favorite songs- She's Country by Jason Aldean.

So, on that note, here are the top ten things (and that's narrowed down) that may qualify me as such. You know you're a country girl when...

1. You raise a pig in your backyard, name the pig, and then slaughter it!
2. You spend WAY too much money on a chicken coop.
3. You can shoot your guns right out of your back door, and do so.
4. You own a Deere!
5. There is a coon dog in your back yard.
6. Cowboy boots are a staple in your wardrobe.
7. You go to town only on the weekends.
8. You drive a pickup truck to work (with a dog box in the back).
9. You sincerely don't like city taxes and would never move back just to avoid them.
10. You put all of your farm animals on your family Christmas card!

All in all, I love my life and wouldn't change a single thing! I have learned so much over the past three years. And for these reasons, I officially understand the saying, "You can take a girl outta the country, but you can't take the country outta the girl".

The Best Day of my Life

I am finally getting the chance to blog about the wedding! Although I don't have the pictures from the photographer, I got pictures from AmandaIt was, hands down, the best day of my life. It all began with a relaxing morning. I woke up (and was very well rested....thanks to some Benadryl) and hung around the house for a few hours. My Mammaw and Pappaw came to visit and gave me our gift. Around 10:45 I left the house to go to my hair appointment at The Spa by Mitchells. My wonderful maid of honor, Amanda, met me there with a Peppermint Mocha Frappucino from Starbucks!! After an hour and a half, my hair was finally done :-) This is what it looked like minus the veil!

After I got my hair done I went to the church and met my wonderful bridesmaids. We had a light lunch and spied on people through the windows! I was pretty relaxed and stress-free the entire day. I put on my dress and veil at the last second possible so they wouldn't get in my way. So....when I finally did get my dress on- we began taking pictures!

So after a ton of pictures, laughs, and good time with the bridesmaids it was finally time for the wedding to begin. Everyone lined up and I was waiting alone in the bridal room. Finally my Daddy came to get me and it was our time. That was the first time that I began freaking out. I was so nervous about walking down the aisle. But as soon as the doors opened up and I saw Jacob all jitters faded away. The wedding lasted exactly 28 minutes....perfect and of course, we began taking more pictures!

I cannot describe how perfect everything was. Everything came together beautifully. Our flowers were GORGEOUS! The programs came together, our signs looked great, the letters on the door were very personal, and our guest platter was AWESOME! Here are a few pictures:

I don't have our photographers pictures yet, but when I get them I will post more of Jacob and I. But as for now- here is the one shot I've got :-)

Marriage is wonderful and Jacob and I have loved getting to know each other better! More picture to come when I get them!!

Pain, Stress, yet Peace

I have not posted in ages! But, since my last post God seems to have thrown an unexpected curve ball (as He so often will). Last Monday (June 22) my Grandad drove himself to the VA hospital in Asheville. He thought that he was experiencing chest pains from a pulled muscle, but upon arrival discovered that he was having numerous heart attacks. They immediately admitted Grandad into the ICU and began pushing blood thinners, pain killers, and various other meds through his system. My mom went up on Tuesday (June 23) to be with my Grandmom. On Thursday, I received a phone call from my Dad saying that we needed to go up to be with Grandad because he was not going to live.



My Dad and I stayed from Thursday to Sunday. Between that time we heard all different kinds of solutions: open heart surgery, using cadaver/pig veins, more stints, etc. But, the fact of the matter is (which they didn't tell us until Sunday) that my Grandad is just not a surgical candidate because of his pre-existing conditions. My grandad was born with one kidney which is now functioning at less than 10%, has diabetes, claudication (blocked leg arteries), high blood pressure and cholesterol, and the list goes on.



Saturday night the family was called in to say our prayers with Grandad and tell him goodbye. I don't think I have had to experience anything so hard and painful in my entire life. Grandad's response to me was, "I love you and I'll be watching down on your wedding. See you in the morning." And he did just that, he hung on until Sunday morning. And that has been the case since Sunday. It is now Wednesday (July 1) and my Grandad is still hanging on, but by a thread. Since last night he has been vomiting, having fluid build up, slowing of breathing, hardly any pulse/very low blood pressure.



Jacob is coming up today and Dad, Jacob, and I will most likely leave for the mountains tomorrow. Although the situation has been painful and stressful, we are at complete peace. Grandad has assured us of his salvation and his eternal home in heaven. Praise God for our salvation! We know that Jesus is calling Grandad home, and we are so thankful for his opportunity to be sitting at the feet of Christ.



Please pray for my Grandmom, Mom, and Uncle Albert as this will be an extremely hard time for them. The funeral is tentatively scheduled for Friday, but of course, that could change!

What a day!

Well, my day started out with a bang (almost literally) when my car wouldn't start. I guess technically my car did and will start- I just have to give it gas for a good 5 minutes so that it won't stall out. Currently, my car is sitting at the Mazda dealership getting looked at. We'll see how much that will cost.

But- my day only got better and better when I realized that I have only 75 days until I'm married!! I also dropped by our photographers house (who by the way is AWESOME- Elizabeth Burgess @ Burgess Photography) and picked up my cd of engagement pictures. They are INCREDIBLE. She had also made us a print of one picture and I went and had it framed. I'm SO excited :-) I can't show you all of the pictures but here is a little taste.

Praise God, Ashley and Forrest got engaged! I am so happy for ya'll :-)

Also- I'm so excited about Parker's graduation this weekend and getting to see the fam! YAY for good times :-) As for that, I'm off to go to Lily's and watch the premier of THE BACHELORETTE!!!

So long....

OSCAR?? Oh wait....I'm not at the beach anymore. On Sunday afternoon I got back from a terrific weekend at the Outer Banks (not Emerald Isle) with Amanda, Laura, Charlotte, my mom, Mrs. Lydia, and Aunt Kitty. We had a BLAST! I am so thankful for wonderful family like Aunt Kitty and Charlotte who put everything together and arranged TONS of surprises. One of our major surprises was an awesome lunch (fresh salad w/ raspberry vinegrette, shrimp, bread, wine)! It was absolutely delicious.

Charlotte [Webb] also surprised us with wonderful spa bags. Everything in them was terrific, but we especially had fun with our turbans :)

The sand was at the beach was blowing around a lot so Mrs. Lydia, Aunt Kitty, Charlotte and Laura went to the pool for the day on Saturday while Amanda and I braved the sand. It was beautiful weather and we had a blast. Then, Saturday night we all went to dinner at the Sunset Grill. It was SO good! As usual, there is never a dull moment wherever we go. We found these sweet hats at the little store and had to try them on for a photo op.

Sunday morning was Mother's Day so Laura and I began the day by giving Mrs. Lydia (the wonderful mother of our men) a pretty stargazer lily and card! Then, we were headed home to see our own Mothers. Amanda and I rode home together and before we got to Raleigh, we HAD to stop at Jockey's Ridge! It is so big....I mean so big that I wasn't even willing to climb to the top (haha)! Well, now it's back to realty- so long pretty beach.

Speaking of so long- I have to go back to teaching tomorrow. I had a wonderful track-out and am ready to see my sweet kiddies! I can't believe that this is my last night of break as a year-round teacher. Shew- that's scary. Pray that I get a job in Craven County.

Well- thanks to Laura that was my first scatterbrained post :-)

Many more to come....