Just a Regular Day

What does your run of the mill day look like? I'm going to give you a rundown of what my day looked like on Friday.

I usually wake up at 9am but since my husband's schedule was switched to a later one, we both slept in until 9:30.

He showers, I exercise.

I shower, dress in a t-shirt and workout shorts and make lunch. I don't dress for work until later because I am notorious for being clumsy so I'd hate to spill something on my work outfit while I am making or cleaning up lunch.

Friday, we ate fish (from the freezer section at Costco), homemade mashed potatoes and "fresh" corn that tasted like it was intended to feed my pigs.

I finally dried my hair and dressed for work. Here's what I picked out:

 

Ignore the white dot on my nose. I'm pretty sure it's on the camera as my pictures I took of my husband that day also had a white dot. He must be taller than me because it fell on his upper lip.

 

Here's a side note about this dress. I bought it online from a Facebook flea market group. I could have sworn the dress was navy with white stripes. That's even what I asked to purchase. I met the girl in the dark and it still looked navy and white. I took it home and realized it was royal blue and neon yellow. Totally not my colors! I think it looks okay with this white cardigan though.

 

And I wore these shoes:

 

Sporty huh? I wear my tennis shoes to work and then change into my heels or flats to teach because I walk 1.25 miles into work. The other teachers wear their heels to work and then promptly change into their choice of Hello Kitty shower shoes or bedroom slippers.  You can read what my student's think about my style HERE.

 

 

We both ate a ham and cheese sandwich with a pickle and chips for lunch.

 

At work, we told our director that we wouldn't be signing a contract for a second year. That means we're on the job hunt again. 

01 02 12

Seventeen

The Mama Kat prompt that intrigued me the most this week was about a memorable summer. Whenever I think of that summer, I think of Tim McGraw's song "Seventeen".

Seventeen only comes once in a lifetime
Don't it just fly by wild and free
Goin any way the wind blew, baby

My 17th summer was a major turning point in my life. It was this summer that I began to chart the course for the rest of my life.

Seventeen, livin on crazy dreams

As summer approached, I faced the decision of choosing between spending a week with the Amish or a month long Governor's School at the College of Charleston. I chose Charleston and  it was a decision that changed everything.


Prior to that summer, I dated a boy for several years. By some standards, he could have been considered mentally or emotionally abusive. Despite my straight A track record, he told me I was stupid and that no one else would want "a girl like me". Whatever that meant.

That summer, I met my friends. Friends that I still hold dear to my heart. They encouraged me to end the relationship and stood by me when it turned it explosive. We went on picnics, shopping excursions and beach trips. We played board games, went on scavenger hunts and to the Imax. We laughed, and made enough inside jokes and memories to last a lifetime.

Legs hangin' off the Bayou Bridge
Feedin' fish potato chips
And talkin' about the mysteries of the universe
Yeah, the world was somewhere else
We had the Summer all to ourselves
And the stars went off like fireworks

 

 

 That summer, I opened my heart to another boy, and he broke it. At the time, I was devastated. Today, I am much stronger because of it. If we had stayed together, he would have become my crutch. To this day,  I cannot thank him enough. It was just what I needed to help me feel free.

 

The summer ended and I was ready. Ready for love, ready for college, ready for God.

 

Rock and roll and faded blue jeans
And standing on the edge of everything
Seventeen

 

One of my dear friends convinced me to attend Converse College and I truly believe that was the perfect place for me at the perfect time. Her friendship led me to the friendship of others who taught me a lot about my faith.

 

In addition to healing my heart and helping me to choose a college that summer gave me one of my closest friends. Luisa and I have  stayed close since that summer together. We spent even more time together in college. Out respective campuses were only minutes apart. She was the Maid of Honor in my wedding and, regrettably, I will be away for hers. She is a true friend and always will be.

 

My 17th summer gifted me with a free heart, a new found strength, and a second sister.

 

Seventeen only comes once in a lifetime
Don't it just fly by wild and free
Goin any way the wind blew, baby

01 02 12

Ingredients for a Perfect Summer Sunday

What do you think makes for the prefect summer Sunday?

Here are my ingredients for a delightful day:

1. A good night's sleep.
         My husband and I like to stay up late on Saturday nights. We play board games and watch movies, but sometimes we stay up too late and I don't sleep well.


2. Going to church
     I love going to church and being with other believers. I love learning to look at Scripture in a new way. And boy, do I have the "noise" part  of making a joyful noise down pat.

3. A nice cold drink
    I'm thinking a sweet iced tea, a very sour homemade lemonade or a chocolate pineapple shake from the Sonic. This Sunday, I chose a chocolate chip blended cream from Starbucks.

4. Writing time
    Whether working on my book idea, blogging or journaling this time really relaxes me. I love the feeling of "being in the zone".

5. Down time
    I love to spend time just hanging out with my hubby. We've started watching Copper on Sunday nights. Have you seen it? It took me forever to realize where the show got its name.

6. Comfort food
     I like to make a big batch of something delicious on Fridays so we can eat it all weekend long. This weekend I made chicken and dumplins. The only downside was that I had to eat it in front of the floor fan to keep from having a heat stroke.

Mix together in appropriate proportions and enjoy!

 

If you want the recipe for chicken and dumplins, keep reading!

 

Rachel's Chicken and Dumplins

7-8 pieces of bone in chicken (I used 5 legs and 3 thighs)
Water
Bay leaves
S&P
Garlic
Carrot
Small Can of Corn
1.5 Onions
3-4 Spicy peppers
2 Cups flour


Put the chicken in a big pot. Cover with water. Add in 2 bay leaves, S&P, and one chopped onion. Add a handful of garlic cloves, if you'd like.
Bring to a boil. Turn down heat, cover and let simmer for two hours.

Remove the chicken from the pot. Turn the heat down to low. Pull the chicken off the bone. Discard the bone and skin.

Use a colander to separate the chicken stock from the cooked onion and garlic. Discard the onion and garlic. Return the stock to the pot.

Return chicken to the pot with half a chopped onion and one  chopped carrot, chopped peppers and the corn. Let simmer for half an hour, until heated through and the carrot is soft.

Make the dumplings by combining flour with 2 tablespoons cold water. Mix to form a sticky dough, adding more water as needed. Form one inch balls.

Place the balls in the stock and cover. Do not stir. Swirl the pot gently, if need be. Cook for 5 minutes.


Enjoy!

01 02 12

Hey Y'all!

Welcome to my new blog!

I'm a born and bred Southern girl who's currently teaching English in South Korea. I made a 3 year pit stop in PA along the way. There's definitely a world of difference between the southern USA and South Korea!

First and foremost, I'm trying my hardest to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I wholeheartedly believe in one sovereign God and that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross. His death pardoned me from my sins and allows me to spend forever in the presence of our Holy Father.

Second, I've been married to my dear hubby for almost 4 years. I still consider us newlyweds and we are definitely still doing a lot of learning. Being together in South Korea has definitely made us a lot closer!


I enjoy baking, crafting, scrapbooking and trying to score a good deal! I also love board game nights with girls and bonfires with the with the whole gang.


When we move back to the Land of the Free, I plan on transitioning our family into a much healthier food lifestyle and helping my husband start a business. As for myself, I'm debating between going to pastry school and/or looking for freelance writing work.

In the meantime, we're enjoying Korea. I'm trying to tone up and am working on a book idea.

I'd be honored to have you follow along for the journey! 01 02 12