Mi Familia

I get to see my family tonight!  Not all my family.  The boys don't get to come out for Thanksgiving.  I have to wait until Christmas to see them.  But my parents and Sarah will be here in about 7 hours.  I am super excited!  This is the longest I have ever gone without seeing my family. 
While they are here we are going to have an amazing Turkey Day dinner prepared by your truely (should be interesting), with special guest Diana.
Of course Friday we are going to brave the wild and crazy consumers and participate in Black Friday. 
One of the nights, Friday or Saturday, we are going to Zoo Lights at the Memphis Zoo.  We used to go to the Portland Zoo for it, so I am excited that Memphis does one.  I heard its pretty good too. 
And we may catch a movie at some point.
Should be lots of fun!  Now if this day would just go a little bit faster....

Happy Friday!

This Friday seems to be going by pretty quickly.  Which is great because I have a pretty good weekend planned.  Tonight is dinner and movie with New Moon!  Yes I am like a 13 year old and in love with the series.  Although due to class reading I actually haven't read all the books yet, just the first two.  But still, I am excited.  Too bad my high school won't be making an appearance in this one.
Tomorrow I am getting together with some class mates I haven't seen in a while for lunch.  We haven't all hung out as a class in a while so I am looking forward to seeing everyone.  Then some serious house cleaning.  I mean serious.  My house looks like this.  Okay, maybe not that bad.  Actually no where near that bad.  But it does need some TLC.  Especially since my parents will be in town in only 4 days!  No one wants their mother to think they are a messy house keeper.  At least I don't.
And Sunday I have church and choir practice for our Christmas program.  And I might rake some more leaves.  Dawn and I raked a bunch last week yet it looks like they are all back.  Its a never ending job.  I love the trees in the summer, but not so much now. 
Hopefully only another hour left here in lab and then I'm off!!

Happy Weekend!!

I'm thankful for...(round 2)

As Thanksgiving comes closer and the weather gets colder there are more things I find myself thankful for.

1. My parents coming to town next Tuesday!!!

2. Banana bread.

3. Warm soup.

4. Big warm blankets and my space heater.

5. A good workout from raking leaves.

6. Boots.

7. And don't judge me, but the release of New Moon!

(Pics: here, here, here, here, here, and here.)

New Recipe-Must try

I got a bug to do some cooking today.  I have been craving twice baked potatos for a while now and I found a recipe for Carrot and Squash Curry soup AND I had quite a few frozen bananas just begging to be made into banana bread.  So I made all 3.  However, the recipe I feel I must share is the one for the soup.  I found it on The Pioneer Woman website and made a few modifications.  It is the perfect fall/winter soup and so delicious.  I'm glad I decided to do some cooking!!

Ingredients

3 Teaspoons Olive Oil
5 Gloves garlic, minced
1 whole large onion, diced
3 whole carrots, washed and sliced thin
1 1/2 Acorn squash, baked and cubed
Salt to Taste
1 Tablespoon Curry powder (more to taste- I used more!!)
1/2 cup dry white wine
48 ounzes chicken broth
Heavy Cream

Preparations

Heat olive oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Add garlic and onions and stir to coat. Add carrots and cook for 3 minutes, or until they start to get soft. Sprinkle in a little salt.
Add squash. Stir and cook for a few minutes, until squash is soft and tender. After a few minutes, add salt to taste and the curry powder.
Pour in wine if using. Let evaporate for about 30 seconds, then pour in chicken broth. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover pot, and cook for 1 hour.
After 1 hour, taste and adjust seasonings. Turn off heat.

Enjoy!  Your tummy will be happy.
Puree soup using an immersion blender, or in batches in a regular blender. Return to soup pot and bring to a simmer. Serve hot.
Drizzle heavy cream over the top at leisure.

New movie I can't wait to see

Its really not a secret.  I love movies.  I would rather watch a movie than a television show.  And I am signed up for 3 movies at a time from Netflix.  Like most girls I also love Disney movies.  Especially Pirates of the Caribbean.  All of them.  Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom = hotties and action = great.   Which is why when I heard about this new Prince of Persia movie I was thrilled.  Jake Gyllenhaal?  Um yes please!!  I did a Google search for "Jake Gylenhall Prince of Persia" and the image results were so fun to look at.  You really should do it.  I promise it will make your weekend.  Here is just one to give you a taste. 

