Trendy Tuesday: Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants is great. I don't mean the movie. Although, I adore REESE Witherspoon.
I just recently finished the book, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.  It's an excellent and easy read. My synopsis truly doesn’t do this book justice. I expected it to be boring, and I certainly didn’t expect the book to touch my heart the way it did.

It tells a story via the viewpoint of an 90-something year old man. He illustrates the beautiful tragedy that was the train circus of the 20's and 30's. It is a fictional tale that illustrates true stories. It brought something of the past to life for me. I don't want to give away too many details. But I highly recommend this book. 

Enjoy! 


If you are looking for a summer read- PICK this one. I hope this movie will show at the dollar theaters soon. I know it won't compare to the book but I still want to see my girl Reese..plus its a $1.50 (So, technically I have a buck-fifty movie theater not a dollar theater!) 

Weekend Update: Baby Showers

See the sweet little brunette above...she having a baby! Melissa was that big sister I never had. She teased me, she fixed my hair, she bossed me around, she basically got the benefits of having a little sister while getting the benefits of being the baby of her family. Many of my childhood memories involve my cousins. We never had a Nintendo or trampoline but luckily our cousins shared! I have been so blessed to have such close cousins. I am even more blessed that I got to see them all and catch up with them this past weekend and also to celebrate the upcoming birth of " Baby Girl"  Jenkins!

All grown up (minus Miss Priss in my arms)...but thankfully we all grew up and learned how to fix our own hair!  Mothers don't always know best, well when it comes to hairstyles!

And Steph, when I said I liked your bangs - I don't mean circa 1991. ;)

Fat Food Frieday: Red Velvet Cake

Alright - It may by Monday but I am finally getting this posted. 

Easy Red Velvet Cake 


Cake: 
1 box of German Chocolate cake mix
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 bottle (1 oz) red food color
1 tbsp unsweetened baking cocoa


Frosting:
2 oz cream cheese
2 tsp milk
1 1/2 whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar


1. Heat oven 350 degrees. 
2. In large bowl, beat all cake ingredients with electric mixer on low. Pour into pan(s).
3. Bake as directed on cake mix box. Cool completely.
4. In chilled large bowl, mix cream cheese and milk until smooth. Beat in whipping cream and powedered sugar with electric mixer on high sped, scraping bowl occasionally, until soft peaks form. Frost cake! Store in refrigerator.


ENJOY :)

Thursday Thoughts : A Story Behind the Name

Have you thought.."Why Will Cook for Shoes?"
Even if you haven't, I'm about to answer that question for you. 

Last Christmas, my mom found a small little gift and thought it fit my personality and habits just perfect. It's a running joke around my family and friends that I have a bit of a shoe problem. It started when I was young. High heels are my forte. I've never struggled with wearing them. I actually love wearing them..the higher the better. (A motto some reserve to the regards of their hair!) I refuse to count how many pairs I have. I also would like to blame this problem on my mom. She encouraged it. The worst part, I like good shoes...you know the expensive ones. Thanks, MOM!


I also do my very best to live up to my last name..so I guess you could say I know my way around a kitchen. Which is pretty evident to all the people at work. They are my little guinea pigs...literally pigs. We are all trying to lose weight thanks to this habit of mine! 


So when she found an apron that says.."Will Cook for Shoes!" she knew I had to have it.


What she thought was a funny present has turned into something inspirational for me..and that I truly thank you for, Mom. 


So, the truth is out. No, I didn't think of such a creative blog name. I wish! 

Where I've Been Wednesday: Home

I want to start this post with - I am still working on the layout/design of the blog. Obviously, I am not working very hard because its not really getting anywhere. Stay tuned for what I come up with. 

When I thought of this "Walk a Week in my Shoes" idea I really saw something different than what I'm going with today.


I planned on being much better at taking pictures of my feet and how these feet and wonderful shoes take my to fascinating places. While I did experience some great places last week- work, the dentist, a Mexican fiesta birthday party for a dear friend,  and then home..only one of those place stood out in my mind. 


Home.


I know I have written about my trips home many times before but those visits are such special moments for me.  How do my shoes represent a trip home? I'm not really sure. Although, I see two very important people who see those shoes as they step out of my car and run to meet me with anticipation. I will always cherish those hugs. (Gosh, makes me miss them so much as I write this) 


Little Sister loves playing dress-up. She doesn't realize that she looks just like me when I was her age. Although, her tiny feet hardly compare to my giant shoes, she wears them proudly. She doesn't realize there is a 20 year age gap between us. She looks at me like we are the same age. Like I'm her best friend..because that what sisters are! I never knew I wanted a sister until I met her for the first time..now I cannot imagine life without one. 


Littlest Brother is growing up so fast that he know could wear my shoes and they'd probably be too small. Wait, he is a boy. He has never worn high heels. (Well, that is the story he is sticking to anyways...until I remind his girlfriend someday when he is 16!!) 


