Things Lately...

I can't believe I haven't posted anything since November! Wait..that is a lie. I can believe it. Things have been really hectic in my life lately. I started a new job on December 5th. The transition was a lot tougher than I anticipated. Along with working long hours, I have been traveling a TON. The good news is that I have made it to the finish line. Busy season is over, and I see sunny skies ahead (fingers crossed). Anyway, I don't know if I will be able to post as often as I used to, but I am going to try.  Enough boring work talk, I'd like to share what fun things have been happening.

(1) Two of my favorite people in the world are getting married!!! Laura and Stephen are getting married on August 18, 2012. I love these people, and I can't wait for their special day to get here. Until then, there are so many fun wedding festivities to look forward to this summer.

Stephen proposed at a Razorback game. This picture is priceless.



(2) Hank has new uncle! I'd like to introduce the adorableness that is Dylan, Brian's parents new baby.

Not the best picture, but trying to get Hank and Dylan to slow down for a picture was impossible!

(3) Christmas came and went, and it was wonderful. I got to spend a lot of time at home with my family so that was very nice.

This was our Christmas/News Years Card. We know we are kind of ridiculous.

(4) Tara and Tim came to visit!! 2011 would not have complete with out a Jarrett/Vickers reunion. Seriously, we have too much fun. Our 2012 reunion is in a couple of weeks, and we are beyond excited. This time Brian and I are taking a road trip to Indiana. Poor Indiana, it will never be the same.

Been loving this girl since 2004 :)

True Man Love.

(5) I got to spend New Years Eve with my sisters in Nashville. I don't think we have done this since I was 12 and they were 9. It was such an awesome night. This needs to become a tradition.

Perfect way to start 2012

(6) Finally, in March, I turned 26. Twenty freaking six years old. Damn. I am going to make 26 my year. The birthday weekend was awesome. Brian surprised me with Corey Smith tickets and Ellen drove down Friday for the concert. My parents came to town Saturday to take us out to eat and celebrate their oldest daughter for real turning old.

This concert made me feel like a college kid. Oh college.

Silly sister.

Arkansas vs. Auburn: Woo Pig Sooie!

As I mentioned, last Friday was Brian's birthday. To celebrate, we decided to head to northwest Arkansas to watch the Arkansas vs. Auburn game. It's only a 9.5-10 hour trip - no biggie. The drive was long, but totally worth it considering we got to spend the weekend with great friends AND watch the Razorbacks beat Auburn 38-14.

We started the weekend off by everyone eating at least 17 pounds of food a piece at Shogun's. Here is a group shot we took after dinner. If I look puffier than usual, please remember I had 17 pounds of chicken and rice an hour before this :).

Side note: Look at Ashton's festive mantel. So pretty!

Brian got TWO birthday cakes this year. Dang, he must think he is special.

We spent Saturday tailgating with Stephen's family. Good food, good company, great day!

Stephen and the birthday boy

I love this pic.  Erin, Ashton, Laura, me, and Heidi (Stephen's adorable niece).

I really like this boy. I think I'll keep him :).

This is the first time we have ever been to a game in Fayetteville and not sat in upper-upper deck! Ashton's parents were beyond generous and let me and Brian have their tickets to the game. I know. Amy and JP are my favorite people. This view is MUCH better than the nose bleed section!

Woo Pig Sooie!

Besties. (I don't think boys call themselves that, but that's what they are.)

Our friends are so fun. I love our little mini-reunions. I can't wait to see everyone again at the Mississippi State game in November.

Strawberry Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

Last week was Brian's 26th birthday. He is so lucky to have such a young wife, like myself. What? He's five whole months older than me - that totally counts. Anyway, I made this Strawberry Cake for his birthday last year, and he decided that he wanted it to be designated as "Brian's Birthday Cake." It was my Grandma Diebold's recipe that I have tweaked a bit. (See her Peach Delight recipe here) The original recipe called for a whole cup of oil or something ridiculous like that. No wonder I remember it tasting so good. I promise you won't miss the extra fat. Believe me, there is still PLENTY of that in there. Something in this recipe makes this cake so incredibly moist. Maybe the package of jello or the crushed strawberries? Whatever it is, it's magical.




This old school pan belonged to my grandma. Maybe that's the secret to a perfect cake?!



I want this now.

Strawberry Cake with Cream Cheese Icing (Brian's Birthday Cake)

1 pkg. white cake mix
3T AP Flour
3 eggs
1/4 cup oil
1 cup water
1/2 cup frozen or fresh strawberries (crushed)
1 3oz. pkg strawberry gelatin

Cream Cheese Icing
1/4 cup butter at room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup crushed strawberries

Cake - Combine and blend all cake ingredients. Bake in greased 9x13 pan for 35-40 minutes. Poke holes in the cake as it cools. This allows the icing to drip down into the cake. (Yum.)

Icing - Whip together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Slowly add sugar until blended. Stir in strawberries and spread over cake.

Allow the cake to cool before spreading the icing. The consistency is on the thin side, which is how my grandma always made it. If you want to thicken it up, add more powdered sugar.

Birthday Girl



Chocolate on chocolate birthday cake they gave me at work. So. Dang. Good.


Today I turn 25 years old. Wow, what!? Didn't I just turn 21 like... yesterday? Funny thing about being 25 - the only time I can feel my age is when I am recovering from a night of too much fun. Days like that I feel every bit of 25. Depending on the amount of fun that was had, I might even feel like I'm pushing 45. Oh, also, some of Taylor Swift's songs started annoying me this year..that probably is a sure sign of aging.

Here's the deal - I realize 25 is very young. Well, I guess it's old if you are comparing me to a 17 year old, but I like my 25 year old self way better than my 17 year old self so I am okay with that. :) I am just a weirdo about birthdays.

I am going to make my 25th the BEST year yet. Twenty-four was great, but the move from Arkansas to Alabama had me on an emotional roller coaster at times. I love the Huntsville area. I LOVE that Brian gets to manage a bookstore and be his own boss. I love that I work 40 hours a week instead of 60+ like I did in Little Rock. With that being said, I do miss my friends and family. That doesn't change, and all that missing takes some getting use to. However, we have been here a year now, and things could not be better. I am going to speak for Brian and myself (I do that a lot) and say that we know this is where we are supposed to be. As things keep falling into place, it just makes me more and more sure that we have found a place to call home.

I have so much to be thankful for on this day. I'm probably most thankful for the Birthday Cupcake from GiGi's Brian gave me. Yes. It changed my life a little bit.

Birthday Surprise! http://gigiscupcakesusa.com/madisonalabama