there is always a choice and you know how to make this day beautiful

Sunday, January 23, 2011

I love to stumble...

Stumbleupon.com is probably the best Internet idea in the world. I can't get over it. I try not to use it too often, because it is the best distraction in the world. The things I come across are just mind-blowingly interesting, weird, time-consuming (in a good sense), and entertaining. I love to share what I "stumble upon"especially when I come across things that make me think of other people. I haven't even read through this entire post yet, but I want to share it with everyone... click here for the truth

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

the joy of the holidays: family

Yesterday John flew in from Lexington and Christina arrived from Fort Worth/San Antonio. The whole gang (Mom, Dad, me, Paul, John, Christina, Samantha and Keith) got together and we went out for Mexican food (per John's request, but let's be real, it's a weekly occasion in this household). Everyone is glad that we have a reason to keep celebrating Christmas! 


The chicks (Christina, me, Sam, & mom) before dinner. 

Big brothers John & Keith; they haven't seen each other since Keith's wedding! 

I have to share my Christmas present from John & Christina...They remembered how much I loved their fancy wine opener (it makes it soooo much easier) when I was staying with them during Thanksgiving, and how I made fun of the wine "Sassy Bitch" in the liquor superstore in Kentucky. Total hit...definitely my favorite gift this year. 

Sunday, December 26, 2010

the joy of the holidays: family

As I grow older, I have found how easy it is for our traditions to change. Since I have been in college, my two older brothers have graduated from college/medical school, and both have gotten married. Fortunately I was able to spend Thanksgiving with John and my sister-in-law Christina in Kentucky. This year, they are going to be late for the holidays, so we get to have another Christmas celebration. I have come to realize that it will be awhile before my family has a "tradition" during the holidays. 

Sister-in-law #2 Samantha & older brother Keith Colquitt celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple...

Me, my grandmother Rara, mom, and the baby of the family, Ellie, on Christmas Eve at Rara's house. 


"COLQUITT COUSINS"
(top to bottom, left to right: David, Christopher, Paul, Keith, ME, Jennifer, & Samantha; missing John & Christina, Clay & Suzanne) 

What I do know is that I am completely blessed when it comes to family. I don't know many people who get to see their parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins (and as of recent, IN-LAWS!) as much as I do. I thank God for the people in my life that make the holidays so special. It's the people that I miss the most about Houston, because people are what make a place truly wonderful. 

Monday, December 20, 2010

peace & quiet

Nine times out of ten I'd rather be surrounded by people, whether it's friends, family, or a combination. However, there is something to be said about being home alone. Although I have thoroughly enjoyed living in my sorority house for the past year and a half, having my family's home all to myself (excluding our three dogs, but they're so lazy you hardly even notice them except for the fact that they're huge or if Goldie sees a dog on the TV) every once in a while is absolutely wonderful...It's quiet, I get the big TV all to myself, and I can just BE in peace. All of those things do not exist when you live in house with 60 other girls and a housemother and her ugly dog. I'll admit that every now and then, I get a little scared of burglars and such just because I inherited my mother's worrying/there's been a lot of crime in Houston lately (hoodlums on the loose). Good thing I have three guard dogs to protect me. 





Throughout the day I was able to finish the 650-page novel The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and while my parents are out Christmas partying in the neighborhood and there's no sign of Paul, I went to Barnes & Noble to pick up the next book in the series The Girl Who Played With Fire. While there I also decided to pick up a big study guide for my teacher certification exam that I am taking in January (this is me in the process of coming to terms with being a grown-up). 

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Try this...

Yummy pumpkin bread recipe courtesy of my sister-in-law Christina.

Super-Moist Pumpkin Bread from Beyond the Fence (this is a cookbook Christina received from their bank when they moved to Kentucky!)
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding
1 cup cooked pumpkin
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup applesauce
4 large egg whites

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix wet.  Mix dry.  Mix wet and dry together.  Pour in a greased loaf pan and bake 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.


During my Thanksgiving break, I traveled to Lexington, Kentucky to visit my brother and his wife Christina. My oldest brother, John, is completing his pediatric residency at the University of Kentucky (so proud)! My parents and younger brother joined us too. While I was there, Christina made this pumpkin bread, and I couldn't stop eating it. I am going to make it for my family, and possibly our other relatives (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.). It's a sweet little treat and super easy to make! 
They actually have seasons in Kentucky, believe it or not. This gorgeous tree was at Kenneland, where they race horses in Lexington. The circle around the tree is where they "show off" individual horses before the races. 







Saturday, December 18, 2010

currently reading...


It took me awhile to get past the first fifty pages or so...because it was just too confusing (lots of information to take in), and well, foreign (Swedish names, cities, etc.). However, I am about a third of the way through (about 650 pages total) and I am HOOKED. I really recommend it for all audiences over the age of 15. I don't know how I heard about it. Maybe I heard they were making it into a movie starring Rachel McAdams...which I recently discovered is false (thank you IMDB.com). But a movie adaptation starring the James Bond guy is coming out this month...

Never say never...

During the whole "Twitter" craze, I said I'd never get one. Well, that changed a few months ago, so I see it fit that I finally start a blog. I credit my roommate and best friend, who also has a blog "Shit I Ate", for inspiring me to do so. I think it will take me a while to truly get the hang of it, but I am excited to share pictures, random thoughts, and what I am currently up to (especially over the winter break, which can get quite boring). I am nearing my last semester as a college student, but I am beginning my "life as a twenty-something" aka.. holy shit I have to be a grown-up soon. "When I grow up..." isn't going to cut it for much longer...  


With that said, I leave you with one of my friend Brandi's favorite sayings, "No matter the weather, always bring your own sunshine."