Don't get too excited yet though.  The movie doesn't come out until next May. 
Guess the pictures will just have to suffice for now.

Downtown Dining Experience

Last night my friend Amanda gave me a call while I was out on a walk.  I normally don't take my phone with me, but I was talking to mom before I left and just continued to talk as I started my walk.  (Note:  I am not running because of my f-ing hip, but that does not me I have to be sedentary.)  Anyway, just as I was about finished, she called.  Unbeknownst to me a bunch of the downtown restaurants are participating in a special promotion:  3 course meal for $20.  There a bunch of really nice places that I have always wanted to try, but they are all so expensive that I never go.  So last night Amanda and I set out to try one.  What an adventure that was.  The first place we went to was actually closed for a private event and wasn't going to open to the public.  So we went to our second choice.  The wait for a table for 2 was waaaay too long, hence we continued our way to the next location.  Our third choice said (before we could even say anything) that unless we had reservations, we should go somewhere else.  Ok, thank you rude hostess.  So on the fourth place.  We got a table, yay!  Or not.  We were there for like 15 min and no one came up and even asked if we wanted anything to drink.  The couple next to us had been there longer than us and weren't having any better luck.  So we left.  And went to the fifth place.  At long last!!!  It was 9:00, but finally we found a table AND decent service.  And the food was really delicious.  I went home very, very full and only out $20 (well and I guess a couple wasted hours, but whatever).  Who can beat that?  And who knew there would be so many Memphians out to dinner on a Tuesday night.  Guess we weren't the only ones excited by a deal.  Go figure.

"J" baby names

So the shower tonight was really fun.  A few of the girls are nurses and were telling their stories about working in the maternaty ward and all the babies.  One of the girls told us of a mom who really liked to name her babies starting with J.  Her twins names are Ja'Kyra and Ja'Kyrin.  Not too bad separatly I guess, although way too similar for twins if you ask me.  Her new baby however, who was delivered by emergency because the mom had the swine flu and pneumonia (terrible), is...get ready....Ja'Angel Grace.  She apparently thought it was a beautiful name and so fitting because of the state in which the baby had to be delivered (2 months early) and the fact that she is doing so well despite all the odds.  Ja'Angel.  Seriously?  Where do people come up with this stuff??

Surprise Baby Shower

Tonight, instead of bible study, us girls are throwing a surprise baby shower for our bible study leader.  She is the most wonderful woman, so sweet and caring.  She is already a mother of 4!!!  (This one came as quite a shock!)  Lori (the mom) is due mid December and the new little baby girl will be joining 3 older sisters and an older brother.  I kind of feel sorry for Wesley (the brother), the only boy AND now the middle child. 
Lori really is an amazing person.  She was so good to me when I moved to Memphis and opened her home to me.  I am so excited to do this for her tonight because I know how much she deserves it.  Plus, I got to go shopping for baby stuff, which I didn't realize but is kind of super fun.  I went a little bit crazy.  Oh well, its all really cute.  Can't wait to see what everyone else got her!!

Dining Out

I always look forward to Friday and Saturday nights because rarely do I eat at home.  Last night I made lasagna.  Oh and it was tasty!  So to continue the ethnic food theme, I am hoping to get some Indian food and/or Thai food.  I just found out that this Indian place has a great dinner buffet on the weekends and it comes highly recommended by people from India.  And Bhan Thai is probably the best Thai food in Memphis.  Its no Siam, but its definitely delicious!! 

Life Lesson

Do not make out with people you do not know in the middle of flu/cold season with the H1N1 flu buzzing around when you have a big test within a few days. 
Case and point: I have been sick for almost 5 days.  During which I couldn't focus long enough to get any productive studying done and therefore am pretty sure I failed my exam yesterday.  I had to leave one answer completely blank! 
Whether he was actually sick or not I don't know, but I am blaming the cute, good kisser boy from Halloween.  However cute, I would have prefered to keep my health.