Watching them together brings such joy to my heart. I know there will be a time when my visits are less frequent and I cherish each moment with them. We have a different sibling relationship than most brothers and sisters but I cannot imagine anything different. They have blessed our family so much. 


I hadn't intended to be so mushy. I apologize. I've been feeling a bit homesick and this is my thoughts on that. 


Anywho, I will stop bring a sap and post something more exciting tomorrow..er, hopefully. 

Trendy Tuesday: Pinterest

If you haven't already stumbled upon this wonderful creation - you are probably have been much more productive than me. If you are addicted to blogs and looking at other people's ideas, homes, crafts, clothes, hair, etc, then you are going to LOVE this.

We've all come across a marvelous idea on the old world wide web and thought - I love that idea, I need to remember that for a future date. I even had a folder on my computer saving all these little tidbits...but that is no longer needed my friends. With this revolutionary technology you can "pin" your ideas, your friend's ideas, and even random strangers. It is so fascinating.


If you are like my roommate - you will be consumed by this little website. I'm starting to think Channing is actually getting paid by them to recruit new people to the site. (Not that they are hurting for visitors - I honestly don't think they expected this volume of fans!)


Basically, Pinterest is a collaboration of many people's thoughts. Once you are on there you can see people from all over and their homes, crafts, recipes. We have already sampled a few recipes at my house that were Pinterest-inspired. I have many crafts on my agenda..that you might just be seeing later. I will try to remember to let you know if I found the idea on Pinterest when I post the craft project. Not to mention, I want to re-decorate my entire house because I'm filled with inspiration. Instead of having little files on my computer I can have boards that I can put my ideas and fine new ones. Get to pinning! 


So much to do, so little money..or is it time?




If you would like an invite to start pinning..please let me know. I've heard its hard to get on there without an invite. I would love to be an enabler! 

Weekend Update: 2 Weddings, 2 Weekends

So this inaugural Weekend Update post is actually going to highlight 2 weekends and 2 weddings. 


Last weekend, I watched a friend and former roommate marry her best friend. Taylor, Rachel (see her wedding highlights - Life Update) and I had many conversations about weddings. Now both of my former roommates are old married women. We talked about Taylor and Pete numerous times. Taylor and I weren't that close until I needed a roommate and she need a place to live...and fate brought us together. But prior to our housing situation and friendship I had seen Taylor and Pete together and there wasn't a doubt in my mind they weren't for each other. Then through the time Taylor and I lived together I got to watch them get engaged and now married. How fun is that. There wedding could not be more beautiful. It was so them! I wish them the very best. 

This past weekend I spend a little time at my parents. I enjoyed seeing a dear friend from high school marry a lovely lady whom he obviously adores. I wish Reese and Madison the best. Although, it reminded me how fast time flies..didn't we just graduate high school?

Another big reason for going home is to celebrate my Dad on Father's Day. For around 7 years now my church has held a Father/Son Look-a-like contest. Here are our two twinkies: Don't they look JUST alike! 

Guess who else ended up dressing like twins. I wish I could say this is the first time this has ever happened. I also wish this picture wasn't blurry. Thanks Mom ;) 

And the craziest, funniest, "I cannot believe this happened moment" happened on our way back last night. I always make Jonathan drive. He is a better driver and he has a lot of making up to do since I drove him around for 2 whole years until he turned 16. So we are chatting {or most like I am talking and he is pretending to listen} and he yells. We are OUT OF GAS! I look up at the handy dandy fuel range - it says 9 miles. I knew we needed to get gas. I even mentioned it on my way out the door to my mom. We head out of Altus {If you are familiar with the area, we made past Headrick almost to the Red River which is farther than 9 miles from Altus.} We're in trouble. Let me set the scene for you. The car temperature reads 114 degrees. We can only drive 9 miles. I have only had this car a little over a year..I've never had it this low before. I'm not sure just how accurate that fuel range thing is. I am so glad Jonathan is driving because my first thought was drive into Headrick. {If you aren't familiar with Altus, you will know there's not much there} Driving to Headrick would have been a bad idea. So we head back to town HOPING and praying to make it back to the gas station on the edge of town. Our sweet parents did not have much sympathy. We turned off the radio and A/C and sweated it back to town. Luckily, my level headed brother made a wonderful decision and just as we pulled into the gas station and got to the pump we ran out of gas...PRAISE THE LORD. Seriously, I sweated and prayed all the way to that pump and truly believe He knew we wouldn't have made it in the heat..we are both babies. {Which by the way, if you haven't been to hell..err I mean Altus..you don't understand just HOW hot it is there!! 118 at 7:00..I'm not kidding..I saw people working in their yards at 10:00pm because it was finally cool enough! } Anyways, I cannot believe that happened or that I'm sharing it with people. It's pretty embarrassing but I know its just another memory I get to share with my little brother. We've had a few over the last 21 years! 

That's been the first weekend update. Stay Classy, blog world.